A Chocolate Lover’s Guide to Paris: 16 Places to Savor
Paris is a place for love, and it’s certainly a place for chocolate lovers. With hundreds of chocolate shops, factories, bakeries, pastry shops,…
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It’s tempting to think that everywhere you eat in Paris is going to be a stunner, but the reality is that that’s far from the case. And the pickings get even slimmer the closer you get to the main tourist track.
So consider this your guide to finding the best food near Paris’ top sights, whether you want a luxurious meal over which to discover your favorite findings from the Louvre or a quick bite before you head off on your next adventure.
Where to eat near the Latin Quarter
Nearby attractions: Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Panthéon, Luxembourg Gardens
The Latin Quarter is one of the oldest parts of Paris, home to landmarks like the Sorbonne and the city’s oldest Roman ruins. It’s also right next door to Île de la Cité where you’ll find Notre-Dame.
Once you’ve taken in the breathtaking renovations to the majestic cathedral and wandered through the aisles of Shakespeare & Co., here’s where you can regain your strength.
Au Moulin à Vent
Budget: Mid-range
This bistro in the 5th arrondissement oozes old-school charm. You’ll sit elbow-to-elbow with your neighbors at a table lining the narrow dining room and feast on French specialties scrawled on the chalkboard menu. Appetizers may include escargots, frogs’ legs, or 2023’s champion egg-mayo, while mains run the gamut from duck confit to stuffed cabbage to slow-cooked veal belly with gratin dauphinois and morel mushroom sauce.
At Au Moulin à Vent, these well-trod classics benefit from a touch of contemporary lightness: Think celery root purée as an accompaniment for roasted hake or a bit of pickled cabbage to bring brightness to a plate of flavorsome sausage and lentils.
The video below shows a few of their popular dishes. You don’t have to speak French to see how much the diner is enjoying her meal.
The lunchtime prix fixe is a steal: €24 for two courses or €29 for three. But since this spot is no secret, reserve to secure your spot or risk disappointment.
Hugo & Co
Budget: Mid-range
Michelin-starred Chef Tomy Gousset adds a touch of international flair to the bistro model at his Hugo & Co.
In a warm, modern dining room bedecked with a green wall covered in live plants, dig into an array of French classics with Asian flair. Tuna tartare may be seasoned with gochujang, while miso may kiss sautéed scallops. There are also a few excellent iterations of classics, like beef rib steak with potatoes or pâté en croûte with foie gras.
Creative desserts may include adzuki beans with yogurt ice cream or poached seasonal fruit with puffed rice.
Bistro des Lettres
Budget: Mid-range
In a city where dining between 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. can be a challenge, Bistro des Lettres comes to the rescue. In this airy dining room mere blocks from Notre-Dame and the Seine, you can dig into a host of French classics done right.
Appetizers are imposing — like steak tartare piled atop roasted beef marrow bone and gooey baked Camembert bedecked with thyme. Consider sharing so you’ve still got space for one of the “plats de resistance:” sausage with luxurious mashed potatoes or beef tenderloin with house-made rosti.
Local tip: Don’t leave without writing your future self a letter, which the appropriately-named bistro will keep in a gorgeous antique secretary and mail to you in a year.
Where to eat in Saint-Germain
Nearby attractions: Monnaie de Paris, Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Musée d’Orsay
Formerly the stomping grounds of Paris’ best-known literati, modern Saint-Germain-des-Prés is chiefly tourist terrain.
Dotted with small, pricey boutiques, this neighborhood is nevertheless picturesque, and amidst the tourist traps with lines out the door, you’ll find a handful of delicious gems.
Brasserie des Prés
Budget: Mid-range
Turn down the cobbled covered Cour du Commerce Saint-André to discover this vibrant neo-brasserie.
In a dining room built around a piece of the medieval fortification walls of the city, you can feast on all manner of revisited bistro classics like a triple-decker croque monsieur or a scrumptious half-portion of French onion soup enriched with port.
Don’t miss one of the best leeks-vinaigrette in the city, topped with loads of toasted hazelnuts and buttery croutons. They also make their own ice cream on site, so be sure to snag a scoop for dessert.
