Eating in Paris with Kids

The creperies on Ile St.-Louis are always a hit with young children (there’s a very good one on the Left Bank side of the Rue des Deux Ponts). Don’t forget Berthillon, the famous sorbet shop, for dessert.

Angélina, the famous tea salon and the largest outpost of Ladurée (one on Champs-Elysée) serve omelets and frites. For well-behaved little ones who like classic fare like steak or poulet frites, you could consider bistros such as Allard, Brasserie Balzar and Le Castiglione. (The food is not great at the latter two, but the atmosphere is typical brasserie.)

For soufflés, which are a hit with most kids, try Le Soufflé on the Right Bank or La Cigale Récamier on the Left Bank.

Café Marly in the courtyard of the Louvre will tolerate little ones as well, who after their meal can run around the fountains by the I.M. Pei pyramid or into the Tuileries. The restaurants within the Palais-Royal and the Place des Vosges also offer space to wander for kids who can’t sit still.

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The new café in the Bonpoint flagship store on the Left Bank is a charming place for lunch or tea if you are shopping around St. Germain or strolling in the Luxembourg Gardens. You don’t have to have kids in tow, but it is wise to have a reservation.

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There’s a lot of debate about Paris’ best crêperie, and this fun Marais spot tops the list of many. A funky, mod dining room serves as the backdrop for innovative sweet crêpes and savory galettes that originally hail from Bretagne, the abbreviation of which (BZH) served as the inspiration of the café’s name. Reservations are recommended, especially on Saturday. Closed Sunday.

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Paris is not the easiest city in which to find good, simple food in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere, especially in the high-rent district near the Louvre and Place Vendome. Chez Flottes, though, is a family-owned brasserie complete with checkerboard floors, mirrored walls and wood paneling. Not only do they have classic French comfort food such as onion soup, roasted chicken and sole meunière but they also feature a kids’ menu with standards like pasta at reasonable prices. Don’t miss their take-away shop next door, Flotte And Go, for snacks or picnics to enjoy in the Tuileries.