Memorable Paris Restaurants – Glorious Culinary Experiences

Memorable Paris Dining

We've eaten at a lot of restaurants in Paris. Some, of course, are better than others, but all of them have been memorable experiences. Reminisce with us, traveling by Metro to practically every arrondissement, as we revisit a few of our special Paris dining experiences from recent years.

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The Best Restaurants In Paris

The Best Restaurants In Paris

We maintain a special vault in our memories for the exceptional culinary experiences we've had in Paris at restaurants like Le Jules Verne on the Eiffel Tower, Les Climats near Musée d'Orsay, Jacques Faussat in the 17th. Read our reviews and come with us for a stroll down le chemin des souvenirs.

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Romantic Dinner Cruises In Paris

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Dinner Cruise by Maxim's of Paris
The legendary Parisian restaurant takes you on a dinner cruise complete with champagne and wine. Choose the 2-hour cruise for a stellar evening in Paris.
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VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

L'Assaggio

L'Assaggio, photo by Mark Craft

Although we usually don't seek out Italian cuisine in Paris, L'Assaggio changed that for us. In the refined restaurant of the Castille Hotel, on the elegant Rue Cambon where Coco Chanel set up her headquarters, L'Assaggio is combining Italian flavors and refined French techniques. Chef Ugo Alciati from Piedmont and Executive Chef Sasha Arandjelovic are creating exemplary dishes. We urge you to try their memorable tasting menu.

Le Grand Véfour – Palais-Royal

Le Grand Véfour A table at Le Grand Véfour, photo Le Grand Véfour

"Bonaparte and Josephine, Victor Hugo, Jean Cocteau, Colette, Sartre…" That's how every review of Le Grand Véfour starts out. And it makes sense. Since 1784 this restaurant has fed the famous and celebrated of every era.

After a 20th-century renovation to restore it to the original glory, Le Grand Véfour claimed the highest honor — three Michelin stars in the year 2000. Today the restaurant still holds two stars (not a bad achievement!) and retains the glory of bygone days.

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Experience the Splendor Of Versailles

Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
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Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles
If you don't have a full day, this popular half-day tour of Versailles includes priority access with an expert guide. The small-group ensures personal attention and includes transportation right from your hotel.
More information…

Versailles with Priority Access + Gardens
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens with your guide, then visit Marie Antoinette's estate.
More information…

Seine River VIP Dinner Cruise

Seine River VIP Dinner Cruise

We loved this dinner cruise along the Seine. Not only did we view the iconic landmarks of Paris, we dined on a multi-course classic French meal that exceeded our expectations. Everything looks better from a bateau sailing along the river at night. For the the ultimate experience, choose the Service Privilege option with the best seating, the best meal, and more champagne!

La Verriere

La Verriere, photo by Mark Craft

We dined at La Verriere by chance when we were looking for a place to have lunch before visiting the new Musée de la Libération de Paris (Museum of the Liberation) in the 14th Arrondissement. The neighborhood is funky but lively while the renovated Hilton hotel Maison Astor Paris, where the restaurant is located, is swish and modern.

Chef Kayori Hirano brings her Asian flavors and integrates them with French culinary savoir-faire. There are some very good dishes — like the foie gras a la plancha in a dashi broth, and the canette with garlic, ginger, and a Japanese pepper sauce called Sanshoe. Worth a Metro ride.

  • 4 Rue Niepce
  • 14th Arrondissement
  • Metro – Pernety
  • Website

The Hottest Paris Terraces

Paris Terraces

Let's take a virtual tour of the hottest Paris restaurant terraces — at least according to the Paris newspaper, Le Figaro. We've pared down Le Figaro's selection to our ten top favorites, found everywhere from the Palais Royal in the 1st Arrondissement, to St-Germain on the Left Bank, to way out in Belleville in the 20th.

Summer dining in the city is best on these hot Paris terraces. Eat with the locals, outside where the sun is warm and the views are spectacular.

