Paris remains the global capital for gastronomy, with thousands of restaurants. From local bistros to two Michelin star restaurants. With so many restaurants and new places opening every month, it can be difficult to choose THE best place to eat. This guide provides practical advice and up-to-date recommendations for all budgets, culinary styles and occasions. Ready to find THE restaurant that ticks all the boxes?
Paris has thousands of restaurants, with tremendous diversity. You’ll find cosy bistros serving generous home cooking, lively brasseries with large terraces, starred restaurants where the chef creates exceptional dishes, as well as street-food eateries shaking up culinary codes.
Each type of establishment has its own atmosphere and vibe: bistros are all about conviviality and traditional recipes reinvented, brasseries are often open all day and serve Parisian classics, while fine dining restaurants set a slower pace and celebrate the art of detail.
The menu plays an important part in the dining experience. In the best restaurants, it changes with the seasons with an emphasis on fresh products: asparagus from Brittany in spring, tomatoes from Southern France in summer, mushrooms in autumn. This seasonal rotation reflects a respect for classic French ingredients and guarantees the finest flavours.
A talented chef does more than follow a recipe, they tell a story through the dishes they create combining creativity and technical expertise, for a memorable experience.
The dining scene is always changing. Immersive concepts, natural wine bars with elaborate dishes, wood-fired cooking, and collaborations between international chefs are among some of the trends to watch. New places spring up, driven by young talented individuals who break with the conventions of traditional service while maintaining high standards of quality.
| Type of place | Atmosphere | Average budget per person (approximately) |
|---|---|---|
| Bistro | Convivial, family-friendly | 20-35 € |
| Brasserie | Lively, a Parisian classic | 25-45 € |
| Gastronomic restaurant | Refined, intimate | 80-200 €+ |
| Street food / Canteen | Relaxed, quick service | 10-18 € |
Whether you're looking for a truly special evening or a quick lunch, Paris offers an endless array of options to suit any taste and any mood.
Choosing a restaurant in Paris, among thousands of options, may seem daunting. However, Parisians know what to look for. Here are eight criteria that will make the difference between a memorable meal and an expensive disappointment.
Before starting to search for a restaurant, decide how much you want to spend. In Paris, you can eat well for €15 in a local canteen for €150 in a starred restaurant. The main thing is to check that you are getting value for money.
A good indicator? Fixed price lunch menus, often half the price of the evening menu. Check out the menu online find out the range of prices and avoid unpleasant surprises. Menus at €17-20 at lunchtime in Parisian bistros generally offer excellent value for money.
The diversity of the Paris culinary scene is huge: traditional bistros, brasseries, starred gastronomy, Asian street food, Napolitan pizza, vegetarian. First, decide what tempts you. Then, look closely at the menu.
A short menu (5 to 8 dishes) is often an indication of fresh products and home cooking. Check also that the menu changes regularly, a sign that the chef works with seasonal products.
It is important to consider the location of the restaurant in Paris. Some districts are packed with good restaurants. Take for example rue des Gravilliers in the Marais: this small street is full of quality restaurants, away from the hustle and bustle.
Also to consider, accessibility by metro and operating times of public transport if you are eating out late. A good restaurant in a pleasant district transforms a meal into a veritable Parisian experience.
The atmosphere of a restaurant is part of the pleasure of eating out. Are you looking for a quiet atmosphere for a romantic dinner, a lively terrace for drinks with friends, or an intimate setting for a special evening?
Look through the photos on the restaurant’s website or social networks to give yourself an idea of the place. Places with a strong visual identity and well-designed decor generally reflect a focus on the overall customer experience.
A passionate chef makes all the difference. Find out about their background, culinary philosophy and inspirations. The best Parisian restaurants showcase their chefs and their visionary approach.
Look to see if the menu features original dishes or bold associations of flavours. A creative chef will use simple ingredients to create something extraordinary, surprising you with every bite, whereas others are merely content to reproduce uninspired classics.
Online review platforms are now essential when choosing a restaurant, but each one has specific features that are worth knowing about:
TripAdvisor is used by more than 315 million visitors every month. This platform offers a large database of customer reviews. Look for recent and detailed comments. The Fork (formerly The Fourchette) is known for its reliability: only customers who have honoured their booking can leave a review. This French platform also offers discounts and facilitates direct booking, making it a convenient and secure service.
