Location: Paris
Top Restaurants in Paris
Paris Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Paris
Lingering over pain au chocolat in a sidewalk café, relaxing after a day of strolling along the Seine and marveling at icons like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe… the perfect Paris experience combines leisure and liveliness with enough time to savor both an exquisite meal and exhibits at the Louvre. Awaken your spirit at Notre Dame, bargain hunt at the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil or for goodies at the Marché Biologique Raspail, then cap it all off with a risqué show at the Moulin Rouge.
Things to do in Paris
1. Le Cinq
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Egon70
The title more or less sums up my lunch at Le Cinq.
The dining room was beautiful with the tables very generously spaced to allow a lot of privacy.
The service was impeccable and lived up to the Four Seasons brand. Frank was particularly nice to me.
I'd the 4-course lunch with came with various amuse bouche, pre-desserts and mignardises. All the things I ate were nicely presented and delicious. The cold sea urchin souffle was creamy, smooth and flavourful. For the main course, instead of the not-so-special grilled codfish, I opted for lightly smoked black rice with creamy black pudding with passion fruit coulis which the waiter said was a new dish by chef Christian Le Squer. It's surprisingly good.
I didn't give 5 stars because the food lacked the edge which I usually look for in a restaurant with 3 Michelin stars. Also, I'm not a huge fan of spherification which was used in the amuse bouche, pre-dessert and dessert.
Still it's an extremely enjoyable lunch.
2. Epicure
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By ohashem1 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Warning the review may come like a shocker, went there for our anniversary dinner and valentine night
Booked and prepaid a month ago for 1300 euro for two ( valentine price factor )
I was expecting to have a superb nite
All was heading for 4 star nite, reason was some sluggish service by one staff who looked rushed and hyper
But as we were in our third main which was veal, intruder enjoyed the dish but my wife complained that her meat was to strange and she shared a piece with me and it was absolutely strange and inedible, called the manager and shared with him the problem, he have asked my wife if she wanted something else, at that time she was full as we opted not to have any replacement, now we are down to three star rating as this you wouldn’t expect for a 3 Michelin star place but all is good
Then came the bad slam dunk finish as we asked and re asked for the bill ( for the water , tea ) it took like 10 mins to come with a bill of 76 euro ?!
They had a problem with their POS with chip cards and the lady was so rude in the way she handled the problem as i assured her that my cards my working, my wife probably both embarrassed for the situation she got some cash and her prepaid card ( magnetic strip )and paid the bill quickly.
And the lady didn’t care who is paying as she was in a rush to get paid
And in a very snobbish and impolite way she said her cards are working and yours aren’t
That was a low low for behavior and manners that they shouldn’t retain their 3 Michelin star for such attitude, the lady doesn’t deserve to work in a restaurant even
Thank you for ruining a special nite for me
Will never step into your place again, never will recommend it
It’s not food , it’s service and ppl who serve you that make the difference.
3. Bateau le Calife
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By VintagePrincess1973 - Cape Town Central, South Africa
This was such a highlight of our trip. I organized it as a surprise and was a bit skeptical, you know river cruise food can be a let down. But oh my goodness was I surprised with amazing food, excellent service and unforgettable views. Everything was just perfect. This is a must do and worth every cent.
4. Kei Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 741 reviews
Reviewed By PetitGourmand - Hong Kong, China
Lunch menu excellent value for money - exquisite flavors - you sense also in the service the Japanese influence is present meaning all flawless and friendly but you do miss out on the friendly banter you can get in more French inspired establishments.
Apart from that, hands down one off the best meals I have enjoyed and putting it on my top 3 in Paris.
5. Restaurant Argana
Overall Ratings
5 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By gabrielleanaiste2017 - Paris, France
My better half has often spoken of a delicious Morroccan restaurant based in Paris 20eme. Upon when we go to the restaurant and as we began to eat, I urge him wide eyed : 'why has it taken you a year to take me here?!' He smiled, then we both smiled as the food was everything I wanted, honest sumptious, flavourful. It felt nourishing and wholesome to eat. Mulled spiced vegetables in warm autumn tones and fluffy soft couscous, gentle and fragrant with enough spice for more just add the harissa.The couple owning the restaurant were kind, warm and free of pretence. I found the place refreshing, the opposite of so many snobby expensive places abundant in this city. I wish them every blessing and would definietly go there again.
6. Il Etait Un Square
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Our restaurant will be closed from the 28th of jully to the 21st of august of 2017
Reviewed By davenylas - Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Seriously?? Who would ever think that we would have the BEST burger ever in France! We ended up visiting this place on a whim and it was amazing!! Great burgers, drinks and dessert! They basically have burgers and steaks with a French flair. Outstanding service. Our 6 and 9 year old have already asked if we can come back here tomorrow. I know this does not sound like classic French food but this place was honestly extremely good
7. Le Gabriel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 386 reviews
Reviewed By Philip G - Salt Lake City, Utah
This was our second visit to this two star Michelin restaurant and although the meal was certainly of five star quality, our experience paled in comparison to our initial experience. Does time enhance the memory? I believe the "let down" was caused by ordering the four course luncheon menu, rather than opting for the independence of a la carte. This time it was a tale of quantity over quality, as neither one of us were able to "clean our plates;" a lesson to be learned.
