RESTAURANTS & BARS
Search our restaurant and bar recommendations throughout Paris
All recommendations listed below have been personally tested by us. They also fit the following criteria : overall very high ratings from various sources, beautiful interiors (or unique/historic experiences), and good menu selections. We hope you enjoy these restaurants as much as we do
Café Plume
The combination of a very cute and spacious interior and extremely friendly wait staff makes for an enjoyable evening. All of the dishes are French with a slightly Asian flair. I would give the food a B grade, but overall I enjoyed the restaurant.
*€€, Dinner in September 2019
*Bavette steak with an Asian-inspired brown sauce and fries
164 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
01 42 60 27 66
Angelina (tea house)
This tea house is famous for its hot chocolate and Mont Blanc dessert. The hot chocolate literally tastes like a melted chocolate bar! We ordered the galette des rois as we happened to be there on the holiday (epiphany).
*€€, Dessert in January 2019
*Classic hot chocolate and galette des rois
226 Rue de Rivoli,
75001 Paris
01 42 60 82 00
Le Grand Colbert
Dine in a building dating back to the 1800s with a gorgeous mosaic floor and other fine details. Not to mention, a very extensive menu with good selections and even better prices (truly a deal for what you are getting).
*€€, Dinner in January 2019
*Scallops with mushrooms and spinach served in the shells
2 Rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
01 42 86 87 88
Cube Bar
Throughout the year, one can enjoy drinks on the rooftop terrace of Galeries Lafayette at the Cube Bar. The view is absolutely breathtaking allowing you to see the Palais Garnier, Eiffel Tower, and more. In the colder months, they provide blankets to keep you warm.
*€€, Drinks in November 2018
*Moscow mule
40 Rue Notre Dame des Victoires,
75002 Paris
01 42 36 45 38
Au Vieux Paris d'Arcole
Built in the 1500s and turned into a wine bar in 1723, this restaurant is quite charming. Just a short walk from Nôtre-Dame Cathedral, this is a place you should have either a drink on the terrace or a romantic dinner within the interior. The food is okay, but not the highlight. If you go in the spring or very early summer, you will be able to see the flowers blossoming on the vines outside.
*€€, Dinner in June 2019
*Foie gras to start, duck with an orange sauce
24 Rue Chanoinesse, 75004 Paris
01 40 51 78 52
Le 43-Roof Top
In my opinion, this is one of the best views you can get in Paris. Located on the rooftop of a hotel, it is not really advertised, so not many people know about it. Also, the drinks are suprisingly cheap. Make sure to get there early in the evening before the sun sets or be prepared to wait in line.
*€, Drinks in July 2019
4 Rue Danton, 75006 Paris
Matilda
Located in the beautiful 8th arrondissement, Matilda surprised with its high-end presentation of both food and interiors. The service was a little slow and sloppy, but the octopus was some of the best I've had and the design of the interior made you feel like you were really somewhere special.
*€€, Lunch in December 2019
*Charred octopus
28 Rue Jean Mermoz, 75008 Paris
01 45 63 17 10
Fan Fan (Dix-Huit)
A modern but cozy restaurant that will surprise you. Elegantly presented dishes that have a high-level of sophistication. Recently, it has come under new ownership and is absolutely fantastic!
*€€, Dinner in March 2019 and July 2018
*Beef tataki (entrée), roasted pigeon with Brussels sprouts (plat)
*Grilled cod with a parlsley emulsion and lomo & leek chips
18 Rue Bayen, 75017 Paris
01 53 81 79 77
Le Piano Perché
Located in one of my favorite areas of Paris, Montmartre, this ranks as one of my favorite restaurant experiences of 2019. The quality of the ingredients and presentation were so much higher than I anticipated.
*€€, Dinner in March 2019
*Gravlax salmon with marinated root vegetables, Slow cooked beef shoulder with smoked Jerusalem artichoke purée
8 Rue Aristide Bruant, 75018 Paris
01 42 64 95 81
Bar à Bulles
Down an alley way just alongside Moulin Rouge is a lovely bar that is both indoor and outdoor. Inside, is an eclectic design with a photo booth you can use for free, while outside there is a lovely patio. The part most people don't know is that there is a staircase beyond the restrooms that goes up to the roof where you can see the windmill (moulin). In the summer, it is one of the nicest rooftops you can go to.
*€€, Drinks in June 2019
4Bis Cité Véron, 75018 Paris
Danico
Discreteley located in the back of restaurant Daroco along Passage Vivienne, you could easily miss one of the best bars in Paris. This is, right now, my favorite bar in the city. Low lighting, creative drink menu, and good music make for the perfect venue to grab a cocktail with friends.
