Paris: Where to Eat: Overview

The trickiest thing about dining in Paris—besides getting a reservation to a top table—is remembering the opening hours. Some of the most acclaimed places are closed on Saturday or Sunday or even on both days (as is the case with the restaurant of Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée). If you have a wish list of big-name tables, be sure to double-check before your trip and plan your meals accordingly. Reservations should be made well-in-advance. If dinner reservations are not available, try to get in during lunch, which is often easier at such coveted restaurants as Astrance and Le Comptoir du Relais. And be prepared if you come in August: many places are shuttered for the entire month.

Check our list of Paris restaurants open in August.