15 of the Top Places to Eat in Paris, France: A Foodie’s Restaurant Guide
Paris is chock-full of incredible eateries from nearly every international cuisine. The hardest part isn’t finding one of the top places to eat in Paris, but deciding between them! Our Paris restaurant guide makes this a bit easier, laying out some of the best spots to eat dinner in Paris, France, plus some breakfast recs too.
Let’s start by taking the pressure off – if you’re worried about finding great food on your visit to Paris, don’t be. You can’t throw a rock without hitting 20 incredible spots to eat in Paris. Whether you’re looking for classic French food or something international to mix things up, Paris excels at it all. However, this can make it a little hard – or in my case, nearly impossible – to decide where to eat. So, while I’ll disagree with any blogger who claims to have a definitive list of *the* best places to eat in Paris, we’ll happily provide you with some of our favorites to make your decisions a little easier. In our Paris restaurant guide, we‘ll start with a few basic pointers on dining in the city. Then, we’ll give you our recommendations for 15 of the top places to eat in Paris, France.
Looking for somewhere to grab a drink afterwards? We’ve got a few recommendations for you there, too. Check out our post 8 Cool Bars in Paris For Exceptional Cocktails. We’ve also got a travel guide with premade itineraries for visiting Paris to really make your travel-planning a breeze.
Update note: This guide was reviewed in February 2026 to confirm current openings, pricing, and overall relevance.
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The Top Places to Eat in Paris Restaurant Guide:
How to Pick a Top Place to Eat in Paris, France
There are a few basic rules to picking where to eat dinner in Paris, France to ensure you enjoy your meal:
- DON’T eat at a restaurant where the menu is entirely in English or contains photos of all of the food.
- DON’T choose a place because a waiter outside called you over and tried to persuade you to eat there.
- DON’T take Google Maps reviews as undisputed facts. We know, it’s an easy place to start and we gravitate toward those 4 star and up locations as well. But the truth is, in tourist destinations like Paris, these reviews are overwhelmingly contributed by, well, tourists, who may have different expectations for service than are standard in that country. If you see a place that looks good but the reviews aren’t top notch, check to see whether those reviews are food-related or simply someone being a little impatient.
- DO walk at least two to three blocks away from big tourist attractions to avoid higher costs and lower quality.
- DO gravitate to restaurants with a small, specific menu.
- DO make advance reservations at top places to eat in Paris like Brasserie Lipp, Tomy & Co, and Bouillon.
Follow these Paris, France food guide tips and you’ll be set up for success!
The Best Spots to Eat in Paris
We highly recommend these spots for your next visit to Paris. But before we start, we’ve got a quick tip on dining etiquette in France. If you need something from a waiter – like the check or a refill – be prepared to call them over. It’s not common for them to stop by and check on you repeatedly, as they want you to feel free to enjoy your meal in peace.
The Top Places to Eat in Paris, France for Breakfast & Brunch
Ah, Paris. The land of melt-in-your-mouth pastries like croissants and pain au chocolat (bread with chocolate), as well as to-die-for crêpes and galettes (savory crêpes). It’s the perfect place to enjoy a light bite with an espresso on a beautiful outdoor patio – of which there are perhaps 5,000. However, if you’re looking for a heartier meal – and maybe a cocktail or two – Paris also has a thriving brunch scene. Here are some of the best spots to eat in Paris for your morning meal.
Let’s start off simple with a classic boulangerie (bakery). Located in the upscale 16th arrondissement (Paris’s neighborhoods/districts), La Pompadour is a cozy cafe with excellent coffee and pastries. It’s a comfortable place to sit and sip for a while, or even get some work done. They offer indoor and outdoor seating, and the staff is very friendly and welcoming, even if you *gasp* don’t speak French. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, La Pompadour is also hailed as having the best flan in the city.
As a side note, most Parisians will tell you that the best boulangerie in the city is whichever one is closest to their home. Paris is teeming with exceptional bakeries, so don’t feel like you need to go too far out of your way to hit a specific one.
While we’re in the neighborhood, we also have to mention Le Menec. This fantastic crêperie serves a large variety of both sweet crêpes and savory galettes. While most people have heard of crêpes before a visit to Paris, galettes are often a new discovery. A Paris, France food guide tip for you – these two dishes are similar, but crêpes are made with a lighter, sweeter batter and served with sweet toppings like fruit and Nutella, while galettes are made with a savory buckwheat batter and filled with hearty ingredients like Emmental cheese, ham, and egg. At Le Menec, you can choose from nearly 60 varieties of crêpes and galettes, so there is definitely something for everyone here!