The Fooding takes a more selective editorial approach, favouring creative establishments and new culinary trends. Its recommendations reflect a genuine gastronomic focus, ideal for discovering innovative restaurants. Time Out offers selections that combine expert opinions and local recommendations. Particularly useful for trendy places and new discoveries.
For the best approach, cross-reference several sources of information and take note of the responses from restaurant owners, which often reveal their level of professionalism and attentiveness.
More Parisians are choosing restaurants that have a commitment to the environment. Check whether the restaurant uses local, seasonal products, with short supply chains. A good sign of this is a menu that changes with the seasons.
Some labels such as Écotable, Étoile Verte Michelin, FiG, Bon pour le climat and Green Food, guarantee sustainable practices. Beyond the ecological aspect, restaurants generally offer fresher and higher quality flavours as they work with selected producers.
A clear and functional website reflects the seriousness of the establishment. You should be able to find the opening times easily, the menu of the day, the prices and a simple booking system.
For popular restaurants, book at least three days in advance for dinner, but for lunch in the week you could try on the same day. Also check closing days (often Sunday-Monday) and serving times, shorter than in other parts of Europe. A restaurant that makes booking easy and communicates effectively respects its customers.
Choosing a district, is already choosing an atmosphere and a style of restaurant. Paris is divided into areas with very distinct culinary identities, each with their own new hotspots and established favourites. Here are five areas with plenty of great addresses to choose from.
The historic heart of Paris has an impressive concentration of places to eat from local bistros to fine dining. Around the Louvre and Châtelet, you will find elegant establishments tucked away in covered passages or secret courtyards. The Palais-Royal district has some delightful spots such as the Palais Royal Restaurant, with tables outside under the arcades in summertime. The atmosphere is a mix of classic Parisian style and cool modernity, with menus focusing on top-quality ingredients.
The Marais buzzes with new arty addresses and local eateries. The Rue des Gravilliers, listed as one of the coolest streets in the world, reflects the best of the current culinary scene.
The district has a mix of Asian street food, bistronomic restaurants and natural wine bars. Perfect for a casual meal with friends.
Montmartre has kept its village-like soul with welcoming bistros up on the Butte. Near to Place du Tertre, the residential streets behind Sacré-Cœur have many great spots to eat at.
The atmosphere is relaxed, the tables are often close together, and the terraces overlook cobbled streets. The perfect place for dinner after watching the sunset from the basilica.
An emblematic district on the Left Bank, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is synonymous with timeless Parisian elegance. With historic literary cafes (Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots) and contemporary neo-bistros, the district offers a mix of tradition and new vibes.
Restaurants here focus on quality products, exceptional fish and fine cakes and pastries. The atmosphere is chic without being overly formal, with terraces that are ideal for watching the world go by on the boulevard.
Along the Canal Saint-Martin, the atmosphere is resolutely relaxed and youthful. The restaurants have a bohemian feel, with terraces by the water, inventive menus and a strong focus on natural wines.
Here, you’ll find eateries such as Clamato (seafood), rustic dining cellars and vegetarian street food spots. The neighbourhood attracts local clientele who come as much for the food as for the relaxed atmosphere.
The East of Paris buzzes with a unique energy. Contemporary bistros, inventive street food and cocktail bars all have a lively atmosphere. Bastille, an historic district close to Gare de Lyon, is full of little restaurants with different world cuisines that attract a young and cosmopolitan crowd.
Ménilmontant has a more bohemian and authentic spirit, with local eateries offering a friendly atmosphere and new establishments that break with convention. The steep streets of the 20th hide little gems such authentic Napolitan pizzerias, surprising Ethiopian bistros and intimate dining cellars.
The Champs-Élysées is synonymous with upscale Parisian fine dining with famous brasseries and starred restaurants. On ‘the world’s most beautiful avenue’, you’ll discover establishments such as Brasserie Fouquet's (established 1899) with its red awnings and iconic terraces, and L'Alsace, an authentic brasserie open 7/7 which has been carrying on the spirit of great Parisian restaurants since1968.
