17 Classic Paris Bistros You Must Visit

This 11th arrondissement favorite, Bistrot Paul Bert, is perhaps one of the best bistros in Paris–and it’s no secret. The dining room is often a flurry of English speakers but trust us: this place is no tourist trap. It boasts authentic décor and a menu revolving around classic steak au poivre and roast lamb, as well as French offal specialties like veal liver and andouillette. While many bistros look at vegetables a bit askance, Paul Bert knows how to serve seasonal vegetables right, with fat asparagus gracing the menu in the spring. Lovers of fromage will feel right at home with the restaurant’s cheese platter, and house-made desserts like soufflé and ile flottante are some of the best around. Accompany your meal with one of the wines from owner Bertrand Aboyneau’s excellent selection.

Café des Musées has attracted Parisians for nearly a century, and while it has had its moments of less-than-stellar reputation, under current management, it more than lives up to its beautiful bistro dining room. Choose from starters ranging from a classic terrine to a lighter dish of green beans served with toasted hazelnuts. Or capitalize on one of the bistro’s stars: Escargots, usually presented simply in their shells, are here revisited with an edible mushroom cap as the serving vessel, soaking up even more of that garlicky escargot butter. Specials may also include gnocchi with mushrooms and cream sauce or a hearty veal-stuffed cabbage leaf, but the beef bourguignon, one of the city’s best, is a surefire stalwart and a star of any Paris bistro.

Joséphine may well be one of the most luxurious bistros in Paris, France, with décor and service straight out of the 19th century. Waiters in their starched aprons deliver the bounty of classic French bistro fare to an endless parade of modern diners looking for authentic bistro food. In a break from Paris tradition, dishes at Joséphine are made for sharing: House-made terrine or house-smoked salmon are served family-style, and a beef chateaubriand is more than hearty enough for two. Joséphine can be a bit stodgy at times, and it’s not necessarily the most innovative spot in Paris, but if you’re looking for traditional bistro fare, there’s nowhere better. Just make sure to make a reservation at this popular Paris bistro.

The categories of bistro, bouillon, café, and brasserie were once clearly defined, but today, they have become a bit of a hodgepodge. All that to say, while Bouillon Pigalle remains staunchly in bouillon territory, with its all-day service from noon to midnight and almost criminally reasonable prices, it scratches the bistro itch for those looking for exquisite versions of classic Paris bistro cooking, from French onion soup to beef bourguignon. Wine is served by the pitcher, and service is quick and no-nonsense. Be sure to save room for the profiterole: a towering choux pastry filled with sweet cream ice cream and drizzled with warm chocolate sauce. It’s no wonder it’s a favorite among local chefs!

When Chef Christian Constant finally retired at 70, celebrity Chef Cyril Lignac took the reins of his temple to French bistro fare within a stone’s throw of the Eiffel Tower. Café Lignac is a popular spot, but don’t just take our word—a quick look at the myriad positive reviews shows this Paris bistro is a favorite amongst both locals and travelers. The menu features an array of options ranging from classics like deviled eggs, mushroom omelet, steak tartare, or steak au poivre to more contemporary offerings with international inspiration, like vitello tonnato, miso-glazed salmon, or grilled cuttlefish with chorizo cream.

This 7th arrondissement bistro Cinq Mars perfectly marries tradition and modernity. The appetizer menu boasts loads of classics at reasonable prices, from egg mayonnaise to escargots to celery root with remoulade sauce. Mains continue in a similar vein, including sausage and mashed potatoes or hand-cut steak tartare. But international inspiration is alive and well on this menu, which deviates from more commonplace ho-hum vegetarian offerings to feature, for example, a chickpea curry or an Andalusian gazpacho. And offerings on the wine menu skew organic and natural.

Argentine Chef Raquel Carena adds her own touch to classic Paris bistro cooking at Le Baratin, a Belleville institution, which also features one of the city’s best organic and natural wine lists. Her focus is on offal, those organ cuts at which she excels, but you’ll also find a larger assortment of fish and vegetable options on the ever-changing chalkboard menu than at many of the best traditional bistros in Paris.

American chef Daniel Rose made his mark on the capital with Spring before opening this ode to the classic bistro, La Bourse et la Vie, near the Parisian stock exchange. The menu may feature steak-frites, leek-vinaigrette, or a grown-up play on the childhood classic of cordon bleu–chicken breast stuffed with ham and cheese before being breaded and fried. No matter what you order, you’ll start with a house-made gougère, an eggy cheese puff worthy of an encore.

Chef Thomas Boullault is one of a swath of Michelin-starred chefs who have also opted to open a neo-bistro to show off their traditional French cooking chops. Bistrot Marloe is a slightly more upscale version of your neighborhood bistro, with a menu gravitating towards classics like foie gras, steak-frites with béarnaise, or escargots, albeit with a fine dining flair. Guinea hen is served with butter infused with casette, a Burgundian relative of the hazelnut; Montbéliarde filet mignon comes with pepper sauce and mashed potatoes made with artisan Bordier butter. And vegetarians are not forgotten: Choose from offerings like a lentil and quinoa salad dressed up with beets and cheese or fregola risotto with watercress pesto and Stracciatella.

L’Ami Jean, an unassuming restaurant tucked into a little street in the 7th, reveals itself to be a temple to unique and innovative flavor combinations. Chef Stéphane Jégo has hit the sweet spot at the intersection of neo and bistro in his Basque-inspired dining room: you’ll get extra cozy with your table neighbors as you dig into perfectly roasted squab or seasonal vegetables simmered in a flavorful broth and topped with a parmesan espuma. The tasting menu may be a bit hard on your wallet, but it’s well worth it to see Jégo’s creativity in all its glory.

A neo-bistro par excellence, Le Richer is a truly extraordinary bastion of what makes the category so great. The all-day menu might not appear to give off Paris bistro vibes, offering everything from mackerel bao with prune sauce to samosas, but the vibe is spot-on, and vegetarians are more than catered to, with spelt- and mushroom-stuffed squash or whole roast cauliflower with split peas and poppadum.

When old-school and new-school meet, there is culinary magic, and that’s exactly what you’ll find in the tiny 10th arrondissement spot Les Arlots, which positively exudes old-school bistro vibes. The floor manager couldn’t be more genial; the chalkboard menu couldn’t be more appetizing, with ever-changing offerings, of which the only stalwart is a mind-blowing sausage with mashed potatoes. Choose a bottle or a glass from the massive natural wine selection, and contemplate the odd-yet-endearing selection of taxidermy animals while you dine.

Le Maquis is a restaurant with two identities: The evening sees the 55-euro prix fixe menu replete with shared portions of creations, including house-made pasta or curry-spiked local lamb. Lunch is where bistro classics live, with a simple, ever-changing offering of fare ranging from leeks vinaigrette to grilled mackerel to skate à la grenobloise. Passion for bistro classics–and a time-worn dining room complete with red leather banquettes, an authentic zinc bar, and old-school tiling–make this a true must-try.