You should be able to dine at this top place to eat in Paris, France without a reservation, but if you’d like to book your table at Le Menec just in case, use this link.
Moving over to the 8th arrondissement we have Azur Café. Located just a six minute walk from the Arc de Triomphe, it’s the perfect place to start off a day of shopping on Champs-Élysées. It’s a nearly flawless brunch spot, with delicious food, artisanal coffee, and the cutest Instagrammable aesthetic. The only thing missing here is mimosas! We recommend the caramel pancakes, salmon avocado toast, and rose and cardamom latte.
Azur Café is one of the best spots to eat in Paris for brunch, so you’ll definitely want a reservation. Book your table at Azur Café at least a few days in advance using the embedded link.
Back in the 16th arrondissement, a three minute’s walk from the Trocadero, is Restaurant Lulu’s. Another popular eatery you may want to consider a reservation for, Lulu’s is an excellent cafe with a bright and airy aesthetic. With both indoor and outdoor seating, it’s one of the best spots to eat in Paris to enjoy your brunch on a beautiful terrace. We highly recommend their omelette, which was one of the fluffiest we have ever had. Dogs are welcome as well, so even Cali got to sneak a bite or two of those perfect eggs.
Our Paris restaurant guide tip? Book your table at Restaurant Lulu’s at least 3 days in advance.
Lunch & Dinner in Paris, France - French Cuisine
You can’t leave Paris without sampling some of its delicious French cuisine. While the thought of eating snails or duck liver may scare you away, I promise you won’t regret a meal at these French restaurants. After all, the French’s favorite ingredients are butter, garlic, and onion, and how can you go wrong with that?
Starting with one of our favorites, we invite you to enjoy a meal at Brasserie LIPP. Located in the 6th arrondissement, not far from the Luxembourg Gardens, Brasserie LIPP is a classic, authentic brasserie (a relaxed French restaurant, similar to the Italian trattoria). It’s been a Parisian institution since its establishment in 1880, and dining there feels like stepping back in time in the best possible way. Brasserie LIPP features friendly waiters in a welcoming and lively dining room, and serves exceptional escargot (snails), canard (duck) confit, and the juiciest 100-day chicken.
This top place to eat in Paris is a true can’t-miss – we recommend reserving a table at Brasserie Lipp at least 1 week in advance.
Another Parisian institution, no list of the top places to eat in Paris, France would be complete without Relais de l’Entrecôte. With three locations across the city, it’s easy to find an establishment that’s convenient for your itinerary. Relais de l’Entrecôte is famous for its no reservations policy and its signature dish – steak frites (steak and fries), served with their famous sauce and a walnut salad. Wait – did I say signature dish? I meant only dish. That’s right, Relais de l’Entrecôte serves just one dish, and each location is packed from open until close! To be honest, it wasn’t the best steak of our lives, but the experience is fun and the fries are excellent. Be prepared for at least a 40-minute wait – when we visited, the line for lunch was around the block before they even opened.
Ready for something a bit fancier for your next dinner in Paris, France? Head to Tomy & Co, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the 7th arrondissement, near Hôtel des Invalides. Tomy & Co offers a seasonally rotating menu aimed at providing a coursed French meal that is as timeless as it is tasty. For only 80 EUR per person, you can choose an appetizer, main, and dessert from the set menu, as well as a delightful amuse-bouche to start things off. Our favorite dish was one of their specialties, fried gnocchi in a creamy truffle sauce with peas and fresh truffle slices on top. Their in-house sommelier also suggested a delicious wine for us to pair with our meal, and the service was exceptional.
Tomy & Co’s Michelin star makes it quite literally one of the best spots to eat in Paris, so we recommend reserving your table at Tomy & Co two weeks in advance.
Alright, time to save a few bucks now. Bouillon is a popular casual bistro with two locations, Bouillon République, in the heart of the 3rd arrondissement, and Bouillon Pigalle, in the 18th arrondissement near Moulin Rouge. You can think of Bouillon not as fast food, but fast dining. These large brasseries are volume-based and quick-service, so they’re not going to be the best meal of your life, but they do offer you exceptional value and the opportunity to try a classic French dish in a lower-risk setting. Curious about duck foie grais (fatty liver) or salt cod brandade (a fish dip served with bread) but not sure you’ll like them? This is the place to give them a whirl, as the price of each is less than 13 EUR.