*€€€, Drinks in January 2020
*Cocktail : the nut on cauliflower street
6 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris
01 42 21 93 71
Restaurant ERH
Fine dining in a modern setting, it is hard to resist going back several times to this restaurant. Offering a tasting menu of several courses and serving Asian-French fusion dishes, this has to be one of my top favorite restaurants in the city. Formerly known as Maison du Saké.
*€€€€
11 Rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris
01 45 08 49 37
La Mezcaleria (1K Hotel)
If you want to check out a new place in the city that has fabulous drinks, a chill vibe, and no massive crowds, you will want to check out this amazing Mezcal cocktails. Click on this link to read more.
*€€, Drinks in February 2019
15 Boulevard du Temple
75003 Paris
01 42 71 77 15
Grand Coeur
Already, you are in the Marais, which is one of the most beautiful areas of Paris. You can dine in their classy courtyard paved with light sandstone or inside the arched structure with a relaxed, but sophisticated interior. The food was excellent and had unique choices. You could tell the chef took great care in everything they made. Worth the slightly elevated prices.
*€€€, Dinner in June 2017
*Lamb shoulder with black sesame sauce
41 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris
01 58 28 18 90
Ladurée Champs-Elysées
I knew this place as 'home of the macaron', and was pleasantly surprised to find out they not only served brunch, but had an entire floor above that was dedicated to a restaurant! An hommage to the belle époque, everywhere you look is detailed with custom mouldings, gold leaf, and ornate light fixtures. I highly recommend reserving in advance (to skip the line) and to order the brunch menu. An elegant, memorable experience!
*€€€, Brunch in April 2019
*Brunch menu includes : an assortment of mini viennoiseries (croissants, etc.), salmon avocado brioche, yogurt with Ladurée granola, fruit salad, freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee, and two macarons
75 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
01 40 75 08 75
Intercontinental Bar
A beautiful hotel just a stone's throw from the Palais Garnier will have you swooning. The drinks are roughly 24€ a piece, but the view and feel are worth it. You can either sit under the skylight (better for day time) or in the mahogany lounge. We were lucky enough to be there when the pianist was. Worth it!
*€€€, Cocktails in February 2019
*Hisbiscus champagne cocktail
2 Rue Scribe
75009 Paris
01 40 07 32 32
La Felicita at Station F
Another amazing converted train station makes for a great gathering space called La Felicita offering 5 restaurants/cuisines. You take your order and sit in one of the many seating areas in the open space. All of this is connected to the largest start-up incubator in the world. At night, there is quite the ambiance with string lights and food trucks all under one roof.
*€€€, Dinner in December 2019
*Pizza
5 Parvis Alan Turing, 75013 Paris
Les Eléphants
An unpretentious restaurant run by a super friendly couple. She is the chef and he is the greeter and wine expert. We were pleasantly surprised at the refined twists made on classic French dishes. Also, they made excellent wine recommendations to pair with the meal. A lovely place to come with a group of friends.
*€€, Dinner in March 2019
*Butternet squash soup with smoked fish, game terrine with fig chutney, pork belly and red cabbage, baked apple with crunchy caramel
120 Rue Legendre, 75017 Paris
09 80 62 17 36
Comme Chez Maman
This restaurant reminds me of the kind of food my French grandmother used to make, but with a modern twist! I have been a few times, and each time it is wonderful.
*€€, Dinner in January 2020
Crab ravioli, beef Bourguignon, and mille-feuille
5 Rue des Moines, 75017 Paris
01 42 28 89 53
Le Sancerre
Strolling through Montmartre, I always notice this restaurant. WIth its warm lighting and strung (faux) wisteria, it's hard not to be drawn in. A small, but decent menu with traditional French fare.
*€€, Dinner in December 2019
*Scallop risotto
35 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris
01 42 58 08 20
L’Écluse Saint-Honoré
A pleasant surprise with an interior that appears to be more of a 'jazz lounge' than a restaurant or wine bar. Tufted velvet chairs with low, round tables, dim lighting, and jazz music playing in the background make for a relaxing and posh atmosphere. The food was simple, but of good quality.
*€€, Dinner in February 2019
*Charcuterie platter with foie gras, salmon with pesto on a bed of potato purée, café gourmand
34 Place du Marché Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
01 42 96 10 18
Canard et Champagne
In one of the most famous passages in Paris (the passage des Panoramas) you will find an art nouveau style storefront with the words 'champagne et canard' painted on the glass. Simple as the title, but with delicious courses and an extensive champagne menu.
