Restaurants In Paris – Guide To Eating In The City Of Food

Neighborhood bistros, lively brasseries, intimate cafés & Michelin-starred restaurants. They're all included in this Restaurant In Paris guide to dining. Choosing where to eat — and making the best choices — can be a bit confusing. But it's a good kind of confusing, if you know what we mean. Here's the good news — you are welcome to use our hard-earned experience (well…actually it was fun) gained from eating in scores of Paris bistros, brasseries, starred-restaurants and cafés for nearly twenty years.

That's right, we're about to share all of our restaurants in Paris guide recommendations and Insiders tips. Speaking of tips, here's another one. It's important to call the restaurant to confirm on the day of your reservation. (Or have your concierge call for you). Many restaurants in Paris require this. If you don't confirm, you may lose your reservation. We've seen it happen! And, yes, this means that usually you need reservations.

Guide to the Best Paris Restaurants

We've eaten at a lot of great restaurants in Paris and we love to share our reviews of the best of them.

Our Best of Paris Restaurants are the special ones that have created an exceptional dining experience — leaving us with culinary memories that endure the test of time. We like to think of them as the places we'd go if we had one last meal on Earth, the restaurants we'd urge friends and family to go when they are in Paris. To make sure you have equally rewarding eating experiences, consult our list of our favourite nights out in the City of Food.

We Pick the Top Michelin-Starred Restaurants

The Michelin Red Guide to restaurants is the only guide book that matters to the top chefs of France. We know, we've asked them.

During our visits to Paris, and especially for our new book about one-star Michelin restaurants in France, we've eaten at a fair number of restaurants that have been awarded the highest accolades by Michelin. Among those, we have a few favorites. We'll share the secret.

10 Ways To Find The Best Paris Restaurant

Wouldn't it be great to know how to find the best Paris restaurants that serve the classic French dishes and are filled with locals, not tourists? It turns out that the quest is easier than you might think. Start right here, with 10 tested insiders tips. We'll help you find restaurants that feel like you've discovered them.

6 Historic Paris Bistros You're Going To Remember

Bistros, it can be said, are at the very heart of Parisian dining. Some are smaller, family-run affairs, with the menus still scrawled on chalkboards. Others are elegant, with white linens and servers clad in black and white. But what they all have in common is classic, hearty bistro fare. Like cassoulets, foie gras, herring with waxy yellow potatoes, boeuf bourguignon, and creme brûlée.

Eating at a great bistro is like a little vacation in itself, and creates memories that will stay with you. Here are six of the best memory makers.

Explaining Bistros, Brasseries and Cafés

These dining establishments of Paris define the culinary landscape of the city and are a historical link to the past.

The restaurants, bistros, brasseries & cafés of Paris have been around for centuries, reaching back to 1686 when Procope served their first bowl of French onion soup. Today they remain the staple of French dining and are found in every quartier of the city. Read our guide to learn how to tell them apart, and to discover some of our favorites.

The 6 Best Historic Brasseries in Paris

Brasseries in Paris are big, brightly lit, packed with Parisians, and serve meals all day long. The best ones have fascinating histories and still feature authentic period decoration. They're open all day long and — unlike Paris cafès and restaurants — you can order a meal at any time of day.

To experience Paris dining history, and to tuck in a hearty meal, check our reviews of the top six historic brassieres.

Stellar Paris Bistros at Amazing Prices

Some of our most memorable restaurant experiences in Paris have been in those places where the chef/owner is in the kitchen.

In this guide to Paris bistros, we explore a few stellar chef-run restaurants in the City of Food, some of which opened over twenty-five years ago, changing the city's culinary scene forever. They still offer gourmet meals at affordable prices.

Luxury Paris Restaurants

A leisurely long lunch or dinner in a top-rated Paris restaurant will give you a taste of the good life. There will be a bevy of servers, all silently tending to your every culinary need. The setting will be opulent yet calming and the food will be inspirational.

But, stuffy? Pas du tout. Not at all. We've always been struck by the care and attention the staff affords us and how everyone seems to be excited about serving such great food.

The Hottest Paris Terraces

Let's take a virtual tour of the hottest Paris restaurant terraces for 2017 — 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.

Le Train Bleu

Named after a famous train of yesteryear that spe Parisians to the Cote dAzur, restaurant Le Train Bleu is still found today at Gare de Lyon, and it's still just as magnficient as when it opened in 1901, following a recent multi-year renovation. You're going to be amazed at the restored gilding, carved mouldings, chandeliers, paintings, and ceiling frescoes.

Where To Eat At Printemps Department Store

Shop, but don't drop. After trying on all those shoes at the Printemps department store it's time to take a break, refresh, and re-fuel at one of the cafes located inside the store. There's an outpost of Ladurée that may tempt you, or you may want to sit under Printemps famous Belle-Epoque dome at Brasserie Printemps. We take a look at seven dining options.

The 100 Top Bistros In Paris

Paris has always had great bistros, but now it's official! The Mayor's Office and the City of Paris recently recognized 100 stellar bistros that exemplify "the spirit of Paris" and "represent the diversity and richness of Parisian cuisine." We'll take you on a virtual tour of a selection of our personal favorite bistros, and then point you to the complete list.

Paris Dining – Insider Tips

The French are a little different from us, so knowing some basic Parisian restaurant etiquette will make you feel more comfortable when dining in the City of Food. For instance —

Waiters in restaurants in Paris do not fawn over their customers. Don't mistake this for poor service, it's just another fascinating cultural difference. Most restaurants in Paris are small, so if you need the server just catch her eye — never snap your fingers.

Space is tight in central Paris and you'll find that many restaurants use up every bit of their precious space. You may find yourself side-by-side with other diners. Enjoy yourself, but try not to poke them with your fork!

Garçon is not the name of your server. That means "boy" in French. Instead call your server either Monsieur, Madame or Mademoiselle. (Tip: Mademoiselle refers to a young woman, so if you want to make a friend, opt for Mademoiselle !)