For an outstanding gourmet experience, Mūn Restaurant serves refined Asian cooking and has a superb terrace overlooking the avenue of Place de la Concorde at the Arc de Triomphe. The restaurants in the Golden Triangle mix French tradition and international influences, in elegant surroundings where every meal feels like a celebration.
The Batignolles district , more under the radar, has a village-like spirit with welcoming local bistros and inventive new addresses. Between Place de Clichy and Parc Martin-Luther-King, this rapidly developing area attracts a local clientele who appreciate its authenticity and friendliness, far from busy tourist spots.
The 16th arrondissement epitomizes the most refined aspects of Parisian lifestyle. With smart avenues in Passy, Art Nouveau residences in Auteuil and majestic views from Trocadéro, this area offers an elegant dining experience that blends French tradition with contemporary creativity.
Passy is chic and residential with quality restaurants along the rue de Passy. In Auteuil, with its bourgeois residencies and tranquil atmosphere, restaurants are typically authentic in spirit. Auteuil Brasserie, housed in the former local train stations, opens its huge glass windows and plant-filled terrace for Mediterranean and vegetarian cuisine dining in a spectacular setting. Ideal before or after a stroll in the Bois de Boulogne.
Trocadéro, with its stunning view of the Eiffel Tower, has many great places to eat. Head, for example to Palais de Tokyo which offers 3 eateries: Café du Palais, Monsieur Bleu and Bambini.
Montparnasse remains one of the most authentic districts in Paris, steeped in the history of artists and writers who have fashioned its identity since the beginning of the 20th century. From famous brasseries to new creative dining spots, this area offers a unique foodie experience with a nice mix of old and new.
Iconic big brasseries like La Coupole (established 1927), Le Dôme, La Rotonde and La Closerie des Lilas carry on the spirit of the Roaring Twenties in their well-preserved Art Deco settings. These long-standing establishments serve refined French cuisine featuring classic Parisian dishes: seafood platters, sauerkraut, beef tartare, and seasonal dishes prepared using centuries-old expertise.
The Observatoire district, more under the radar, has its share of bistronomic gems in residential areas. The atmosphere is hushed and private, perfect for a romantic dinner or a discreet business meal. The talented chefs in the area favour seasonal products and short supply chains, in warm and welcoming settings with an intimate atmosphere.
The 13th arrondissement offers a one-of-a-kind culinary journey in Paris, combining authentic Asian traditions, a bohemian village spirit and inventive bistronomy. This mosaic of districts, each with distinct features is one of the most authentic and affordable areas in the capital.
Chinatown, centred around avenue de Choisy and avenue d'Ivry, is the largest Asian district in Europe. Here, Vietnamese family-run eateries stand alongside Cambodian caterers and Thai restaurants in an exotic atmosphere.
The Butte-aux-Cailles, a veritable village in the city with paved streets and small houses, has a unique bohemian atmosphere. The more bourgeois Gobelins district, with wide Hausmannian boulevards, has some great eateries. The whole of the 13th arrondissement is known for its affordable prices, relaxed atmosphere and exceptional culinary diversity. It's the ideal neighbourhood for discovering authentic flavours at reasonable prices, in settings that are sometimes exotic, sometimes rustic, but always welcoming.
Beyond the boundaries of Paris, Greater Paris, the larger metropolitan area, unveils culinary delights often unknown to traditional guidebooks. These rapidly changing areas offer authentic gastronomic experiences, far from the capital’s busy tourist areas.
La Défense, the leading European business district, has a wealth of dining options with addresses like Quinte & Sens (Hôtel Pullman), which offers refined cuisine in a contemporary setting, or Octopus with a double terrace (150 m²) opposite the Takis water feature and breathtaking view of the historic central route of Paris . The Westfield Les 4 Temps shopping centre & CNIT house innovative food courts mixing Asian street food and authentic Italian concepts.
Saint-Ouen and Saint-Denis, in Seine-Saint-Denis, cultivate a unique multicultural culinary identity. These popular towns are full of family eateries, authentic African restaurants and new bistronomic addresses spearheaded by young talented chefs. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, with prices that rival other restaurants in Paris.
