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$$ | Grands Boulevards |
Those unable to score a sought-after table at chef Katsuaki Okiyama's restaurant Abri should have better luck at this small soba bar tucked away on a back street off the Faubourg-Montmartre. The chef's savory homemade buckwheat noodles are the big draw—enjoy them hot or cold, paired with duck and leeks, fried tofu and mushrooms, or more imaginative concoctions like eel, cod intestine, and the freshest sashimi. Reservations aren't accepted, so try to arrive before noon for lunch or 7 for dinner to avoid waiting in line.
10 rue Saulnier, Paris, Île-de-France, 75009, France
Known For
- Crème brûlée with matcha–sesame seed ice cream
- Good selection of natural wines and Japanese whiskies
- No reservations—try to arrive early
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sun.
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One of Paris's newer pizza places, in the Haut Marais, is also one of the best, serving irresistible handmade Neapolitan pies with top-quality Italian toppings: bresaola, fior di latte, burrata, hot Calabria salami, figs, fresh herbs, nuts, and creamy stracciatella. Try the sweet version for dessert, topped with a gourmet version of Nutella, among other dreamy confections.
41 rue des Tournelles, Paris, Île-de-France, 75003, France
Known For
- Delicious crispy crust
- Well-curated toppings
- Good wines by the glass
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | Sentier |
This classy brasserie in the heart of the Passage des Panoramas, Paris's oldest and most picturesque covered gallery, has much more going for it than just good looks. Every item on its tempting menu of French classics—from oeufs mayonnaise and soupe à l'oignon to frogs' legs and octopus à la Provençal, a house specialty—is made with the freshest market ingredients and perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and served with a smile. To really take in the atmosphere, grab a terrace table in the bustling historic passage. An extensive wine list offers plenty of excellent bottles and well-priced choices by the glass, and waiters are happy to help you with pairings.
19 passage des Panoramas, Paris, Île-de-France, 75002, France
Known For
- Beautiful historic setting
- Friendly and welcoming atmosphere
- Exceptional dining without breaking the bank
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$$ | Eiffel Tower |
California-born chef Gina McLintock's elegant-cozy interiors perfectly echo her scrumptious gourmet bistro fare with an Asian twist. Crowd-pleasers include dishes like delicate pumpkin beignets, rib-eye steak, and a juicy bacon burger. Live jazz on Saturday draws a fun Parisian crowd, and the small terrace is lovely in summer.
11 rue Augereau, Paris, Île-de-France, 75007, France
Known For
- Great value
- Located near Eiffel Tower
- Live jazz on Saturday
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | Grands Boulevards |
If this weren't one of Paris's most outstanding wine bars, the wait and metal tractor seats might be a deterrent. Yet wine lovers would be hard-pressed to find a better venue for sampling a great list of French wines and inspired selections from Italy and Spain—every one of them sold by the bottle or glass—with superb tapas to match. Feast on yummy small plates like the "coleslaw" of citrusy calamari, black-olive coulis, and a sprinkling of pine nuts; bresaola with apples, spicy mizuna leaves, and dollops of creamy horseradish; and a wedge of Stilton served atop a paste of Speculoos biscuits with poached pears and smoked walnuts. Get here right at 7 pm when the restaurant opens or shortly afterward to avoid waiting for a table.
6 rue du Nil, Paris, Île-de-France, 75002, France
Known For
- Choice selection of natural wines from France and Europe
- Rare expertise in natural, organic, and biodynamic wines
- Long waits unless you get there right when it opens (7 pm)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Latin Quarter |
Michelin-starred chef William Ledeuil flexes his genius for France-meets-Asia flavors at this chic address—his third—a few blocks from Île St-Louis and Notre-Dame. Ledeuil is known and loved for his fearless pairings of bold and subtle flavors, like veal tartare pasta with crunchy peanuts and pungent bonito flakes or Thai beef soup with luscious Iberian ham, mushrooms, and sweet pear. Desserts are equally expressive and not to be missed. The affordable lunch prix-fixe menus are a fabulous deal.
26 bd. St-Germain, Paris, Île-de-France, 75005, France
Known For
- Asian-inflected contemporary French cuisine
- Excellent-value lunch menus
- Easy walk from many tourist sights
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., and 2nd wk of Jan.