*€€, Dinner in April 2019
*Foie gras to start, magret de canard, various sides including fries and grilled vegetables, deconstructed lemon tart
57 Passage des Panoramas, 75002 Paris
09 81 83 95 69
Brasserie Gallopin
A wonderful example of an old-school brasserie. The staff was dressed up in suits, there was table-side cooking for certain dishes, and an original interior. The restaurant dates back to 1876.
*€€€, Dinner in November 2018
*Foie gras, pigeon, and crepe suzette
40 Rue Notre Dame des Victoires,
75002 Paris
01 42 36 45 38
Auberge Nicolas Flamel
If you want to be surrounded in history and enjoy Michelin guide food, come experience this charming restaurant. Built in 1407, this is the oldest inn still standing in Paris.
*€€, Dinner in July 2018
*Filet de boeuf (beef filet), déclinaison de carottes, spaghettis de vitelotte, grelots confit
51, rue de Montmorency, 75003 Paris
01 42 71 77 78
Prosper et Fortunée
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Paris, and one of the very few we have been to several times. If you're a foodie, this is the place for you. Chef Eric serves up a mystery menu of 6-7 courses (while cooking in front of you), and the restaurant only seats 14 people at a time. Make sure to call or email to secure a reservation. He will ask for any food restrictions during your exchange.
*€€€, Dinner in November 2018
*Root vegetables, scallops, turbot fish, beef served two ways, poached pears, homemade icecream
50 Rue Broca, 75005 Paris
01 43 37 70 39
Printemps du goût
If you are shopping at Printemps or Galeries Lafayette in the 8th, you should not miss out on this high-end, yet casual, treat. Stroll along the variety of food booths and choose what you like - fish, meat, cheese, salads, pastries, and more. Then sit along the windows where you will have one of the most elegant, sweeping views of the city.
*€€€, Lunch in October 2019
*Smoked and fresh salmon served with homemade potato purée
59 Rue de Caumartin, 75009 Paris
01 40 75 08 75
L'Opéra Restaurant
If you are planning on a night at the opera (Palais Garnier) make sure to reserve an early (or late, depending on what time your show starts) dinner at this restaurant, located within the same building. High quality ingredients and presentation coupled with good service. Bonus - you just have to walk through the back doors to enter the theater when it's show time, which is super convenient!
*€€, Dinner in February 2019
*Shrimp deconstructed ravioli in a coconut emulsion, grilled bass served with red cabbage, for dessert we shared a café gourmand
1 Place Jacques Rouché
75009 Paris
01 42 68 86 80
Café de l'homme
Located in the same building as the Musée de l'Homme in Trocadero, you will be floored by its view of the Eiffel Tower. Food was good, service was fast, and a drink can be enjoyed on the terrace overlooking the tower. C'est magnifique!
*€€€, Dinner in January 2019
*Roasted organic salmon with soy and honey with king oyster mushrooms and braised bok choy, French mule digestif
17 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Nov
75116 Paris
01 44 05 30 15
Les Françaises
One of the most welcoming restaurants in Paris with an extremely friendly, and playful, staff. This is a small plates restaurant, so they suggest ordering several plates among a group of friends. There is an assortment of meat, fish, and vegetable dishes.
*€€€, Dinner in April 2019
*Gravlax Salmon and avocado cream, Roasted carrots, Beef Tataki (my personal favorite), Lamb Shoulder slow-cooked in rosemary, Duck Breast with an orange sauce, dessert : orange cheesecake
87 Rue Legendre, 75017 Paris
09 83 64 09 10
Mamma Primi
We have passed by this restaurant hundreds of times, but finally jumped on the chance of trying it when we saw a short line. Usually the line is wrapping around the street corner every single night! It did not disappoint...the food and ambiance explains its ridiculous popularity. Here, you can dine on authentic Italian dishes with a spin, enjoy mosty Italian staff members, and sit by the open kitchen if you are lucky. A treat for a real foodie!
*€€, Dinner in January 2020
Arancheesy Truffle, Burratelli de Leonardo, What the duck (duck ravioli), tiramisu
71 Rue des Dames, 75017 Paris
01 47 42 33 31
La Recyclerie
Located in a former train station along a no longer used track, they have transformed it into a restaurant and public garden where they grow food. It is important to them to be eco-responsible and put into practice the 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. This goes all the way from the food they grow to the furniture in their dining room.
*€, Lunch in September 2019
*Filet of cod en papillote
83 Boulevard Ornano, 75018 Paris
01 42 57 58 49