Cheap food trucks and pop-up restaurants have swept through Paris just as they have through cities around the world. But when we go looking for the best French restaurants in Paris, we want the classic establishments that make French cuisine a UNESCO cultural heritage.
To find the most memorable dining experiences, we turned to Meg Zimbeck, creator of the sprawling online food guide Paris by Mouth.
Zimbeck and her colleagues lead walking tours around the French capital and have spent years hunting down the finest spots in the city. With her help, we put together a list of the 10 best French restaurants in Paris:
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Bistrot Paul Bert
"This is one of the restaurants I always recommend when people ask for a classic bistro experience," says Zimbeck. Set in the eastern part of the city, the bistro has a lively atmosphere and serves a superb steak frites and apple tart. Also worth a visit: the same owner's more modern take on the cafe, Le 6 Paul Bert, just down the street.
Bistrot Paul Bert, 22 Rue Paul Bert, 75011 Paris. Tel +33 1 43 72 24 01
Septime
Eastern Paris is where a lot of inventive cooking is happening these days, and Septime helped set the trend. A handsome dining room and open kitchen provide the backdrop for carefully thought-out, innovative cuisine. Landing a table can be tricky, which is hardly surprising for one of the best French restaurants in Paris, but it is well worth the time and patience.
"Septime is a place where you can go and count on wonderful service that makes you feel special and welcome," says Zimbeck.
Septime, 80 rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris. Tel +33 1 43 67 38 29
Chez Casimir
The little brother of the famous Chez Michel, Chez Casimir shares a kitchen with its pricier sibling while offering more affordable dishes. Located next to the Gare du Nord, it is especially handy for Eurostar passengers or anyone after a budget-friendly meal and what Zimbeck calls the best cheese plate in the city.
"This is where locals go for high-quality bistro food," she says.
Chez Casimir, Gare du Nord, 6 rue de Belzunce, 75010 Paris. Tel +33 1 48 78 28 80
Relais d'Entrecote
For charm, ease and simple food, Relais d'Entrecote, a no-reservations restaurant, gives you a single choice: steak frites. Touristy though it may be, it never disappoints, with its brasserie-style decor and attentive waiters.
Served with a secret sauce and crispy fries, the portions seem meager until the staff brings out a second, long-awaited helping. Families with picky eaters, or anyone who wants to skip the booking, will appreciate the restaurant's three locations.
Relais de l'Entrecote, 15 rue Marbeuf, 75008 Paris. Tel +33 1 49 52 07 17
Le Chateaubriand
Foodie hipsters will love the bold, innovative dishes that make up the no-choice menu at Le Chateaubriand.
"They take that morning's ingredients and put them together in interesting ways," says Zimbeck.
Book a table if you can, but if you are not one to plan far ahead, you will have to join the crowd on the sidewalk, waiting in line for a spot. The small space and portions do not make for a relaxed atmosphere, but they promise to surprise and excite.
Le Chateaubriand,129 avenue Parmentier, 75011 Paris. Tel +33 1 43 57 45 95
Verjus
Opened by an innovative American couple, Verjus is a romantic restaurant, exclusive but never pretentious. Tucked behind the Palais-Royal, the top-notch food offers fresh, seasonal flavors, not to mention one of the best fried chicken dishes in the city, available at the wine bar.
"There is a lot of mingling and conversation," says Zimbeck.
Restaurant Verjus, 52, rue de Richelieu 75001 Paris +33 1 42 97 54 40
Semilla
Relatively new to the tourist-worn streets of Saint-Germain, Semilla is a modern restaurant with an open kitchen and a remarkable M.O.F. chef, the highest French honor for master craftsmen. With wine sourced from the neighboring wine shop Derniere Goutte, Semilla offers small-production wines alongside a wide choice of full-size or half dishes. You can break out of the three-course routine, says Zimbeck, with "comforting, wholesome, bright flavors."
Semilla, 54 Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris. Tel +33 1 43 54 34 50
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Founded by the legendary French chef and restaurateur Joel Robuchon before his death in 2018, L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon is a solid choice.
The executive chef is now Axel Manes, a protege of Robuchon. Carrying on the classic dishes, Manes has put a new emphasis on seasonality.
A recent tasting menu includes les palourdes (clams) stuffed with pink garlic and mushrooms, and veal liver with crispy onion rings.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, 5 rue Montalembert, Hotel Pont Royal, 75007 Paris Tel +33 1 42 22 56 56
Les Papilles
Les Papilles is a wine shop that doubles as one of the city's most charming restaurants, opened by Bertrand Bluy, who gave up a three-Michelin-star post for something more casual in the Latin Quarter.
The generous four-course fixed menu includes a main course served family-style from a copper pot, and usually a cheese plate. The dishes change daily.
"A lot of chefs love to come here on their day off, because they don't have to think about it," says Zimbeck. Reservations recommended.
Les Papilles, 30 Rue Gay-Lussac, 75005 Paris. Tel +33 1 43 25 20 79
Breizh Cafe
No French culinary experience is complete without a mighty crepe. With subtle Japanese touches in the decor and the presentation of its dishes (salted butter caramel with yuzu), Breizh is an authentic Breton creperie whose service is a real authority in Paris.
According to Zimbeck, the generously stuffed buckwheat galettes, made with Bordier butter, are a world apart from what you will find at most street-corner crepe stands. Reservations are essential, as always for the best French restaurants in Paris.
Breizh Cafe, 109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003 Paris. Tel +33 1 42 72 13 77