The Marne riverbanks, from Créteil to Nogent-sur-Marne, via Joinville and Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, are an idyllic setting with their waterside cafés and restaurants with river terraces. In summer, these spots become refreshing places to enjoy seasonal cuisine barefoot in the grass, watching barges travel up the river.
The Coulée verte in the South of Paris, also known as the Promenade des Vallons de la Bièvre, extends over a 14-kilometre route from Place de Catalogne to Paris as far as Massy. This mixed-use greenway above the TGV lines crosses 9 communes and provides a bucolic itinerary interspersed with local bistros authentic and arty addresses that attract a discerning clientele. These restaurants favour short supply chains and seasonal products, and a relaxed atmosphere, perfect after a pleasant walk along the unique greenway that links Paris with Greater Paris.
The weekend ritual has become an institution in the capital. From the sunny terraces of the Marais to hidden gems in eastern Paris, the gastronomic scene is reinventing itself at brunch time.
To enjoy perfect eggs Benedict orgourmet pancakes, check out our selection of the best restaurants for chilling out and eating well.
In Paris, a global city where millions of people rub shoulders, knowing the rules of social etiquette makes all the difference when it comes to getting the most out of a dining experience. Here are our top tips for navigating the capital's restaurant scene like a true Parisian.
You can eat out at any time ... but not everywhere. Each restaurant has its own opening hours. Book before 8pm at popular restaurants if you want to get a table, as many kitchens close after 10.30pm. For early risers or those who prefer to dine before places get busy, some restaurants offer continuous service and open at 6.30pm. In the middle of the night, the choice is much more limited, although a few places remain open for night owls.
The art of dressing in Paris can be summed up in three words: elegance, comfort and discretion. Of course, you don't dress the same way for a local bistro as you do for a starred restaurant, but the golden rule remains simplicity. Parisian chic shuns excess and favours timeless outfits for comfort in any establishment. Some restaurants (starred, cabarets, boats) have a dress code.
Even in crowded restaurants, Parisians are adept at finding a quiet table. As soon as the sun comes out, the unspoken rule is to grab a table outside on the terrace, even if it's only 13 degrees!
As with what to wear, keep it simple when it comes to aperitifs. Aside from the classics, try some of the latest Parisian trends: sparkling spritzes, signature cocktails, or Italian style aperitivos. New drinks constantly appear on the menu reflecting changing tastes in Paris.
In Paris, showing off your wine knowledge is part of the fun. Use the correct vocabulary when talking to the sommelier: ask for a white that's ‘lively and dry’ or ‘fruity and mellow’, or a red that's ‘powerful and sunny’ or ‘light and smooth’. Don't worry, if you're not an expert, asking for advice is perfectly fine and even appreciated by passionate professionals.
Several services are always free in restaurants in Paris: a jug of (drinkable) tap water, bread, cutlery, and in some establishments, appetizers served at the start of the meal. Do not hesitate to ask for a second jug of water after finishing the first one.
Many restaurants offer kid’s menus with smaller portions, lower prices, and dishes adapted to their taste. Ask when you make your booking to avoid disappointment and ensure an enjoyable family meal.
In Paris, casually placing your phone on the table is common practice. For security reasons, it is better to keep it in your pocket or bag. Parisians often answer calls briefly or send text messages during meals, but it is best to remain discreet out of respect for the people around you and the atmosphere of the place.
The service charge is already included in the bill in Parisian restaurants so there is no obligation to leave a tip. Only do this if you are satisfied with the service and welcome.
On terraces, rose sellers are part of Parisian folklore. Persistent but never pushy, they contribute to the romantic atmosphere of the city. Don't hesitate to buy one if you feel like offering it to the person with you.
Ready to eat? To guarantee a table in the capital’s busiest eateries, make life easy.
From historic brasseries to romantic dinner cruises on the Seine, browse our official ticket office and book your foodie experiences now. Enjoy the best of Paris, without the wait, for a delicious experience guaranteed.
Brasseries with typical and prestigious decor, bistros buzzing with atmosphere and conversation, or bistronomic experiences … Take your pick of traditional and original flavours.
