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Here’s the dirty little secret no one will tell you: the single, slam-dunk Parisian bistro does not exist. It may have when Hemingway was around, but today the city’s food scene is much more fragmented, and it’s actually shockingly easy to have a bad meal in a capital renowned for its restaurant scene. You have to do due diligence to avoid the old-world eateries that are betting on name recognition as opposed to food quality (Lipp, Bofinger). Another challenge is finding good options for Sunday and Monday nights.

That said, the good news is that a small food revolution has taken Paris by storm. A host of innovative, young chefs have moved away from fussy dining and created small hot spots, from the 1st arrondissement to Belleville (the movement has the anglo-inspired name “le fooding”). And travelers not able or willing to commit several hours to an old-world meal will rejoice in the host of new wine bars, where a congenial vibe and top-quality products from small producers (organic wines, charcuterie, olive oil) take center stage.

My favorite discoveries on my recent trip included Jeanne A., a groovy wine bar with small-plate food near the Bastille, La Régalade St. Honoré, a fun and totally central bistro, Sola, an incredible Japanese-French fusion restaurant, Simone & Nicola, a lovely lunch spot, Quedubon, which is worth the trek up to Buttes Chaumont; and La Patisserie des Reves, a pastry shop that treats its creations like works of art.

It’s a good time to be eating in the City of Light, especially if you know what you want out of a meal. Here are some of Indagare’s favorite restaurants, cafes and wine bars, organized by the kind of experience you can expect there. If you are planning a trip to Paris and would like help planning your culinary itinerary, contact our bookings team.

You want…

…old-school French food

• L’Ami Louis
• Benoit
• L’Ami Jean
• Bistrot Paul Bert

…innovative, updated French food

• Verjus
• Frenchie
• Spring
• Le Chateaubriand
• Rino
• La Régalade St. Honoré

…gourmet cuisine in a grand hotel setting

• L’Abeille at the Shangri-La hotel
• Les Ambassadeurs at the Crillon hotel
• Yannick Alleno at Le Meurice hotel

• L’Arpège
• L’Ambroisie
• Le Grand Vefour
• Aspicious

…haute cuisine in a relaxed-chic setting

• Le Jules Verne
• Jean-François Piège

…a wine bar with small-plate food

…a break from French food

…a non-touristy lunch spot

…a tried-and-true lunch spot

...off-the-beaten path, local dining*

• Le Baratin
• Caves Petrissans
• Le Chapeau Melon
• Quedubon
• Le Casse Noix