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Allard

Another classic for visitors in search of high-end traditional French food, Allard is part of the Alain Ducasse empire. With its 1930s interiors, the dining room feels like being at your grandparents’—think flowery wallpaper with pencil-drawn artworks, old photos and 1900s paraphernalia hanging on the walls, plus velvet banquettes in front of wooden bistro tables. On the menu, there’s cabbage stuffed with lobster and chestnut and pan-seared veal sweetbread, braised lettuce and black trumpet mushrooms.

Editors' Picks
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Anahi

An Argentine eatery in the Marais, Anahi is a hot spot that serves delicious South American cuisine. Read Indagare's review.
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Apicius

This one-star Michelin restaurant has one of the most romantic settings in Paris. Located on the ground floor of a gorgeous 19th century townhouse on the Right Bank near the Champs Élysées, Apicius has been a favorite spot for grand gestures like a proposal or an anniversary since it opened. The food highlights sophisticated classics like fennel langoustines and black truffle pastry with foie gras. In warm weather, tables are set in the beautiful garden.

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Arpège

The minimalist-modern dining room, designed with warm colors of red and chocolate, serves as the perfect backdrop of chef Alain Passard’s mostly vegetable-focused menu. The chef is passionate about fresh veggies (many of them grown on Passard’s organic farm outside Paris), though shellfish and poultry also make appearances (carnivores will be disappointed, though). The restaurant has three Michelin stars. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

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Astrance

The astonishingly inventive cooking of chef Pascal Barbot—as well as a third Michelin-star—have made this this a hot spot for foodies. Barbot cooks for some twenty-five diners in a gracious, modern duplex dining room not far from the Trocadéro. There’s no à la carte menu, only two prix-fixes. Dishes like his avocado ravioli filled with crab and drizzled with almond oil and turbot with a coulis of lemon and ginger are simply amazing. Reserve two months in advance for dinner.

Aux Lyonnais

Alain Ducasse took over this century-old Art Nouveau bistro near the old Bourse (stock market) in 2002 and shrewdly updated the menu, which runs to modernized versions of traditional Lyonnaise dishes. Try the brochet aux écrevisses (airy pike perch dumplings in crayfish sauce), frogs’ legs and Grand Marnier soufflé. Great value prix-fixe lunch. Closed Monday, Tuesday and Sunday dinner. 

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Aux Prés

A jewel box of a restaurant in Paris's Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Aux Prés is an atmospheric neighborhood restaurant from famed French chef Cyril Lignac. The chic eatery serves delicious international fusion cuisine like crispy salmon rice, caramelized eggplant with miso and a beef rib for two.
Editors' Picks

Baieta

Located in Paris's Latin Quarter, the highly acclaimed Baieta is a Nicoise bistro from up-and-coming chef Julia Sedefdjian, who earned a Michelin star in 2016, when she was just 21.
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Benoit

Alain Ducasse deserves the gratitude of all bistro lovers not only for saving one of the most-loved bistros in Paris—Benoit, founded in 1912—but for making it even better. Don’t miss such hard-to-find cuisine bourgeoise classics as langue Lucullus (layered mousse of foie gras and smoked tongue) at lunch or Tête de veau tigre bio en ravigote (veal’s head served in a caper, parsley, chervil, tarragon and shallot ravigote sauce) in the evening. Best of all, it's open daily. There are also offshoots in Tokyo and New York.

Editors' Picks
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Berthillon

The fabled Parisian ice cream shop still lives up to its reputation for making the city’s most delicious sweet treats. The flavorful ice cream (and sorbet), ranging from classics like pistachio to more adventurous concoctions, like licorice and salted caramel, is sold at other venues on the Ile St.-Louis and around town, but it’s worth making the pilgrimage to the original branch.

Editors' Picks

Brion Restaurant par Geoffrey Lengagne

After working in kitchens in top New York and London restaurants, Chef Geoffrey Lengagne opened his own spot where he rustles up French fare with Mediterranean accents—like cod raviolo with Basque octopus and grilled trout with black garlic lemon Pil Pil sauce and marinated cabbage. The space is light and bright, with waxed cement floors, an open kitchen and soothing cream and algae-green tones. The personable staff contribute to the experience.

Editors' Picks

Café les Deux Gares

A handy spot within a stone’s throw of two of Paris’s main train stations, Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est, Café les Deux Gares was entirely refurbished under the design of creative wunderkind Luke Edward Hall, who was tasked with turning a gimmicky bar of French train memorabilia into a laid back neighborhood bistro that feels like it’s always been there. On the menu are Chef Jonathan Schweizer’s fresh seasonal, market-led dishes, and there’s a terrace with outdoor seating out front. It is across the road from the Hotel Les Deux Gares.

Editors' Picks
Food at Caffe Stern, Paris, France

Caffe Stern

Tucked away in one of Paris’s most picturesque passages (small, 18th-century, glass-covered shopping alleys), Caffe Stern manages to mix an atmosphere of vintage and hipster. Its exterior bears the original façade of the stationer that was founded here in 1834 and who catered to the Elysées Palace and elite tastemakers from around the world. But in 2014 new owners took over the space, and today, its windows feature a stuffed lynx and wolf wearing jewels. One might easily pass by without even realizing that a restaurant lies within, which may lend to its private club atmosphere. This insider favorite, though, has serious cuisine and design credentials behind it: the Alajmo brothers (of Le Calandre in Padua and Quadri in Venice) and Philippe Starck. In the warren of little rooms are quirky touches like attic-worthy tables and chairs; shelves with well-worn books; and an old phone closet containing a stuffed rabbit that evokes the Mad Hatter. And yet the food is seriously sophisticated. This is an Italian bistro for the 21st century with delicious contemporary cuisine that is tucked into a historic environment.