Given this restaurant’s massive popularity, our Paris restaurant guide recommends to make advance reservations at Bouillon at least a few days in advance.
A rare exception to the “don’t eat too close to a tourist destination” rule, Café Fleur is an excellent spot in the 15th arrondissement only a five minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. Particularly good for brunch or lunch, Café Fleur’s menu features a classic café spread, including crêpes, salads, pastas, burgers, and some other French staples like escargot, French onion soup, and beef Bourguignon. They’ve got a full bar as well, so feel free to enjoy that cobb salad with an Aperol spritz or glass of rosé – you’re in Paris after all!
You should be able to have lunch here without a reservation, but if you’d like to grab dinner at this Paris, France restaurant, you may want to book ahead. Reserve your table at Café Fleur here.
Lunch & Dinner in Paris, France - Please, Anything But French
French food is delicious, but sometimes you just need a break from the rich cuisine. Thankfully, the chefs of Paris excel in all kinds of international fare. Here are a few of the top places to eat in Paris, France that aren’t French.
Conveniently located in the 18th arrondissement, Piccolo Caratello is the perfect place to eat before your evening at Moulin Rouge. Having recently spent five weeks in Italy, our bar for quality pasta was high, and Piccolo Caratello did not disappoint. Each of our dishes was excellent, and the burrata and tiramisu were to-die-for. Note when booking that similarly named Al Caratello is located just across the street, but we highly recommend making reservations at Piccolo instead. While the ownership – and thus, the food – is the same, the aesthetic of Piccolo Caratello is much lovelier, offering a warm, rustic, and romantic interior that is worth favoring over its sister restaurant.
In our Paris, France food guide, we recommend reserving a table at Piccolo Caratello at least one week in advance.
Restaurant Dos Almas is a Spanish restaurant located just steps from the Pont de l’Alma in the 8th arrondissement. We stopped here on a whim and were treated with one of the best meals we ate in Paris. Come here for their absolutely jaw-dropping calamari – nice and fat, perfectly seasoned, and so tender. We also enjoyed their tuna tataki and blistered shishito peppers. With both a lush and tastefully decorated interior and a spacious outdoor terrace, Restaurant Dos Almas is ready to serve you no matter your mood or the weather.
As one of the top places to eat in Paris for Spanish food – and with an excellent location – we recommend reserving your table at Dos Almas at least 3 days in advance.
In the mood for fish ‘n chips and a frosty pint? Head to Frog XVI, an English pub located in the 16th arrondissement near the Trocadero. Frog XVI is a popular spot to unwind after a day of touring, as it’s also not far from the Eiffel Tower. They offer a wide selection of beers, and an excellent happy hour from 5:00 to 8:00pm. It’s nothing fancy, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. It’s just a place you can go to relax, get some good food and drink, and not spend a fortune.
This restaurant in our Paris, France food guide is pretty casual, so you probably won’t need a reservation. But, if you’d like to guarantee your table at Frog XVI, reserve it in advance here.
Time to head East – literally and metaphorically – to Siamin, a Thai restaurant located in the 8th arrondissement a block off Champs-Élysées. Siamin is an unassuming spot from the outside that is full of life on the inside. With incredible thematic decor, inventive and refreshing cocktails, and a menu chock-full of delicious Thai dishes, you’re sure to enjoy your meal at Siamin. We especially recommend the White Tiger cocktail and the red curry Thai basil beef for your main. Don’t sleep on the duck with curry and coconut either!
This is definitely one of the best spots to eat in Paris for Thai food, so if you’re in the mood for tasty curry, make sure to reserve your table at Siamin at least 3 days in advance.
Rounding out our list is Le Petit L’Or in the 16th arrondissement. While this may seem like another French restaurant at first blush – and yes, there are a fair number of French classics on the menu – the Sri Lankan owners also offer some dishes from their own homeland. Here you can try a Sri Lankan beef curry or Ceylon Arrack, a Sri Lankan liquor, in addition to their exceptional duck confit. Our favorite part about Le Petit L’Or, however, was its comfortable, homey atmosphere. Though the food was amazing, the restaurant was unpretentious, and clearly served as a gathering place for the local community.
As this Paris restaurant is outside of the main tourist area, you can probably get by without a reservation. But if you’d like to guarantee your table, reserve your place at Le Petit L’Or here.
FAQs for Our Paris, France Food Guide
Which Top Places to Eat in Paris, France Require Advance Reservations?
