From classic French fare to modern Thai.

Even those who don’t love Paris can’t deny that the food is phenomenal. It’s without question one of the great culinary capitals of the world, with worthy restaurants on what feels like every corner, be it a fine dining gem serving classic French fare or a relaxed wine bar dishing inventive small plates. While grabbing a baguette, some fromage, and a bottle of wine from the nearest cave à vin will never disappoint, these restaurants showcase some of the city’s finest gastronomic delights in equally beautiful spaces.

The shortlist

Best wine list: Le Bon Georges
Best view: Bonnie
Best value for money: CHANTIRA
Best classic French experience: La Renommée

1st

LOTTA

The elegant burgundy exterior of LOTTA stops passersby in their tracks. A stone’s throw from the Louvre, the three-level venue takes cues from 1960s and 1970s Milanese building lobbies in its rich design that will be the envy of your Instagram followers. But it’s not just one of those restaurants where all efforts have gone into design and not the menu. Delicious seasonal dishes spanning French, Italian and Spanish cuisines delight taste buds, such as olive frites with herb sauce and scamorza, Escabèche mussels, ravioli with lamb, candied peppers and roasted almonds, and Madeleines lathered in caramel sauce.

Address: 8 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 75001

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Price: $$$$

La Renommée

La Renommée is the venue to visit when you’ve got a hearty appetite. This upscale bistro-meets-New York supper-club serves classic French fare within a historic 1823 building on the iconic Rue Saint-Honoré. Expect generous portions of rich plates such as Escargots de Bourgogne, côte de bœuf and even a griddled double cheeseburger, in a speakeasy-style space dressed in dark timber and plush red leather banquettes. Save room for French martinis and the ‘Mistinguett’ with vodka, vanilla, passionfruit liqueur and apricot.

Address: 95 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris

Cuisine: Classic French

Price: $$$$$

3rd

Boubalé

Even if you’re not staying at one of Paris’s best hotels, Le Grand Mazarin, a visit to its onsite restaurant should still be on the cards. Translating to “my little darling" in Yiddish, hedonistic Boubalé celebrates “the love of a grandmother", offering a Levantine-meets-Mediterranean menu that shifts with the seasons. Come for dishes like John Dory with Kalamata olives, panko, and pea purée, and Lobster linguine with lobster bisque, confit tomato, and basil, then indulge in a lineup of sweets such as a warm chocolate cookie with tahini and vanilla ice cream. The interior is a mix of maximalist, grandmother-chic and baroque, courtesy of renowned Swedish designer Martin Brudnizki.

Address: 13 Rue Chapon, 75003 Paris

Cuisine: Levantine

Price: $$$

Terra à Bar à Vins

Terra à Bar à Vins brings teppanyaki style to its stylish French wine bar in the upper Marais. Plonk yourself at the central bar to tuck into seriously tasty share plates prepared in front of you. Dishes span the likes of grilled leeks with cashew pesto, guindilla peppers, basil and tapenade; squid with sun-dried tomatoes, sage, flame-roasted onions and capers; and candied peach with vanilla, lemon, chocolate siphon and ginger crumble. Staff make fantastic wine recommendations from their expansive list, so lean on their expertise.

Tip: If the truffle Brillat-Savarin is on the menu, don’t even hesitate to order it.

Address: 63 Rue des Gravilliers, 75003 Paris

Cuisine: Modern French-style teppanyaki

Price: $$

4th

Bistrot Des Tournelles

A frontrunner for Paris’s best and busiest bistro, Bistrot Des Tournelles has been operating as a local favourite since it opened in 2022. Dishes are traditional and hearty, so come with an empty stomach for beef stew à la Provençale, pork rillettes and crème brulée to pair with wine from the Beaujolais region, where owner Édouard Vermynck is from.

Address: 6 Rue des Tournelles, 75004 Paris

Cuisine: Classic French

Price: $$$

Bonnie

The crown jewel of the sleek SO/Paris hotel, Bonnie is the restaurant to make a beeline for if you’re looking for breathtaking views and to be amongst fabulous company. The Space Age-inspired space features retro orange patterned carpeting, mirror panels, chrome accents and leather banquette seating. Food-wise, you’re looking at contemporary French cuisine with a New York twist in dishes like linguine with Norway lobster tartare and lemon cream, and veal sweetbreads with tomatoes, capers and veal gravy. But really you’re here for the view and vibes, so opt for a seat on the terrace to soak it all up, ‘70s-style cocktail in hand.