Chez Pradel

A brilliant and busy bistro full of locals of all ages and backgrounds, Chez Pradel ticks many traveler’s boxes: simple interiors reminiscent of the early 1900s with cement tiles, wooden tables and red banquettes, really good service from a personable staff and excellent, well-priced food like slow-cooked chicken with tasty gravy and moreish mashed potatoes. It’s usually full, so get there early. There’s a second outpost in the 11th, but the one in the 18th has the most soul and is where the owner is based.

Editors' Picks
Bar at Clamato, Paris, France - Courtesy Benjamin Schmuck

Clamato

This oyster bar/seafood shack by Bertrand Grebaut of Septime fame (which is located next door) serves refined, modern seafood dishes in a lively yet relaxed setting. Clamato’s small plates menu is creative and elegant and changes daily; the rustic, understated décor, with wooden ceiling beams and a brick bar, is unpretentious and welcoming; the wine list, which features natural and biodynamic wines from boutique producers, is well-selected; and the service is friendly. Reservations are not accepted. (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but open all day on Saturdays and Sundays.)

Clover

Following successful partnerships with the Costes brothers at his eponymous restaurant and Brasserie Thoumieux, chef Jean-François Piège’s latest culinary collaboration is with his wife, Elodie. Maxing out at just 20 seats, Clover’s intimate dining room consists of a row of tables in front of a long banquette, creating an intimate experience–tables are literally press up against one another. The restaurant sits in a prime St. Germain location on Rue Perronet, and features an eclectic understated décor that includes Japanese raku tiles, custom-made Belgian wooden tables and Swedish rattan chairs. Working from a small open kitchen, Piège turns out elegant flavor and texture combinations like a crunchy starter of quinoa “chips” served with black sesame and eggplant sauce. To finish things off, a digestif from Piège’s extensive collection of porto (a nod to Elodie’s Portuguese roots) is ceremoniously served in Baccarat glasses that the couple found together at les puces.

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Clover Grill

Located in Paris' 1st Arrondissement is the fabulous new Clover Grill from Michelin-starred chef Jean-Francois Piege. Indagare Review
Food at David Toutain, Paris, France - Courtesy Thai Toutain

David Toutain

Fans of Agapé should head straight to David Toutain’s second outpost, near les Invalides. Featuring seasonal produce (Toutain’s is a vegetarian friendly kitchen), the menu changes regularly. Tasting menus and wine pairings are available. Reserve way ahead.

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Divellec

This much beloved seafood restaurant boasts chic décor and a beautiful marble bar while still maintaining the authenticity of a local Parisian eatery. Renowned French chef Mathieu Pacaud (formerly of L’ Ambroisie in Paris) puts a creative spin on traditional seafood with artfully prepared dishes such as his signature ceviche dish. Because of the similarly buzzy atmosphere and upscale gastronomy (along with impossible-to-get reservations) many describe Divellec as Paris’ answer to London’s Chiltern Firehouse.

ducasse sur seine restaurant paris

Ducasse sur Seine

For an only-in-Paris experience, Alain Ducasse’s Ducasse sur Seine is a stunning boat restaurant that offers prix-fixe lunch and dinner cruises and afternoon tea from its docked location right in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Food at Ellsworth, Paris, France

Ellsworth

This bonne adresse near the Palais Royal comes from the team behind nearby hot spots Verjus and Verjus wine bar. Ellsworth’s narrow dining room is decorated in an elegant, but comfortable New England style. Likewise, the menu reflects the owners’ American roots with a mix of Southern comfort food (fried chicken) and health food (kale), all beautifully prepared and easily shared. The marble bar is a lovely spot to sip a glass of wine (the stellar wine list is heavy on natural wines) and nibble on tapas. Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. 

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Fleur de Pavé

At Fleur de Pavé, chef Sylvain Sendra prepares sublime, vegetable-forward dishes inspired by his travels around the world.
Editors' Picks
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Frenchie

One of the restaurants that launched the small-place-young-chef revolution in Paris, Frenchie sits on a tiny back street in the 2nd arrondissement. The simple dining room has exposed brick walls and a dozen or so wooden tables that appear to have been plucked from a flea market or friend’s kitchen. The menu changes daily. Reservations are still incredibly difficult to score last-minute.

Just down the street from the flagship restaurant, Frenchie-To-Go (9 Rue de Nil) has an anglo-inspired menu brings hard-to-find delicacies like fish-n-chips and doughnuts to Paris. Take your order to go, as the name suggests, or chow down in the cozy dining room.

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Gaya

This edgy seafood house, on a fashionable street on the Left Bank, is the creation of top chef Pierre Gagnaire.

Granite

Headed by chef Tom Meyer—who worked under Anne-Sophie Pic for years, creating no less than 400 dishes—Granite earned a Michelin star in its first year. A small, pared-back dining space with a handful of tables, the focus here is on the team’s cuisine, which takes diners on a journey between France’s lands and seas in an exclusive and surprising tasting menu that’s bold yet refined. (Let the team know of any allergies at the time of booking.)

Editors' Picks

Guy Savoy

Savoy is a super chef at this point, but his restaurant in Paris remains one of the classic palaces of haute cuisine.
restaurant exterior with a long line

Ha Noi 1988

This small Vietnamese pho joint on Ile de la Cité has become one of the hottest spots in the city and usually has a long line.

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