Where To Eat in Paris

One of my favorite feelings in the world is sitting at a little bistro table on a Paris sidewalk enjoying a delicious meal. Whether it’s just a glass of wine and a charcuterie board with an obligatory side of fries. Or having a fantastic salad and quiche with a cappuccino. Just sitting and watching people walk by and all the dogs taking their morning walks. This is one of the best feelings in the world if you ask me.

Paris may be the fashion capital of the world with incredible shopping, high end brands and quintessential Parisian style. But they also have a vibrant culinary scene. Some of the best meals I’ve had have been in the City of Light.

There is also something for everyone no matter where you go. For classic French fare, or even incredible Thai or Italian food. I promise, you can find something incredible to eat for le petit déjeuner (breakfast), déjeuner (lunch) and dîner (dinner, clearly).

Choosing where to eat can be overwhelming because this city is absolutely packed with restaurants. Truly, the sidewalks are simply lined with bistro tables and chairs and you just pick a seat and dive right in. Here is a round-up of places where both locals and travelers can go for a satisfying meal and great experience. And yes, a pastry or two.

If you want even more recommendations, explore my guide to Paris, une journée indigo. This is a 60+ page guide with over 150 recommendations from restaurants, boulangeries, shopping, and even day trips and tips to know. Learn more about my guide to Paris here.

Where To Eat In Paris

If you’re visiting Paris, you’re definitely going to want to dive into all of the incredible French food. From incredible roasted chickens, to duck confit, beef bourguignon and the croque monsieur (or madame!). The list goes on. I think if you’re in Paris, you have to try escargots that are covered in delicious garlic, parsley and butter and soak up the sauce with some bread. And of course, coq au vin and French onion soup.

And yes, definitely make sure you try all the French pastries. My rule when I’m in Paris is to get not one but two pastries every day. One to enjoy with your espresso in the morning, and the second to pop in your purse and enjoy later when you need a little pick me up. This is actually considered a meal in Paris, it’s called ‘le goûter’ and is an afternoon snack that Parisians enjoy around 4pm. I find that the boulangeries have limited options later in the day, so why not get what you really want in the morning and save it for later.

When dining in Paris, you may notice that the waiters don’t hover or check on you often. That’s totally normal, and not something to take personally. If you need something, get their attention politely. You’ll need to also ask for your check at the end, they won’t just bring it when you seem to be finishing up like they do in America. To ask for the check, you can say “l’addition s’il vous plait” which means, the check please!

And my other tip is to just get a carafe of water instead of bottled. Paris has great tap water and it’s free! No need to pay for a bottle unless you want sparkling. And yes, the wine is really cheaper than a Coca Cola, so enjoy!

What Food Is Paris Known For?

Croissants & Other French Pastries

French pastries are simply so incredible. You can’t visit Paris without getting your fill of croissants and other lovely sweets like macarons, Mille Feuille, eclair and canelé to name a few. Just try them all, honestly.

Coq au Vin

This is a really classic chicken dish where the chicken is stewed with some vegetables, red wine and a little brandy. A very warm and comforting dish for a cold and wet day in Paris.

French Onion Soup

Onion soups date back to medieval times and there’s a reason why they stood the test of time. They are delicious! This makes for a perfect lunch with a salad, or to start your dinner off with. The cheesy top and caramelized onions are just the best.

Duck Confit – Confit de Canard

A duck confit is basically a slow cooked duck that has been cooked in fat. It’s rich and delicious, and extremely tender from this cooking method. You will usually see this at nicer restaurants. You’ll often see this served alongside roasted potatoes (maybe even roasted in that delicious duck fat). This is a quintessential dish to try if you see it on the menu.

Croque Monsieur

I feel like so many restaurants in Paris have this on their menu whether they are casual bistros or cafes, or more nicer restaurants. It’s such a classic meal and I think everyone should give it a try. It’s a hot toasty sandwich with ham and cheese. The bread is dipped into an egg mixture and then cooked.

You may also see a Croque Madame on the menu, and it’s the exact same thing but there’s a fried egg served on top. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of this sandwich, but I still think everyone should give it a try at least once to see how they feel about it.

What Are The Best Places To Eat In Paris France

This is just a sampling of what is inside my comprehensive guide to visiting Paris. These are a few of my favorites and are sprinkled around the city. For even more restaurant recommendations from my favorite steak frites, to the Thai spot I would eat at weekly if I could, and the best crepe in the Latin Quarter, consider purchasing my guide here. No matter if you’re more a laid-back casual restaurant person, or like a Michelin starred fine dining experience, this guide covers a ton of ground.

Chez Janou

A charming little restaurant in Le Marais that serves up Provencal-style food. The mussels are fantastic, a classic French dish ratatouille and give the duck a try. I remember sitting at the bar and they had this gigantic bowl of olives that they would serve you from. These were some of the best olives I have ever had. I could’ve eaten that and bread for dinner.

But the thing you have to get at Chez Janou is the chocolate mousse. They come around with another gigantic bowl of mousse (they really like big bowls of delicious things) and they plop a healthy serving on a plate for you. You can’t eat here without getting it.

The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating as well as a few bar seats. They are quite busy so reservations are highly encouraged. You can sometimes snag a seat at the bar but many people are waiting for tables while sitting there having a drink so it can be tricky.

Chez Janou also has an extensive list of ‘les pastis’, which are a popular French aperitif. This is the place to give these a try as there is a long list of options to choose from. As in, there are over 80 to choose from!

L’As du Fallafel is located on Rue des Rosiers which is the Jewish Quarter. There’s several great fallafel spots but this one is definitely a favorite. I share even more about this street and restaurants in Paris in my guide to Paris that you can learn more about here.

Breizh Café

For traditional French crepes, check out Breizh Café. There are a few locations around the city. And you can always expect a really fantastic crepe. There are also two options here, a galette which is the savory kind made with a buckwheat flour. Or a crepe which is usually sweet made with wheat flour.

Try a ham and cheese galette with egg, ham, Comté cheese and butter. Or go sweet with a fruit and nutella combination. This is a great spot for a casual quick lunch that isn’t too filing.

Café de Flore

For a truly classic quintessential bistro in Paris, look no further than the popular Café de Flore. This restaurant is located in Saint Germain, a popular arrondisements that’s a favorite of mine to stroll through. Lots of great cafes and shopping.

Café de Flore is a famous destination because it used to be a popular spot for artists to visit from writers to painters. Their menu includes classic traditional French dishes like nicoise salads, quiches and French onion soup. You can dine here all day for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or visit for a night cap and chocolate profiteroles which are another must-try French staple.

There is often a line to get into this popular French café, and they do not offer reservations. Try going on an off time as I don’t think waiting in line is always worth it.

La Rotonde

This brasserie has a great menu and a big focus on seafood. I remember sitting on the sidewalk but heading in to use the bathroom, and the dining room was packed with people enjoying gigantic seafood towers. We clearly ordered wrong as we were there at the tail end of breakfast and opted for fluffy French omelets. Which were delicious and a classic French dish, but the seafood towers I may have to go back for next time.

La Rotonde isn’t far from Jardin du Luxembourg which is a favorite spot to explore while in Paris. It’s right on the cusp of the 6th and 14th arrondissement.

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If you’re heading to Paris, I hope you check out these French restaurants and must try dishes. The experience of dining in a Parisian restaurant is different than that of one in America. And it’s such a fun experience. The meals are more laid back, you aren’t being rushed out, and the food is amazing and such high quality. If you need to know what to wear to dinner in Paris, check out this post.