Where to eat in Paris: Top 10 local favourites — high-end to good ‘go-to’ places — UPDATED March 2024
How to choose a good restaurant in France
– ALWAYS look for the Fait Maison LOGO
– NEVER eat where the menu is in several languages!
How do you know where to eat in Paris? Some people come to Paris with a fully planned itinerary, whilst others arrive with no plans other than immersion, or just an outline of what they want to do and places they want to go.
But what happens when you find yourself somewhere in Paris without either a reservation or the name of a restaurant nearby and you’re hungry and/or want to take the weight off your feet and relax, or even you just want to further immerse yourself in Parisian culture, and sit beside locals, and eat great food.
Sad, though it is, not every restaurant in Paris offers great food! Yes, sad but true! Many restaurants produce ‘industrial food‘, meaning that often, the restaurant only warms the food before serving it to you. Wow! How as a tourist or a traveller do you make sure that this doesn’t happen to you?
In 2014 the French government introduced a law to help people identify restaurants where the food is Fait Maison– made in-house – that is, the food is completely/entirely Made in House!
Here are the two tricks!
- ALWAYS look for a restaurant with the Fait Maison LOGO.
- NEVER eat at a restaurant with menus in several languages! This is a sure sign that it is NO GOOD.
Where to eat in Paris: Top 10 favourites loved by locals
1.Chefs à table – 15 Rue Trousseau, 75011 Paris
My absolute favourite ‘go to’ place in Paris right now. Three young guys running the restaurant, 2 chefs (one who trained in the UK under top chefs) and a front-of-house person, Johanne.
Their food is incredibly interesting, with wonderful flavours, and exceptional plating, and lunch is just 21 euros for 2 courses or 25 for 3.
I am sure they are heading towards Michelin Stars. It’s in a quiet street in the 11th arrondissement in an area with interesting, independent shops so make a day of it!
Dinner is 55 euro for 5 courses so, it’s terrific value.
2. Kitchen Ter(re) – 26 Bd Saint-Germain, 75005 and
3. Paris Ze Kitchen Galerie – 4, rue des Grands Augustins 75006 Paris
Both these restaurants are owned by the same group but are actually quite different in food and decor but terrific.
- Ze Kitchen is fabulous value for the set lunch. Really modern decor and an interesting menu. A bit more expensive for dinner but great for a special occasion.
- Kitchen Ter(re) is a more ‘French’ interior and the food is always excellent and the service outstanding.
4. Maison Sota – 3 Rue Saint-Hubert, 75011 Paris
A Japanese-influenced restaurant run by an ex-chef of the clown bar and it’s excellent!
It’s pricey (70 euro lunch, 120 dinner) but the food and flavours are quite unique!
The service is exceptional and if a small party be sure to ask to sit at the bar to eat, you can watch everything from there!
5. Le Pavillon de la Reine – 28 Place des Vosges, 75003 Paris
This is actually a 5-star hotel tucked away in the Place des Voges.
It’s worth popping your head in to look at the courtyard and interior anyway! The restaurant is small but exquisite!
Again lunch is the way to go, for a set menu… a delightful experience all round.
6. Le Fumoir – 6 Rue de l’Amiral de Coligny, 75001 Paris
‘My office’ as I refer to it as I am always there!
Great place centrally located (at the end of the Louvre complex) and great for coffee, lunch/dinner and/or drinks.
They have two areas for eating, the main restaurant area and what I refer to as the ‘library’ room (worth booking this space if a small group as its quite intimate).
The food is French, fresh, and reasonably priced (30 euro lunch). There’s always a wonderful mix of locals and internationals. I have never been disappointed here (you can also have a snack in the bar area).
7. Pristine — 8 Rue de Maubeuge, 75009 Paris, France
Good quality food, small, compact restaurant with genuine local-only customers and great buzz.
Excellent lunch for just over 20 euro for 2 courses
8. L’Aube — 10 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris
A young Tunisian Chef striving for a one-star. A beautiful interior, food and food presentation and excellent staff.
Brilliant lunch for just 49 euro for three courses. Dinner is more in the 100+ range. Quickly becoming a lunchtime favourite…
9. Shabour – 19, rue Saint-Sauveur 75002 Paris
An Israeli-influenced restaurant. The owner has three in his stable including the very well-known ‘Balagans’ (temporarily closed at the moment). As it is Israeli focussed the food is small plates with very interesting flavours. It’s mainly sitting at the large bar which fills the middle of the restaurant so its fun but not quite right for a ‘romantic’ dinner! A great
10. Pouliche – 11 rue d’Enghien 75010, Paris
A small place run by a female chef.
You have a small choice for mains but starters and desserts are non-negotiable (unless you have an allergy).
It was sensational food, I loved it all and in fact, not having choices made you try things you might not have otherwise!
Where to eat in Paris: Top 10 favourites
To view our 10 favourite Paris restaurants on an INTERACTIVE MAP click here
How many times have you asked for advice about “Where to eat in Paris”? The best tip is to ONLY rely on recommendations from locals, not tourist sites! Which are your Top 10 favourite Parisian restaurants? Do you have others to add to this excellent list? Please share in the comments below.
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About the Contributor
Sarah Cockell
