Where to eat and drink in Paris - International Traveller Magazine

No city in the world can rival Paris when to comes to eating and drinking. As the world’s greatest gastronomic city, you’ll want to make a lot of time for dining in Paris.

Chateaubriand

129 avenue de Parmentier Arr. 11 METRO: Goncourt

Ranked at number 27 on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Chateaubriand is overseen by self-taught chef Inaki Aizpitarte whose Michelin star nose-snubbing style has been described as ‘cuisine de vagabond’. There’s a 65 Euro tasting menu and a sizeable waiting list.

Le Wood

1 place Thorigny Arr. 3 METRO: Chemin Vert

Le Wood is a funky little restaurant tucked away in the Marais, run by hipsters and serving seriously delicious food for relatively reasonable Paris prices.

Patisserie Carette

25 place des Vosges Arr. 3 METRO: Chemin Vert The original Patisserie Carette was founded in 1927 at Trocadéro, and its Place des Vosges outlet with its pretty salon and outdoor seating is perfect for tea and sweets or a light lunch.

Le Pré aux Clercs

30 rue Bonaparte Arr. 6 METRO: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Le Pré aux Clercs in Saint-Germain-des-Prés was a hangout of Ernest Hemingway back in the day and is not as touristy as Brasserie Lipp, Café Flores or Les Deux Magots around the corner.

Le Pré aux Clercs Paris — Cosy up in the corner at Le Pré aux Clercs

Welcome Café

Welcome Cafe Paris — The dining room at the Welcome Cafe is heaving during Fashion Week.

210 Rue de Rivoli Arr. 1 METRO: Tuileries

On the Rue de Rivoli, Welcome Café is jumping during Fashion Week when the fashionistas spill out of shows nearby and take a seat for unctuous Gratin Onion Soup and petit servings of fois gras.

Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée

25 avenue Montaigne Arr. 8 METRO: Alma Marceau

Now reopened with the Plaza Athénée itself, Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée features a mod white-on-white dining room and some of the best food in the world from one of the world’s undisputed best chefs.

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Mariage Frères

Mariage Freres Faubourg Saint-Honoré — A tea (or should that be thé) experience like no other on Faubourg Saint-Honoré

260 Faubourg Saint Honoré Arr. 8 METRO: Ternes

Mariage Frères’s original tea salon in the Marais, or the one on Faubourg Saint Honoré near the Arc de Triomphe, are gorgeous rooms festooned with colonial-sequence furniture and white orchids where taking tea is a joy.

Le Café Marly

Cafe Marly Paris — As Parision as it gets, Café Marly is a traditional Parisian bistro style food in one wing of the Louvre overlooking I.M Pei’s Pyramid.

Palais de Louvre, 93 rue de Rivoli Ar. 1 METRO: Palais Royal

Café Marly Paris — One of the best seats in Paris, at Café Marly overlooking the courtyard of the Louvre.

Musée de Louvre Café Marly is the ultimate place for coffee with a view, located under the colonnade of the Louvre Palace overlooking I. M Pei’s Pyramid.

Monoprix / Paul

Various locations throughout the city

The Monoprix chain of supermarkets are dotted throughout the city and many have separate shops attached selling readymade baguette sandwiches, croissant and pastries for a few Euros. The Paul chain of boulangeries also does pretty amazing bread and pastries for next to nothing that you can eat while walking.

To help you plan the ultimate Parisian getaway, check out our handy Paris travel guide…

Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK.

Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

Why is it so hot in Europe?

Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

How travel is impacted

A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius — A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris — People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.

Paris’ most sophisticated dining spots