Cosi
Budget: Bargain
While you’ll find decent sandwiches in pretty much any Parisian boulangerie, sandwich specialist Cosi has stood the test of time for a reason.
For over 30 years, they’ve been filling their hot-out-of-the-oven flatbreads with all manner of delicious fillings, from tuna, tomato, and basil to roast beef with cheddar, mayo, and chive. There are loads of veggie options, like roasted vegetables with fresh herbs or olive tapenade with cherry tomato and arugula.
Dig in on-site in the upstairs dining room, or take the sambo with you to chow down overlooking the Seine.
Polidor
Budget: Mid-range
There’s a reason Woody Allen chose to film parts of his “Midnight in Paris” at this time-tested restaurant steps from the Luxembourg Gardens.
Polidor’s 19th-century dining room is still giving major Lost Generation vibes, with classic wooden tables and chairs, a mosaic tiled floor, and gingham napkins on every table.
And the traditional French fare doesn’t suffer for the restaurant’s popularity. The beef bourguignon is a must, served with rich, buttery mashed potatoes. Say “oui” to a hunk of tarte Tatin for dessert, and you’ll be in French bistro heaven.
Where to eat near the Eiffel Tower
Nearby attractions: The Eiffel Tower (of course), the Champ de Mars, Pont de Bir-Hakeim
The Eiffel Tower needs no introduction. The most-visited monument in Paris is definitely a must while you’re in the city. But once you come down off the tower, you’ll find yourself starved for anything but a tourist trap. Luckily, there are a few gems hiding in the melee.
Bistrot des Fables
Budget: Mid-range
This cozy little bistro just steps from the tower has no reason to be as good as it is, and yet Chef Guillaume Dehecq is delivering truly excellent French food in an old-world setting.
Start with frog legs or French onion soup before digging into steak au poivre or duck with honey glaze. In winter, don’t skip the slow-cooked specialties like old-school veal blanquette or carbonnade, a northern French stew simmered in beer.
And if you want a slightly more contemporary spin on classic snails, the escargots fried in Basque lard with sweet peppers are a far fresher take and are absolutely divine.
The food at Bistrot des Fables is enough of a draw, but add on the fact that this bistro is open seven days a week, with early dinner service starting at 6 p.m. during the week and even earlier on the weekends, and it truly earns its crown as a neighborhood must.
Le Jules Verne
Budget: Luxury
Why settle for dining near the Eiffel Tower when you can eat on top of it?
At the Jules Verne, a two-Michelin-star restaurant, Chef Frédéric Anton focuses on luxury ingredients worthy of the locale, so crab may be seasoned with tarragon and apple, while langoustine is roasted with Parmesan cream. The cheese course always features truffle, and the desserts, which change according to the seasons, take full advantage of single-origin coffee or Madagascar vanilla.
And at €180, the weekday lunchtime menu is a steal given the quality and the panoramic views of Paris below.
Prévelle
Budget: Luxury
Romain Méder’s fine dining restaurant is an ode to his love of plants, and produce is clearly the star, from the radish centerpieces to the house-made kombucha that whets your palate for the prix fixe to follow.
Pumpkin could appear in many textures, topped with toasted pumpkin seeds and chile, or a tumble of mushrooms might be paired with ultra-sweet leeks and a mushroom reduction, served alongside barely-seared scallops acting more like the side than the focal point of the plate. The €85 lunchtime prix fixe is a more affordable way to explore this chef’s expertise, though the €165 five-course menu allows his creativity to truly shine.
Where to eat in le Marais
Nearby attractions: Centre Pompidou, Place des Vosges, Carnavalet Museum, Maison de Victor Hugo, Musée National Picasso-Paris
The Marais is one of the best-preserved neighborhoods in central Paris, known for its meandering cobbled streets dotted with boutiques, art galleries, and more.
And while there’s no shortage of tourist bistros here, you’ll also find loads of local gems, from classic brasseries to Middle Eastern food perfected by the neighborhood’s Jewish community, whose roots here go back several hundred years.
