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Where to Eat in Paris Now

My recent trips to Paris have been of exciting restaurant news, from Bois de Boulogne to Saint Germain des Prés, and I’ve compiled the latest on my new favorites for you to know now.

Contact Indagare or your Trip Designer to start planning safe, responsible and meaningful travels to Paris and other destinations—this year and beyond. Our team can match you with the hotels and experiences that are right for you and provide information on travel safety policies and more.

Gigi

Another sexy, sceney restaurant from the group behind Girafe and Monsieur Bleu, Gigi is on Avenue Montaigne in the space formerly occupied by La Maison Blanche. It is on the top floor with lovely Eiffel Tower views, and they have added some great outdoor terraces. The menu is Italian, and the interior design is light and airy with rattan touches. Gigi is festive, with nightly music and celebrations frequented by a stylish crowd of Parisians. Carla Bruni and Nicolas Sarkozy were enjoying weekend lunch when I was there.

Related: Top Tables Paris

Maison Russe

This hot spot has garnered more buzz than any other Parisian establishment this season. The first floor of this five-story building has a boutique selling silk pajamas, caviar and salmon, and a bar specializing in vodka and Champagne. On the second floor you’ll find opulent main dining rooms with velvet banquettes, walls of wood paneling, mirrors and painted murals. The three floors above house seven different private dining rooms, all with lavish décor (fireplaces, chandeliers and velvet), ranging from a room for two to rooms for up to 20. My favorite is the tented one with a round table for 10 on the top floor. These would be great for a special celebration.

Mimosa

Located in the courtyard of Hôtel de la Marine facing its sister restaurant Café Lapérouse just behind the Place de la Concorde, Mimosa is helmed by the great chef Jean Francois Piège. The interiors are meant to evoke the Riviera spirit of the 60s with lots of nautical references and a wealth of natural light. In addition to seafood, like grilled rock squid and seabream, the menu also showcases a variety of oeuf mimosa or deviled eggs. Mimosa is one of the toughest reservations to get at the moment.

Related: Where to Shop in Paris 2021: La Samaritaine & Concept Shopping

Café Lapérouse

Opposite Mimosa in the same courtyard of Hôtel de la Marine is Café Lapérouse, the latest venture by the Benjamin Patou, who was behind the original 250-year-old establishment Lapérouse. Inspired by a portrait of an 18th century navigator and wine merchant le comte de La Pérouse, this new restaurant has gorgeous maritime interiors by Cordelia de Castellane, the designer behind Baby Dior and Dior Maison. Jean Pierre Vigato created the menu, which emphasizes modern French comfort food with dishes like lobster salad, smoked salmon, sole meuniere and chateaubriand, as well as a smash burger. There are two dining rooms and two outdoor terraces, and though there are high ceilings, the vibe remains cozy.

Fine Dining

Le Jules Vernes

The famous restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower was for years helmed by Alain Ducasse, but last year it was renovated by my brilliant friend Aline Asmar d’Amman (who also masterminded the renovation of Hotel de Crillon). It reopened with gorgeous, sleek interiors and amazing food from new chef, Frederick Anton of Le Pré Catelan fame. This hotspot is now even more popular, as it no longer draws only tourists, but many Parisians as well. NB: there is now a small counter so for those who don’t need a view, it may be possible to get a last-minute seat.

ADMO

Michelin-adored chefs Alain Ducasse, Albert Adria, Romain Meder and pastry chef Jessica Prealpato have opened a pop-up in Les Ombres atop the Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac Museum, with amazing views of the Eiffel Tower. It is a gastronomic restaurant designed to celebrate a blend of French and Spanish cuisines, so it is not for those who want simple food but rather those seeking a special experience. It is especially perfect for seafood lovers, who will marvel at the poignant evocations of seaside memories through unusual ingredient combinations.

La Plume at Madame Rêve

The downstairs brasserie at the new Hotel Madame Reve has been packed since it opened earlier this year but several weeks ago, Madame Rêve finally opened La Plume, the rooftop restaurant which has a sleek, stylish interior and rooftop views of Paris. The menu is Japanese French fusion, and there is a great private dining room that can hold up to 20. The bar especially is a highlight, carved in Calacatta Oro marble with a masterful lighting design. When warm weather returns, the rooftop tables will be ideal for outdoor dining.

Le Taillevent

On a quiet side street in the 8th Arrondissement, Le Taillevent is one of Paris’s most storied gourmet restaurants, having held Michelin’s coveted three-star rating from 1973 to 2007, the longest tenure ever for a Parisian restaurant. Now it has been remade, with a subtle, but sumptuous, redesign and a new (Italian!) chef, Giuliano Sperandio. The theme of his menus is to pare things back to deliver dishes of the highest quality from local, sustainable producers. Expect fresh takes on classics, with an ever-changing offering of delicacies like langoustines with pistachios in Choron sauce or duck in a Vin jaune sauce.

Related: Where to Stay in Paris, the Loire Valley and Normandy in 2021

Le Pré Catelan

This is another legendary, three-Michelin-starred spot, located in a historic building in the Bois de Boulogne, with amazing French cuisine from chef Frederick Anton. There are two dining rooms, one more traditional and one contemporary, both with emerald green touches to compliment the greenery outside and a black, white and silver color palette. There is also a small private dining area. It is a great choice for serious foodies who want a meal in a countryside setting without really leaving Paris.

Brasseries and Old School Dining

Madame Rêve Café at Madame Rêve

The brasserie at this exciting hotel opened early this fall and has been packed ever since. It is a gorgeous 19th century-style brasserie room with extra-high ceilings, black and gold chandeliers and elegant leather barstools. It serves delicious modern Mediterranean food with a special focus on seafood.

Le Relais Plaza

Located in the Plaza Athenée, this is one of the most historic brasseries in Paris, with beautiful Art Nouveau interiors that effortlessly incorporate greenery and plant life. But now, it is entering a new era with the young and cool chef, Jean Imbert, voted Chef of the Year by GQ in 2019. He has made Le Relais Plaza’s traditional French menu a bit less formal­: think delicious roast chicken or warm lentil salad. It still feels old guard in setting, but the crowd is buzzy, and the food is excellent. This gastronomic restaurant in Plaza Athenée is going to reopen in January 2022.

Chez Fernand

Chez Fernand on the Left Bank is a very old fashioned but cozy neighborhood restaurant centrally located in Saint Germain des Près. Led by chef Remí Lebon, the menus are based on a mentality of tradition and simplicity, and daily specials like boeuf bourguignon and entrecôte are typically French and will suit those who love the classics. Tables are close to each other with red and white checkered cloths, but I loved the food and atmosphere. It’s not fancy but it’s also not touristy.

Emil Brasserie

The restaurant in the new five-star boutique hotel Chateau Voltaire is not far from the Opera or Place Vendome. It too has a cozy feeling with tile floors and arts-and-craft-style wooden tables and chairs. The menu is typical bistro with escalope de veau and poached salmon, but it draws an attractive crowd.

Related: Our Favorite Boutique Hotels in Paris

Contact Indagare or your Trip Designer to start planning safe, responsible and meaningful travels to Paris and other destinations—this year and beyond. Our team can match you with the hotels and experiences that are right for you and provide information on travel safety policies and more.

– Melissa Biggs Bradley

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