You haven’t really dined until you’ve done it in Paris: Michelin-star restaurants inside the Eiffel Tower, bistros in Marais, and tasting menus in Montmartre; just writing this makes me want to hop on the next flight to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
As an American, I always saw the French capital as a romantic for foodies from across the pond, even before I started my Paris food tours. I dreamed of cute brasseries offering French food on every corner and loaded charcuterie boards by the river Seine, and I was totally right.
Endless trips and countless bowls of boeuf bourguignon later, I’m here to give you my list of the best restaurants in Paris. I’ve squeezed in a bit of everything, from fine dining establishments to lesser-known local French restaurants.
Photo credit: Pristine Bistrot
Pristine Bistrot is in the 9th district near the Paroisse Notre-Dame de Lorette. The concept here was what drew me in initially; they offer local fare for sharing with a focus on presentation, and damn, do those dishes look good.
Upon entering, I thought Pristine Bistrot felt like most casual eateries in the city; it was relatively small, with a few settings indoors and out front, refined interiors, and friendly staff who offered me a menu just as I chose my seat.
When the dishes started coming out on the tables for those who’d already ordered, I was in awe of how good everything looked. One in particular that caught my eye was the mushroom tartlet, so I thought I’d give it a try.
All the ingredients, like the sliced hazelnuts, mushrooms, and Tonka were piled up in the shape of a castle on the pie base. There was a lot of depth to the dish; between the earthiness of the mushrooms and vanilla notes from the tonka beans, it tasted delicious with the buttery pie.
Pristine Bistrot (€€) – 8 Rue de Maubeuge, 75009 Paris, France – Open every day, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Photo credit: Le Jules Verne
If you want to treat yourself or your other half, I urge you to check out Le Jule Verne. This is a Michelin-starred restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, providing unmatched views of the Paris skyline.
I had heard many people rave about Le Jules Verne in the past because of their location 410 feet above the city, but I wanted to come put the food to the test.
As I arrived, I was whizzed up through the tower itself in a private elevator. When I stepped out, I was met with a stunning neutral-colored dining room with sophisticated furnishings and a jaw-dropping panorama of Paris.
At certain periods, they do an à la carte menu; I was craving some pasta, so I got the mushroom tortellini to see if it lived up to the standard of what I usually get in Rome.
You can bet it absolutely did; the pasta was delightfully chewy, while the mushroom gave it an umami-rich kick, the hazelnut oil consommé added a sweet element, and the velouté made sure it had the creaminess I was looking for.
Le Jules Verne (€€€€) – Avenue Gustave Eiffel 2ème, Eiffel Tower, Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France – Open every day, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Photo credit: Au Pied de Cochon
Near the Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection, you’ll be able to visit one of my favorite Parisian brasseries, Au Pied de Cochon. Everything revolves around French cuisine here, with an oceanic twist, from huge seafood platters to mouthwatering mussels.
The overall ambiance of Au Pied de Cochon never fails to draw me back in for a visit: tables filled with businessmen getting stuck into their favorite bottles of red, chandeliers hanging over the tables, and ornate designs engraved into the walls.
With seafood being the specialty in Au Pied de Cochon, it’s only right to indulge every time I come. I’ve tried quite a bit on the menu, including the oysters and the salmon tartare, but it’s the roasted lobster that I tell everyone to order if it’s their first time.
It’s one of the most expensive single dishes on the menu, but my oh my, the sweet juices, the velvety texture, and the crunchy fries it comes with; I think it’s well worth the splurge. The béarnaise sauce on top is the perfect finishing touch, giving the lobster a zesty hit.
Au Pied de Cochon (€€) – 6 Rue Coquillière, 75001 Paris, France – Open every day, 8:00 am to 5:00 am
Photo credit: Louvre Ripaille
Louvre Ripaille is close to the iconic Louvre Museum. Last year, I heard from a couple who were on one of our food tours in Florence that all of their dishes are made with seasonal products. They said the food tasted incredible, so I booked a table on my most recent visit to Paris.
It’s definitely low-key in comparison to some other picks I’ve included. From the outside, there are only a handful of table settings under the bright red awning. Inside, there’s a charming little bar in the corner, a spread of settings through the dining room, and some mirrors on the wall.
The menu was small, but there was a steady flow of people ordering all the main course options when I was there, so I got to see pretty much everything with my eyes before giving my order. I was really digging the sight of the filet de salmon, so I went for it.
It was served with a nutty side of asparagus, a subtle creamy hen egg, sweet spenwood cheese, and sprinkled in sunflower seeds. The salmon had a lovely oiliness to it; it was quite rich and lightly briny but was nicely balanced, thanks to the other ingredients.
Louvre Ripaille (€€) – 1 Rue Perrault, 75001 Paris, France – Closed every Tuesday, open every Sunday, 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm, and open every other day from 12:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Photo credit: Restaurant LE Drugstore
Coming across Restaurant LE Drugstore on the Champs-Élysées and seeing they served American food with an Asian twist was enough to catch my attention.