Les Philosophes
Budget: Mid-range
Xavier Denamur’s culinary philosophy is on full display at Les Philosophes, a gorgeous café on bustling rue Vieille du Temple, where simple recipes star only top-notch ingredients, from raw milk cheeses to award-winning baguette from the neighboring bakery.
Features of the all-day menu include copious meal salads, an excellent French onion soup with a slightly lighter chicken broth than most, and some of the best cheese and charcuterie boards in the capital.
Local tip: Save room for the tarte Tatin. Only two are made each day, but if you get your hands on a piece, you’ll be in heaven.
Robert et Louise
Budget: Mid-range
The gingham curtains in the windows of this picturesque spot in the heart of the Marais hide a roaring open fire, over which is cooked one of the best steaks in the capital.
Since beef in France is mostly grass-fed, steaks have a tendency to be tougher than they are stateside. But here, they’re fatty and richly flavored, with no need for sauce or other accouterments. The pan-fried potatoes are the only side you need.
L’As du Fallafel
Budget: Bargain
L’As du Fallafel has been a staple of the Rue des Rosiers for 46 years — and for good reason. The falafel sandwiches here are truly a step above the copycats, with fluffy pita crammed with freshly sliced cabbage, silky fried eggplant, and a half-dozen tiny falafel balls fried to crispy perfection.
Don’t fear the lines out the door. The experts here know exactly what they’re doing, and sandwiches are prepared and served in mere moments, either to go or to enjoy in the on-site dining room. They’re open daily, except Friday nights and Saturday.
The Butcher of Paris
Budget: Mid-range
Within the buzzy Marché des Enfants Rouges, this butchershop doubles as a restaurant counter where you can enjoy some truly tasty dry-aged beef.
Choose your own steak from the case before taking a seat at the counter and ordering a glass of natural wine. In moments, your meat will arrive on a butcherboard, perfectly cooked and sliced alongside a tumble of seasonal vegetables and a bright, zingy chimichurri.
Bistrot des Tournelles
Budget: Mid-range
This new-ish bistro is an ode to old-world Parisian charm, with its tiled floors and wooden bar. From the tiny kitchen, Chef Geoffroy Langella is delivering big flavors straight out of the bistro encyclopedia.
Seasonal mushrooms may be pan-fried with garlic and parsley, while classic egg-mayo gets a luxe makeover with black truffle. The cordon bleu has become Insta-famous, thanks to the ooze of Comté cheese that cascades from the breaded and fried turkey filet the moment you cut into it.
But the unsung hero of the menu is undoubtedly the daube, the Provençal answer to beef bourguignon, simmered with briny olives.
Where to eat near the Louvre
The Louvre is a must for any visitors to Paris, but a visit to this world-class museum can be overwhelming, and the moment you emerge, you’ll be in search of sustenance. Luckily, you don’t have to journey far for food as impressive as the works of fine art you just saw.
NHOMe
Budget: Luxury
At NHOMe, French-Israeli Chef Matan Zaken offers a true culinary journey meant to share with friends and strangers alike.
Take a seat at the communal central table and settle in for a nine-course tasting that plucks its influences from cuisines near and far. Expect clever winks at French classics like steak tartare reimagined as a tartlet seasoned with scallion oil, sumac, and Brussels sprout purée or smoked eel and foie gras paired with a deeply flavored allium broth inspired by French onion soup.
Don’t skip the cheese course, which deviates from the more traditional board to offer a more culinary exploration of a single cheese, like Normandy Camembert married with butter-cooked apple and hidden beneath a Camembert espuma and apple sorbet.
Le Grand Véfour
Budget: Luxury
Instead of heading all the way out to Versailles, pull up a chair in this gilded 18th-century dining room for a meal fit for a king.
At lunch, the €68 semainier (a prix fixe with one choice per course that changes each day of the week) is the best bang for your buck, with appetizers like house-made rabbit terrine with prunes or sweet potato soup with kumquat and chestnut followed by mains like slow-cooked lamb shoulder with black garlic or duck breast with Sichuan pepper.
For dessert, you may be offered Paris-Brest with fleur de sel or an ultra-rich chocolate tartlet. The à la carte menu is more extensive — and more expensive — featuring loads of luxury ingredients like foie gras served with mango compote or lobster with a shellfish emulsion. Whatever you choose, the dishes are true works of art.
