Paris is filled with thousands of cafes, bistros, restaurants and wine bars and it can be almost impossible to find a truly great gem.
Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind and you will be navigating the Paris restaurants like a seasoned traveler.
Avoid any restaurant that has multiple flags on its menus. These are a clear sign of a tourist trap and the food won’t be any good and the prices are high.
Also, avoid any restaurant covered with fake flowers.
If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. If you see a sign for a three-course meal for 15 euros, run away. While the cost is low, do you really want to waste a precious meal in Paris on something less than divine?
Move just one street away from any monument or touristy area. Rather than eat at the closest bistro to the Eiffel Tower where the food will be spendy and pretty horrible, walk a block or two and find a more authentic version of what French food should really be.
When in doubt, spot the locals. Slowly walk by a cafe terrace and listen. Do you hear most of the people speaking French? Voila, find a seat and you are in for a treat.
Most every cafe and restaurant in Paris will speak some english. Get out of your comfort zone a bit and off the beaten track and you will have a meal you will remember your entire life.
these are a list of some of my favorite restaurants in Paris
I have given this list to friends and clients multiple times and every one comes back and said that by the end of their trip if they saw a restaurant, they would always consult the list and make sure it was a “Claudine restaurant”. This list will have you eating like royalty in Paris.
Right Bank
Le Matré 42 rue Vérone Steps away from where Van Gogh once lived and the base of Montmartre, this is a brand new jewel that includes wonderful friends from my L’Avant Comptoir family, so you know its amazing.
Le Rubis 10 rue du Marché Saint-Honoré on the right bank. The best Duck Confit, it’s small and oh so French! Metro -1 Tuileries, 7& 14 Pyramid
Breizh Café 109 Rue Vielle du Temple 3rd (The Jambon Truffe crepe is the greatest thing ever, I had it 3 times! (also on the left bank, see below) Metro 8 Saint Sebastian-Froissant
Le Fumoir 6 Rue de l’Amiral de Coligny, fantastic value for the amazing food they have. A great three-course option for lunch and a reasonable price. just east of the Musée du Louvre near Saint Germain l'Auxerrois (an AMAZING church and no crowds) Metro 1 Louvre/Rivoli
Willi’s Wine Bar One of my very favorites. Willi’s is one of the first wine bars in Paris opened over 40 years ago. The food and wine are great and Marc the owner will welcome you in like it is your home. Just past the Palais Royal and perfect after a day in the Louvre for lunch or dinner.
Le Nemours, 2 Place Colette, very close to the Louvre as well to the North. I never miss a chance to start there in the morning (or any other time of the day) Metro 1 Palais Royale/Louvre
Frenchie rue de Nil. Anything Gregory Marchand touches is gold and this entire street was built by Frenchie, as Jamie Oliver had named him. Frenchie is the original and fantastic but reservations are needed far in advance. There is also the lively Bar a Vins and Frenchie To Go on the same street. However, don’t miss the bakery, vegetable stand and cheese shop.
Bistro Paul the classic of all classic French bistros, book far in advance 18 rue Paul Bert 11e
Merci, 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais. A very hip store but also has three cafés as well. I love the used book store café that is nestled under the high shelves of books. La Cantine and also Le Cine Café is also on site. Hours vary and they are all closed on Sunday. Metro 8 Saint-Sebastian-Froissant
L’Ami Louis 32 Rue du Vertbois, very small and rather spendy, this is about as authentic as you get for a French Bistro. The chicken is out of this world Metro 11, 3, 4 Temple & Arts et Métiers
Poupee Wine Bar, 2 impasse Berthaud. I love a wine bar, the atmosphere is relaxed and the prices are normally lower than most. Food is sliced meats and cheeses which pairs perfectly with the wine. Metro 11 Rambeteau
Candelaria, 52 rue de Saintonge. When you have a craving for Mexican food, this is the only place in Paris to come to. The tacos change every day and are small but delicious and the frozen margaritas are tasty. Metro 8 Filles du Calvaire
Chez Omar, 47 rue de Bretagne. One of the best steak frites in Paris. Metro- 3, 11 Arts et Métiers
Café des Musées, 40 Rue de Turenne. A wonderful bistro that should charge much more for their amazing food. A three-course lunch will cost less than 25 euros (without wine) if you love Boeuf Bourguignon this is the place for you. It is also close to the Musée Picasso Paris. Metro 1 St Paul, 8 Chemin Vert