The mood at Restaurant LE Drugstore is cool and trendy, almost like the hip restaurants you’d find somewhere in Brooklyn, NYC. The quirky glass features covering settings out front are so unique, while the bar breathes modernity with the golden lighting and chic seating arrangements.
I found the menu at Restaurant LE Drugstore to be quite diverse; it had the best food from French cuisine, along with classics that we love in the US and Asian-inspired offerings.
Initially, I was on two minds about ordering the pork ribs glazed with barbecue sauce and patatas bravas. But, the server looking after my table said it was their favorite, and they had tried everything else on the menu. As you would, I took their advice.
The plate was sizzling as it was dropped with smoky barbecue sauce leaking off the succulent ribs. In a separate bowl were the crunchy patatas bravas, which had a little spicy kick to them but nothing too out of the ordinary.
Restaurant LE Drugstore (€€) – 133 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France – Open every Monday to Thursday, 8:00 am to 12:00 am, Friday, 8:00 am to 1:00 am, Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 am and Sunday, 10:00 am to 12:00 am
Photo credit: Sphère
Settle down for your first-ever taste of haute cuisine at Sphère on Rue La Boétie. This place is as high-end as it gets, with a mix of good food from the French and Asian culinary scene; it’s a dining experience you’ll remember forever.
The mood is set as soon as you walk in; I think it’s because of the dim lighting over the quiet, almost seductive corners with minimalist furniture and shadowy tones.
There were lots of good deals on meal combinations here on the à la carte menu, like the 4-step option, which included an appetizer, starter, fish, meat, and dessert, all of which would fill a small table. If you like the look of something from the wine list, they also did wine and food pairings.
Since I was a lone ranger on this occasion, I stuck to a simple main course for myself and got the saddle of lamb stuffed with apricots.
It had so much flavor because of the slightly sweet zucchini, crumbly dehydrated feta, and the nutty pine nut condiment. The lamb was tender and seasoned with some yummy herbs that brought out the meat’s gamey flavor.
Sphère (€€€€) – 18 Rue La Boétie, 75008 Paris, France – Closed every Monday and open every Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Photo credit: Restaurant L’Ange 20
Now, we move on to Restaurant L’Ange 20 in the Marais district, not too far from Saint Paul and Place des Vosges. In terms of Parisian standards, Restaurant L’Ange 20 is small; there are only a few tables,
Everything about this restaurant is amazing; they’ve got a nice thing going on where you can see the chefs at work while you’re at your table without it being too intrusive. The ceilings have covers of old magazines and newspapers, and the dishes are out of this world.
I will warn you that Restaurant L’Ange 20 is a meat-heavy eatery; all of the main course dishes are either meat or fish, so just be aware. Homemade foie gras, terrine, and veal medallions are what I got for my two courses.
The foie gras, for starters, was nicely sized to get me started; I got four small slices of bread and a piece of foie gras. Every creamy, delicate bite melted in my mouth as soon as it reached it.
Next, it was time for pungent, salty Veal medallions; they were soaked in a savory duroc mushroom sauce and served alongside smooth mashed potatoes and fresh green beans.
Restaurant L’Ange 20 (€€) – 44 Rue des Tournelles, 75004 Paris, France – Closed every Monday and Tuesday and open Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Photo credit: Pink Mamma
To finish up this list of my best restaurant recommendations in Paris, I have a slice of Italy for you in the heart of the French capital, around the corner from Nouvelle Eve with Pink Mamma!
It’s like going inside someone’s secret garden of Eden here; there’s flora all over the place, from the ceiling to the shelves, but it’s implemented so carefully that it doesn’t infringe on the experience; it sets the scene for a delightful meal.
I like to swing by here for their truffle pasta; it comes out in a big pot like it’s just been taken off the stove. The portion is sizable; you could split it between two if you’re not that hungry, but I like the challenge of trying to finish it alone.
The dish has a complex flavor profile; on the one hand, the truffles make it quite earthy, but it also has a sweet side. The flavors are gorgeous with the wheaty-tasting pasta; it gets all soaked up in it and makes it slightly less chewy, which I don’t mind about once it tastes good.
Pink Mamma (€€) – 20bis Rue de Douai, 75009 Paris, France – Open every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 12:00 pm to 2:15 pm and 6:45 to 10:45 pm, every Thursday and Friday, 12:00 pm to 2:15 pm and 6:45 to 11:00 pm, every Saturday, 12:00 pm to 4:15 pm and 6:15 to 11:00 pm, and every Sunday, 12:00 pm to 4:15 pm and 6:15 pm to 10:45 pm
Without a doubt, the French capital promises excellent meal options as these picks for the best restaurants in Paris show.
While fine dining is everywhere in the city, it’s not hard to find affordable Paris restaurants either; you can eat whatever you want from anywhere in the world, whether it’s from Europe or Africa; the gastronomy environment is wide-ranging.
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