Le Garde-Robe
Budget: Mid-range
Le Garde-Robe was one of Paris’ first natural wine bars, and it’s still the place to go for excellent cheese and charcuterie boards and some of the best croques in the capital.
Grab a seat in the narrow dining room with its limestone walls and exposed beams before choosing your wine straight from the wall. The simple menu focuses on top-quality products like foie gras, iberico ham, and raw milk cheeses, but there are also a few cooked dishes like baked Mont d’Or served with potatoes and charcuterie or grilled octopus with rouille.
La Fromagerie du Louvre
Budget: Bargain
For sandwich greatness steps from the Louvre, head to this cheese shop, where all manner of fromages can be crammed into a fluffy, fresh baguette.
In winter, take advantage of their on-site raclette machine to enjoy a hot sambo filled with melted Morbier or Bleu du Queyras. In summer, enjoy creations like fresh goat cheese and barrel-aged feta paired with raw-cured ham, cucumber and olives.
Where to eat in Montmartre
The hilltop former village of Montmartre is ripe for exploration, and once you’ve climbed to the top of the butte and wended your way down the picturesque cobbled streets, your legs will be demanding lunch. Steer clear of the tourist traps on Place du Tertre in favor of these hidden gems.
A. Lea
Budget: Mid-range
This contemporary bistronomic restaurant marries fine dining codes with comfort food flavors for a meal as intriguing as it is delicious.
Classic French braised endives may be spiked with curry and topped with a toasted walnut cream, while Cévennes onions and porcini mushrooms could be married in a delightful vegetarian tartlet atop ultra-buttery puff pastry.
Expect loads of little touches of freshness and acidity, like pickled mustard seeds, preserved lemon, or shiso, which help offset the potential heaviness of the traditional French flavors.
Le Bon Georges
Budget: Luxury
This restaurant may look like a bistro, with its walls littered with tin apéritif advertisements, wooden tables, and chalkboard menus, but the prices say otherwise. It’s no matter. The food here is worth the investment.
Beef lovers may want to take advantage of the “hibernated” beef from celebrity butcher Alexandre Polmard, but you’ll get an even better bang for your buck if you opt for one of the seasonal dishes from the chalkboard menu, like a slow-cooked oxtail shepherd’s pie or roasted monkfish tail paired with braised fennel and spider crab bisque.
Don’t overlook the imposing wine list, as heavy as a phone book, or the exquisite desserts, like a behemoth of a chocolate mousse served in a massive cast iron pot or a delicate lemon meringue tart revisited with verbena.
Chantoiseau
Budget: Luxury
This fine dining restaurant in the heart of Montmartre is an absolute gem, with only the best ingredients prepared with technical acuity and a handful of clever international touches.
Highland grouse may be flambéed with whisky, while green beans could be paired with foie gras, sesame, and chile.
The lunchtime prix fixe is an absolute steal at €29. It features a trio of homier courses like lentils in vinaigrette with a perfectly poached egg followed by salmon in sorrel sauce with sweet potato and praline-stuffed chou bun or pan con tomate with tender, rich sardines followed by pork steak with garlicky green beans and a slice of plum croustade.
Gemüse
Budget: Bargain
On the far side of the butte, this kébab shop stands out from the many others you’ll find in Paris thanks to its attention to sourcing and, above all, its focus on veggies.
Choose from sesame pide or flatbread to fill with house-made spit-roasted chicken, halloumi, or falafel and loads of fresh and grilled vegetables. All of the sauces, from garlicky sauce blanche to hot red harissa, are made in-house. In summer, an on-site terrace is the perfect place to munch in the sunshine.
How To Avoid Tourist Trap Restaurants in Paris
It’s unfortunate that there are so many ho-hum restaurants near major attractions in Paris, but you can usually sniff out the bad ones if you take a bit of time to assess before strolling right in.
Shorter menus are a good sign, as are spots with locals as well as tourists in the dining room. And if there’s a staff member posted outside trying to tempt you in, chances are, the food isn’t good enough to speak for itself.
Looking for more to eat in Paris? We recommend trying the chocolate.
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