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$$ | Latin Quarter |
This charming Quartier Latin bistro with woodwork and murals dating from 1925 is always packed and boisterous. A glance at the affordable menu makes it easy to understand why: dishes such as chestnut soup with spice bread, sea bass marinated in lime and coconut, and apple and quince tatin (upside-down tart) with gingerbread ice cream put a fresh twist on French classics. Service is reliably courteous. If you don't finish your bottle of wine, you can take it with you to savor the last drops.
25 rue Jussieu, Paris, Île-de-France, 75005, France
Known For
- Authentic Parisian bistro atmosphere
- Excellent value daily prix-fixe lunch menu
- You can take home your wine if you don't finish it
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
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$$ | Père Lachaise |
The impressive but unfussy gastronomic menu here features Asian-inflected dishes that express the food's far-flung influences. A starter of "zakouskis," several small dishes that may include deep-fried giblets, fresh radishes with anchovy butter, or herb-infused cockles, warms you up for a sublime entrée of whole lacquered quail, cod with spicy black-bean reduction, or crispy melt-in-your mouth pork on a bed of braised leeks. Deliciously nuanced desserts, a good selection of natural wines, and an unbeatable two-course €26 lunch menu add up to an essential Paris dining experience.
32 rue St-Maur, Paris, Île-de-France, 75011, France
Known For
- Great-value lunch menu
- Accommodating to vegetarians
- Lovely, intimate setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential
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$$ | St-Germain-des-Prés |
This lively and popular brasserie is open from 8 am to 2 am every day, serving a copious morning breakfast, brunch on weekends, and an excellent full menu of everything from warm goat cheese salad to magret de canard from noon until 1 am. In keeping with the area's literary past and its name (Les Editeurs means "the publishers"), the book-lined space hosts monthly discussions with best-selling contemporary authors.
4 carrefour de l'Odeon, Paris, Île-de-France, 75006, France
Known For
- Cool literary vibe
- Lively atmosphere
- Quality brasserie dishes
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$$ | Eiffel Tower |
The otherwise unexciting 15e arrondissement is home to much-lauded chef Ludivine Merlin and her Basque-inspired recipes. Basque cooking is known for its bold flavors and generosity, and the choices at Afaria are no exception. Crisp-skinned duck breast with balsamic-fig vinegar (for two) is served dramatically, inside a ceramic roof tile, with the accompanying potato gratin perched on a bed of twigs. Big chunks of spoon-tender, slow-cooked pork from Gascony come in an earthenware dish with cubes of roasted celery root. Tapas are served at a high table near the entrance and there's a large-screen TV for rugby matches.
15 rue Desnouettes, Paris, Île-de-France, 75015, France
Known For
- Laid-back, classic bistro atmosphere
- Artichoke terrine with smoked bacon and aged Comté cheese
- Hazelnut soufflé with homemade dark-chocolate sorbet for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., and 2 wks at Christmas.
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$$ | Marais Quarter |
This handsome, contemporary Marais bistro and wine bar is the perfect place to enjoy traditional fare and excellent Burgundies served by the glass and bottle. Unusual for Paris, food is served nonstop from noon to 11 pm, and you can drop by just for a glass of wine in the afternoon. Always on the menu are Burgundian classics such as jambon persillé (ham in parsley aspic jelly), escargots, and boeuf bourguignon (beef stewed in red wine). More up-to-date picks include a cèpe-mushroom velouté with poached oysters, although fancier dishes are generally less successful.
52 rue François-Miron, Paris, Île-de-France, 75003, France
Known For
- Traditional bistro atmosphere
- Hearty Burgundian cuisine
- Sidewalk dining with nice views of the Marais
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$$ | République |
This bistrot à vins has the lived-in look of a longtime neighborhood hangout—which it was until two veterans of the raging Paris wine-bar scene reinvented the place, keeping the vintage, laid-back atmosphere and adding a serious foodie menu that's one of the best deals in town. A blackboard lists a selection of tapas, including several house-made pâtés, fresh tomato or beet salads, a superb seafood carpaccio, and artisanal charcuterie and cheeses. For dinner, four or more diners can hack away at a crispy-succulent roasted lamb haunch.