Located in the "over the top" La Reserve Hotel, Restaurant Le Gabriel is the personification of elegant. A bevy of well trained, sophisticated servers cater to your every need. However, this is no "stuffy" wait staff. Quick with a joke, personal and charming, servers ensure your comfort and take the "chill" out of Michelin star dining in this gilded black and gold salon.
The four course weekday luncheon, a veritable steal at 115 Euros, climbs the price scale when ordering wine, water etc. Remember, France imposes a separate food and liquor tax that adds 10% and 20% to your check. Thus, what appears reasonable at first, slaps you financially on exit. Caveat emptor. Our lunch came to approximately 375 dollars as a final tally, a great deal more than I expected to pay. Of course, that included several amuse bouche courses adding to our gluttonous repast. In hind sight, always a guilty waste of energy, a la carte would have made sense.
Le Gabriel is a master of presentation, and each dish was a visual work of art. However, tastes were across the board. The terrine was a contradiction of delicate and hearty deliciousness, and could have been a meal in itself. The fish serving was refined, accompanied by a sauce that had a fine"wisp" of horseradish, but was unmemorable. By the time the stuffed poultry was served, both madame and I were uncomfortably full, which detracted from our culinary enjoyment. Desserts, while beautiful and creative, were eaten begrudgingly. It was simply too much. All this food was washed down with a gorgeous white wine from Collioure at a reasonable 90 Euros.
While Le Gabriel certainly is deserving of its two star status, we deserve to lose all our stars for not realizing a la carte menu choices allows for culinary freedom and independence, necessary for pure dining enjoyment.
8. Les Epiciers
Overall Ratings
5 based on 119 reviews
A typically french wine bar, "LES EPICIERS" is the place for tasting cheese and ham platters served with tasty wines selected by the owners themselves. The atmosphère is very cosy and you will rapidly feel like at home As the shop also works as a french deli it is possible to buy and take away typical french products.
Reviewed By so3003 - Glasgow, United Kingdom
We had a wonderful dinner here with cheese, cured meats and wine. The atmosphere is great, the staff are friendly (and knowledgeable about their products), and the price is surprisingly inexpensive. They do a take-away deli style offering too. We'll definitely return here when we're next in Paris!
9. Boutary
Overall Ratings
5 based on 611 reviews
Boutary is a chic and trendy "boutique bistro" with traditional French roots but a modern and affordable approach to gastronomic cuisine. High-end festive delicacies prepared by an expert chef and a short but exceptional selection of wines, champagne and vodkas are offered at reasonable prices. Caviar is one of the house's specialities: although not compulsory, we suggest you try a sampling or a small caviar dish to make your experience at Boutary truly unique.
Reviewed By wiseguy1282005 - Hong Kong, China
Booked this restaurant long time ago for our wedding anniversary dinner. From the caviar introduction, the tasting menu, the wine pairing & the excellent service from our servers, they all come up to one conclusion:
This restaurant is truly one of the best in the world, well done!!!
Hopefully we can go back again for more!
10. ASPIC
Overall Ratings
5 based on 503 reviews
ASPIC is a human sized Parisian restaurant located in the heart of the 9th district, close to Place Pigalle. ASPIC serves a seasonal set menu that changes every month and dishes are served by the chefs for a better dinning experience. We serve organic and natural wines.
Reviewed By Peter B - Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Aspic is a small restaurant of maybe 20/24 covers. It is cleanly and simply decorated and quite unpretentious. Diners dress casually, there are no tablecloths, the staff are also casual and very friendly and helpful. Vincent is front of House, Quentin Giroud is the Chef with two sous-chefs. All four would come to table to serve and explain.
Aspic serves a fixed 7 course menu (in fact we counted 10 courses including an amuse-bouche) which for the price (€65) and quality is amazingly good value. My wife thought it was perhaps the finest meal she had eaten ever. Myself I might make it second only to Jean-Yves the previous night but it's a close run thing. The ingredients and flavours were beautifully balanced, showing real skill and understanding. These were our courses:
Ham with warm brioche and home made butter
Ginger bread, foie gras and quince jam
Mackerel, pineapple, sesame sauce, sorrel, sesame crisps
Razor clams, salmon eggs, dill. cauliflower veloute, croutons
Pollock, broccoli puree, leeks
Sweet onion, fried capers, yoghurt and lemon, lardons
Aberdeen Angus steak, salsify, buckwheat, olive puree, veal veloute
Chicory leaves with a slice of cheese and a hot chilli sauce
Apple pudding
Madeleines and macarons
Enjoy!