Paris’s dining scene is very reservation-driven, so make sure to plan your dinners in Paris, France in advance. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the top places to eat, we recommend in our Paris, France food guide to make reservations at the following in-demand restaurants at least 1-2 weeks in advance:
What Should I Order at a French Restaurant in Paris?
Every Paris, France food guide needs a few recommendations on what to eat! Some of the most classic French dishes you should order when grabbing breakfast or dinner in Paris, France are:
- Bread and pastries – baguettes, croissants, and pain au chocolat are the essentials!
- Crêpes and Galettes – thin pancakes filled with sweet (crêpes) or savory (galettes) ingredients, like a fruit compote crêpe or an egg, ham, and gruyere cheese galette (yum!)
- Soupe à l’oignon – French onion soup, topped with toasted bread and melty cheese
- Escargots – snails, typically drowning in garlic butter deliciousness
- Steak-Frites – steak and fries, simple but classic
- Beef Bourguignon – beef stew made with a red wine sauce and veggies
- Canard Confit – our personal favorite, duck cooked in its own fat is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside
Which Neighborhoods Have the Best Spots to Eat in Paris?
- Hotel Florida ($$) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 9.0 average rating
- Hôtel Vernet ($$$) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 8.9 average rating
When Do People Typically Eat Dinner in Paris, France?
You can enjoy breakfast in Paris anytime before noon. Lunch is typically served between noon and 2pm, and dinner in Paris is typically between 7:30 and 10pm.
Should I Tip at Bars and Restaurants in Paris?
Tipping is not standard in Paris, though it is becoming more common. Certainly, rounding up here and there is always appreciated. However, if your waiter is specifically asking you for a tip, you’re in a tourist trap.
Do the Top Places to Eat in Paris, France Accept Credit Cards?
Nearly all Paris restaurants will accept card, but it’s good to have some cash on hand for street eats or small boulangeries. We recommend withdrawing a small amount of cash (about 100 euro or ~$120) at the airport in case of emergencies, as finding an ATM around town can be quite difficult. Don’t forget our pro tip on withdrawing from ATMs in foreign countries!
Pro tip: When offered an exchange rate by an ATM, you can – and should – always decline the rate displayed. This rate often includes a heavy markup on top of the market exchange rate. Declining the rate will not stop your transaction, but rather allow your personal bank to set the rate instead.
Do I Need to Speak French to Order at Restaurants in Paris?
Definitely not. We had no issues interacting with people in the service industry in English during our time in Paris, though knowing a few key words will definitely win you some brownie points with the locals. Practice these ones before your trip:
- Hello – Bonjour – bon-ZHOOR
- Goodbye – Au revoir – oh ruh-VWAHR
- Please – S’il vous plaît – seel voo-PLAY (always pays to be polite!)
- Thank you – Merci – mehr-SEE (the most important)
- Excuse me – Excusez-moi – ex-KYOO-zay mwah (to grab a waiter’s attention)
- Can I pay? – Je peux payer? – zhuh puh pay-YAY?
- The bill/check – L’addition – lah-dee-SYOHN
- Delicious – Délicieux – day-lee-SYEUH (you’ll use this one a lot, we promise)
Don’t forget that in French, entrée means appetizer, not main dish! Not sure how English messed that one up.
Want to learn more? Check out our post 120+ Basic French Words and Phrases for Travel and Tourists.
Where Can I Learn More About Paris and Why I Should Visit It?
Right here! We have a full travel guide and itinerary for Paris here, along with recommendations for our favorite bars in Paris and a guide to optimizing your visit to Versailles too. Check out all of our France travel guides here.
Final Thoughts on The Top Places to Eat in Paris Restaurant Guide
Reaching the end of this post and worried I forgot about dessert?? Never fear! For a little something sweet, head to La Pistacherie in the 8th arrondissement. This cute shop full of pistachio-themed desserts has the loveliest wait staff, and you can take your tasty treat across the street to enjoy it with a view of the Seine.
Now that you know some of the top places to eat in Paris, France, it’s time to eat! We hope this Paris restaurant guide makes it a little easier to choose a spot amongst all the incredible options, and that you enjoy these restaurants as much as we did! Comment below what your favorites were.
Looking for more recommendations on what to see and do in Paris? Check out our post Your Perfect Paris 5 Day Itinerary. We’ve also got a post detailing some of our favorite Paris cocktail bars for those after-dinner nightcaps, don’t miss out on the city’s great nightlife!
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