Where To Eat At The Louvre Museum – The Top Choices… And Others

We don't know about you, but looking at 4,000 years of art makes us hungry. When you're in Paris it's pretty certain you are going to spend a full day at the Louvre. You have your sensible-yet-stylish walking shoes packed, and you've booked a skip-the-line tour, but where are you going to eat when hunger calls? The Louvre is huge and there are several cafeteria options and a few sit-down restaurants to choose from.

If you care just as much about food as art (or, like us, maybe even more), you'll opt for the Café Richelieu Angelina or the Cafe Grand Louvre. But if you care more about art, you might want to choose Cafe Mollien, which offers an architecturally-striking location with a famous ceiling mural. Let's take a look at the food-for-art options.

Restaurants at the Louvre

Café Richelieu Angelina

It's hard to imagine it now, but this plum location within the Louvre was used as the office of the French Minister of Finance from the time of Napoleon III right up to 1984. Located in the Richelieu Wing, just steps away from the preserved apartment of Napoleon III, Café Richelieu Angelina is our number-one recommendation. The pretty terrace overlooks Cour Napoleon and the Louvre Pyramid.

In case you've forgotten your Paris pastry history, in 1903 an Austrian confectioner called Anton Rumpelmayer founded tea-room Angelina, named for his daughter-in-law. Since then the flagship tearoom on Rue de Rivoli has become a true Parisian institution.

The Louvre cafe location offers the same menu as the original Angelina.There is a selection of savory items like croque monsieur, quiche lorraine, fine Scottish smoked salmon, and club sandwiches, but leave room for the pastries that have made Angelina famous — like the Mont-Blanc made with meringue, whipped cream, dark chocolate shavings and chestnut cream, or the Eclair Framboise-Passion with raspberry cream, passion fruit ganache, fresh raspberries and raspberry icing.

• Richelieu Wing, Louvre
• Café Richelieu Angelina Website…

Café Grand Louvre – Under the Pyramid

Located underneath the Pyramid, Café Grand Louvre offers traditional French cuisine in a luxe setting. The contemporary space with a mustard and cobalt-blue color palette is the perfect setting for a relaxing breakfast or lunch. This is not cafeteria style and you can expect real cutlery, glassware, and sit-down service.

You can order a set menu with a starter, main course and dessert, as well as a children's set menu. The á la carte menu offers classic French dishes — rabbit and hazelnut terrine, roasted sea bass, seared flank steak with shallots and frites, grilled chicken with morel sauce. Also on the menu is a full selection of aperitifs, wines, and mineral waters. Is it Michelin dining? Not quite, but you if you like to make the most of your meals in Paris, we recommend Café Grand Louvre.

• Under the Pyramid, Hall Napoléon
• Café Grand Louvre Website…

Café Marly

Overlooking the Louvre Pyramid, fountains, and Cour Napoléon, Café Marly has become an important institution within the Louvre complex. The very-happening brasserie has seating (in season), on the veranda, and throughout the interior. You can grab breakfast, lunch, tea or dinner. Service can be sketchy and the food is only so-so, but if you're in the mood to be surrounded by the jet set, Cafe Marly is the place to be. Marly is outside the museum entrance, so you don't have to enter the Louvre to eat here.

The menu is a clash of old and new, with classics like seared veal liver, roasted rack of lamb, and beef carpaccio along with monk fish with tom yam sauce, Thai spring rolls, and truffle-infused tarama. As you are in the middle of the action, expect to pay top Euro for the privilege. The Marly cheeseburger rings in at €30 !

Cafes & Cafeterias at the Louvre

Café Mollien

Café Mollien, found on the first floor of the Denon Wing, opens onto the French painting galleries. The terrace, open in the summer, also overlooks Cour Napoléon as well as the Jardin du Carrousel. A short stroll from Mona Lisa, Caféé Mollien was designed by French architect Hector Lefuel (1810-1880).

The cafe is set beneath Charles-Louis Müller's ceiling mural, Glory Distributing Palms and Crowns. Although the setting is grand, the food is essentially cafeteria grub. A good choice if you're looking for something fast and easy or just want to take a pause in the giant museum. On the menu you find baguette and bagel sandwiches, salads, quiche, pastries, hot beverages and juices. The food is average, but the setting is magical.

• Denon Winge, Louvre
• Café Mollien Website…

Cafés de la Pyramide

Le Café, La Petite Boutique and La Cuisine are the three cafeterias that make up the Cafes de la Pyramide. Found on the lower level, under the pyramid in the Richelieu Wing, the cafes offer burgers, salads, paninis, pizzas, and pastries. Suggested only in case of emergencies.

For an even quicker fix, there are takeaway counters under the Pyramid on the lower level in Denon and Richelieu Wings. (No, "Richelieu Wings" is not the name of one of their offerings !)

Near the Louvre in the Jardin des Tuileries

Café Diane

When your head is filled with too much art and your feet are feeling like bricks it's time to take a break from the Louvre and head to the gardens next door. Take to the Jardin des Tuileries to relax at one of the outdoor cafes. The Tuileries is a magnificent park that stretches between the Carrousel du Louvre and the Place de la Concorde.

Our first recommendation is Café Diane, named for the Roman goddess of hunting and nature. She would certainly approve of the outdoor tea room dedicated to her. The sprawling outdoor eatery, in the heart of the Tuileries, has stellar views of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Located in an oasis of greenery, it has the feel of the countryside in the middle of Paris.

This family-run restaurant has been a around for generations and offers casual, classic French cuisine like croque monsieur, hearty salads, beef bourguignon, roast chicken, and grilled salmon. For ice cream lovers, don't miss the Coupe Toblerone with salted caramel sauce, chunks of Toblerone chocolate, and whipped cream. There's also takeaway for those in a hurry with a selection of sandwiches, drinks, ice cream, crepes, and pastries.

Terrasse de Pomone

Terrasse de Pomone's terrace on the edge of the Tuileries pond has views of both the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the two Grand Museums in Paris. The outdoor cafe offers baguette sandwiches; draft beer; champagne by the glass; freshly-squeezed fruit juices; and house-made desserts like apple-raisin crumble, clafoutis with fresh cherries, tarts, creme brulée, plus a wide selection of Mövenpick ice cream concoctions. It also serve French salads, savoury tarts, Breton galettes, waffles & crepes. Open April 15 to October 15