1 bis, passage St-Sébastien, Paris, Île-de-France, 75011, France
Known For
- Gastronomy on a budget
- Friendly, low-key vibe
- Roasted lamb haunch to share
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$ | Grands Boulevards |
You'll have no doubt what city you're in at this classic Parisian brasserie where you can sample all the French delicacies you'll never find at home, like quenelle de brochet with sauce Nantua (a sort of fritter made with pike—a traditional specialty of Lyon); tête de veau with tangy sauce ravigote (capers, shallots, tarragon, chervil, and parsley); poached haddock à l'Anglaise; and a fabulous millefeuille de boudin noir (blood sausage pastry). Be sure to try the excellent frites, and do not skimp on dessert: their crème brulée is legendary.
25 rue Le Peletier, Paris, Île-de-France, 75009, France
Known For
- Beautiful decor
- More elegant than your average brasserie
- Attentive service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | Louvre |
As its impressive facade attests, this café has a special history. It opened in 1846, when Balzac was a regular, and Rue Montorgueil was the place to buy oysters, though these days, the menu is more modern with salads, burgers, and brunch options, as well as a handful of classics like escargots and French onion soup.
78 rue Montorgueil, Paris, Île-de-France, 75002, France
Known For
- All-day service from 8 am to 2 am
- Sidewalk café with views over the bustling Rue Montorgueil
- Lovely dining room with panels showing scenes of 18th-century life
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$$ | Louvre |
Set in the Galerie Vivienne, Paris's loveliest covered passage, this charmingly authentic 19th-century bistro feels both cozy and welcoming, and the food and drink are well above average. With all-day hours as well as a double terrace either inside Galerie Vivienne or on a picturesque street a few steps from the Palais Royal gardens, this is a satisfying spot for a quick coffee or glass of wine, a snack, or a full meal.
4 rue des Petits Champs, Paris, Île-de-France, 75002, France
Known For
- All-day service until 11 pm
- Great location in the Galerie Vivienne
- A handful of good vegetarian options
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$$ | Marais Quarter |
It may not have the healthiest food in the Marais, and the coffee may not be third wave, but that doesn't keep chic locals from packing into it on a sunny (or even not-so-sunny) day. The people-watching from this choice spot—at the intersection of the à la mode shopping street Rue Charlot and the bustling Rue de Bretagne—is top-notch, and the café's 1950s film noir charm is irresistible.
38 rue de Bretagne, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Known For
- Hearty, delicious French staples and well-priced wines by the glass
- Chic, lively atmosphere
- Open daily from 7 am to 2 am
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$$ | St-Germain-des-Prés |
Picasso, Chagall, Sartre, and de Beauvoir, attracted by the luxury of a heated café, worked and wrote here in the early 20th century. Today you'll find more tourists than intellectuals, and prices are hardly aimed at struggling artists, but the outdoor terrace is popular with Parisians and great for people-watching.
172 bd. St-Germain, Paris, Île-de-France, 75006, France
Known For
- Touristy reputation
- Scenic, central location
- Simple menu
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$$ | St-Germain-des-Prés |
Overlooking the St-Sulpice church, this retro café recalls the Paris of yesteryear, before the proliferation of luxury boutiques and trendy eateries. It is a favorite spot for locals for a coffee, drink, or simple meal.
8 pl. St-Sulpice, Paris, Île-de-France, 75006, France
Known For
- Classic Parisian feel
- Good food
- Excellent location
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$$ | Marais Quarter |
A true neighborhood haunt, this bustling little bistro near the Musée Picasso offers a convivial slice of Parisian life at a good value. Traditional French bistro fare is adapted to a modern audience. The best choices are the old tried-and-trues: hand-cut tartare de boeuf; rare entrecôte served with a side of golden-crisp frites and homemade béarnaise; and the classic Parmentier, with pheasant instead of the usual ground beef.
49 rue de Turenne, Paris, Île-de-France, 75003, France
Known For
- Reliable bistro fare
- Warm and friendly service
- Proximity to Marais museums
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Champs-Élysées |
A favorite of Parisians for business lunches and after-work apéros, this traditional brasserie prides itself on using quality ingredients from top French producers (and the family farm) for its homemade fare, along with all the joys of an authentic Parisian brasserie: a daily blackboard menu, brisk service, a generous sidewalk terrace, and convenient all-day hours (open 6:30 am until midnight). Its location a short walk from the Champs-Élysées does mean higher prices, but not as high as the more touristy cafés on the avenue.
53 rue Pierre Charron, Paris, Île-de-France, 75008, France
Known For
- Copious steak tartare
- Good selection of reasonable wines by the glass
- Great location