Café Le Louis Philppe, 66 quai de l’hotel de ville. Staircase designed by Gustave Eiffel, great place to sit and watch people over a long lunch Metro 1 St Paul
Au Petit Versailles du Marais, 1 rue Tiron, an adorable bakery that dates back to 1860. Original painted paneling remains. The croissant and pain au chocolate is delicious Metro 1 St Paul
Les Philosophes, 28 rue Vielle du Temple, one of the best restaurants in all of the Marais Metro 1 & 11 Hotel de Ville
Le Trumilou, 84 quai de l’Hotel de Ville, another great boeuf bourguignon Metro 1 & 11 Hotel de Ville
Ma Bourgone, 19 place des Vosges. Under the colonnade of the Place des Vosges, very good and great on a sunny day for lunch Metro 8 Chemin Vert
Ellsworth, 34 Rue de Richelieu. Sister restaurant to Verjus located just down the street. Reservations are highly recommended. Metro Palais Royal
Le Galopin 34, rue Sainte-Marthe 10e Metro 2 & 11 Belleville
Le Baratin 3 Rue Jouye-Rouve 20e, a favorite of Anthony Bourdain and the chefs of Paris
Islands
Le Flore en l’Ile 42 Quai d’Orleans very close to St Regis is also great, but avoid the other two. Too touristy and food is really bad Metro 7 Pont Marie
Left Bank
L’avant Comptoir de la terre, my hands down favorite place in Paris. From chef Yves Camdeborde, this is a stand up wine bar. The food is incredible, for sure have the Brochette Foie Gras, caramelized pork belly, croquettes, foie gras hamburger, charcuterie and any of the specials on the chalk board. The guys that work there are the best, Sylvain is the main guy and there every night Tuesday to Saturday, tell him I sent you ☺ They are open from noon-11pm and you just have to go at least once! Metro 4 & 10 Odeon
In addition, de la Terre is surrounded on both sides by the other Camdeborde restaurants. The one with the terrace is the restaurant and if you can get a seat, TAKE IT. There is always a line and the food is INCREDIBLE! He was a very big chef that was tired of the major starred restaurant life and opened a few small places. On the other side is L’Avant Comptoir de la mer, also amazing. Anthony Bourdain LOVED this place and featured it on his show; the rest is history after that.
Brasserie Lipp 151 Boulevard Saint-Germain 6th Metro 4 St Germain des Pres
Le Relais de l’Entercote 20 Rue Saint-Benoit- they serve only one thing, Steak frites. First come first serve, but its great! (just a block from Le Bonaparte) Metro 4 St Germain des Pres
Bonvivant if you love steak frites, this is the spot for you. The wine is also fantastic and the atmosphere and music are great. 7 rue des Ecoles 5e
Café de la Mairie- across from Saint Sulpice Metro 10 Mabillon
Chez l’Ami Jean (the BEST) you MUST have the Parmesan soup and the Rice pudding. 27 Rue Malar Metro 8 La Tour Maubourg
Marche Saint Germain on Rue Lobineau & Rue de Seine, very close to Saint-Sulpice has the BEST cheese and meats you can find. I always get my cheeses and some amazing pates here. Metro 4 & 10 Odeon
Huguette, Bistro de la mer- oysters! 81 Rue de Seine Metro 4 & 10 Odeon
Au Petit Suisse, 16 Rue de Vaugirard I love their salads and you can sit there and look at the Palais du Luxembourg it’s just across from Jardin du Luxembourg Metro- 4 & 10 Odeon
Just a few steps away from Rue de Medicis is Treize au Jardin. The English owned cafe is open each morning at 9:30 am and serves brunch almost all day. The food is really good and if you need a touch of people speaking English, this is the place. The English bookshop The Red Wheelbarrow is just a few doors down too.
Chez Fernand, 13 Rue Guisarde. Very authentic French bistro, it is tiny and the food is fantastic. If you want authentic Boeuf Bourguignon, this is the place to get it
Breizh Café 1 Rue de l’Odeon is in my favorite little corner and where I always stay within a block from, they have many savory and sweet crepe options. The Jambon Truffe crepe is the greatest thing ever, I had it 3 times. Metro 4 & 10 Odeon
Just across the way is also the Le Hibou, which I love for an afternoon glass of wine. The food is not amazing, but it’s not bad either. However, their omelet is one of the best I have ever had.
Les Editeurs also in the same area is great; I had one of the best duck dishes of my life here.
Café Delamas 2 Place de Contrescarpe. Just reopening after an almost 2-year renovation. Of all the restaurants in the Place, go with this one. After all, Hemingway sat at this same cafe when he first arrived in Paris. Metro Place Monge
Bouillon Racine, 3 Rue Racine just off Blvd Saint Michel. Very authentic and beautiful restaurant only a few blocks from Odeon.