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Skip-the-Line at the Louvre Museum

The Louvre's Greatest Masterpieces
Skip the lines make the most of your time in Paris with a whirlwind tour of the must-see works of art in the Louvre on this professionally-guided tour. The top choice.
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Louvre Skip-the-Line Tour
Head straight to the front of the line, then journey through art history on a 3-hour private Louvre visit. On this complete tour, an expert guide reveals subtle details about the artwork.
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The Louvre's Greatest Masterpieces
Skip the lines make the most of your time in Paris with a whirlwind tour of the must-see works of art in the Louvre on this professionally-guided tour. The top choice.
Check Availability…

Hotel Particulier Montmartre & The Grand Salon

Hotel Particulier, photo by Mark Craft

If the crowds milling around the Grand Magasins are getting to you, hop on the Metro and head up to the top of Montmartre to tuck yourself into the Hotel Particulier Montmartre's comforting restaurant, Le Grand Salon. It's found in a quiet, secret garden that's far, far away from that madding crowd. Sip champagne from vintage flutes, dine on the refreshing vegetable-forward menu, and wonder what it was like to have lived here when it was a private mansion.

Chez Janou

Chez Janou, photo by Mark Craft

Bask in the sunny flavors of Provence at this popular bistro in the Marais. It's a crowded scene at lunchtime with regulars filling up on casual-fare favorites like roasted goat cheese rounds in a rich, flavorful tomato sauce; petite friture de poissons (deep-fried, bite-size fish); and a lamb, rabbit, or duck main course. Yes it can get packed, and sometimes the service can be sloppy, but it's worth it.

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Our Most Popular Day Trips from Paris

Spend a Day in the Champagne Region
Your driver gathers you from your Paris hotels for a small-group tour led by an expert guide to the Land of Champagne for a day-long tasting of the bubbly. Inclues lunch & tastings.
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Visit the Historic D-Day Beaches
A day trip to the landing beaches of Normandy is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. Visit the monuments, museums, and dedicated cemeteries, as well as the beaches themselves
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Visit the Historic D-Day Beaches
A guided tour to the landing beaches of Normandy makes for one of the most memorable day trips from Paris. Visit the monuments, museums, and dedicated cemeteries, as well as the beaches themselves.
Check Availability…

Brasserie Bellanger

Brasserie Bellanger

In a quiet corner of the 10th Arrondissement a tired corner cafe has been transformed into one of the best examples of an old-fashioned brasserie. Nothing fussy or fancy about the food — it's stick-to-your-ribs French grandmother classics made with high-quality ingredients sourced from every part of France. Hams from the Auvergne, rich butter from Brittany, and fish from the shores of Normandy on a short, fun menu at bargain-basement prices.

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The Highest-Rated Paris Activities

Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
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VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic, VIP dinner cruise is the #1 nighttime activity. Be sure to choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, the most champagne, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic, VIP dinner cruise is the #1 nighttime activity. Be sure to choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, the most champagne, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Brasserie Lutetia – Hotel Lutetia

Brasserie Lutetia, photo by Mark Craft

Four years and a zillion euros (approximately) in the making, Hotel Lutetia revealed a new look, including the restored restaurant, Brasserie Lutetia. Chef Gérald Passédat brought his seafood sensibilities from his Michelin 3-Star restaurant in Marseille to launch the renovated brasserie. This is the place to fill up on fresh oysters, with seafood platters and whole fish as the stars of the show.

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Delectable Food Tours in Paris

Discover the Food & Wine of the Marais
Visit the top food & wine shops in the historic Marais, tasting the best of French foods. There's plenty of sampling on this small-group tour.
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Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
Check Availability…

Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
Check Availability…

Les Cocottes – Retrospective Review

Les Cocottes, photo by Mark Craft

At one time, a culinary visit to Paris for us wasn't complete without a meal at one of Chef Christian Constant's restaurants. If you lodged around Rue St-Dominique near the Eiffel Tower, it was hard not to dine at one of them — three of his restaurants dominated the last block of the street. Among them was Les Cocottes.

However, Christian Constant retired and the restaurants he created are closed or have changed hands. But, we have fond memories of dining at Les Cocottes. We remember seared duck with Asian vegetables, scallops served in the shell with a purée of celeriac, flavorful roast chicken (served on Sundays only), and Basque cheese with black cherry jam. Bonne retraite, Chef Constant.

L"Escudella are only shown in the Tc

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