Address: 10 Rue Agrippa d’Aubigné, 75004 Paris

Cuisine: Modern French-meets-New York

Price: $$$$-$$$$$

5th

CHANTIRA

If it’s your first time visiting Paris, you’ll likely want to take advantage of as much French cuisine as possible, but CHANTIRA is an unexpected gem in the lively Latin Quarter that won’t disappoint. A modern restaurant and natural wine bar, this intimate dining venue serves small sharing plates that merge Thai flavours and French finesse. Expect extremely tasty bites such as spicy roasted duck curry, seared octopus with Thai black ink sauce, and panna cotta with Thai tea fruit sauce, in a chic and minimalist setting.

Note: Restaurant is closed for the summer and will reopen on 15/09/26.

Address: 46 Rue Daubenton, 75005 Paris

Cuisine: Modern Thai with a French twist

Price: $$

8th

Restaurant Le Gabriel

Paris is the home of fine dining and Le Gabriel is a top choice for gourmands and special occasions. Breton chef Jérôme Banctel reinterprets French classics with techniques from Japan and Türkiye in his delicately presented dishes. Signatures include the Homard Bleu (blue lobster) cooked over binchotan charcoal and salmon that has been marinated in miso for five days served with daikon wrapped in aubergine, showcasing Banctel’s dedication to the craft. Service is slick, and sitting in an intimate room within a Napoleon III-style mansion makes for an unforgettable experience.

Address: La Réserve, 42 Av. Gabriel, 75008 Paris

Cuisine: Contemporary French fine dining

Price: $$$$$

9th

Le Bon Georges

Refuel after a day of shopping at Galeries Lafayette at Le Bon Georges, a classic Parisian bistro with chalkboard menus. Don’t expect out-of-the-box genius at this IYKYK venue, but rather meat-heavy French dishes using excellent produce, including from celebrity butcher Alexandre Polmard. Dive into black pork loin from Bigorre, whole Breton lobster and matured rib-eye steaks cooked to perfection, paired with an extensive wine list – the menu stars nearly 2,000 wines, including fine Burgundy and Bordeaux drops.

Address: 45 Rue Saint-Georges, 75009 Paris

Cuisine: Classic French

Price: $$$$

1oth

Vertueux

Franco-Ecuadorian chef Raul whips up inventive, mouth-watering dishes utilising quality local produce at Vertueux. From the refined, French-South American fusion menu, you can expect plenty of unique food pairings in dishes like sea bream ceviche with radishes, red currants, blueberry leche de tigre, and roasted turbot with zucchini and ajo blanco. The dining experience is elevated by warm service and moody interiors.

Address: 34 Rue Beaurepaire, 75010 Paris

Cuisine: French-South American fusion

Price: $$$$

11th

Clamato

Seafood takes the spotlight at the seriously fresh Clamato. A tight menu of mouth-watering plates of premium oysters, sea urchin, whole sea bass, smoked cod roe and raw cuttlefish are plated to perfection and are to be paired with a glass of crisp natural wine. The casual yet trendy space takes cues from American East Coast oyster shacks with reclaimed timber walls, dark green walls and mismatched chairs and tables.

Address: 80 Rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris

Cuisine: Shellfish-centric

Price: $$

18th

Le Boréal

Plant and seafood-forward plates take centre stage at Le Boréal, a charming French cafe-bistro open from morning until night. Local residents and head chef Philippine Jaillet (ex Pierre Hermé and Taillevent) and partner Charles Neyers helm the kitchen, serving a weekly changing menu of dishes such as Spider Crab Clam Stew and Sea Urchin Scrambled Eggs. The space is all exposed Parisian stone walls, chocolate-toned tiles and Thonet bentwood chairs, making for an inviting space to enjoy a reasonably priced tasting menu.

Address: 39 Rue Montcalm, 75018 Paris

Cuisine: Modern French

Price: $$-$$$

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