French in Paris

38 places for French in Paris, picked by creators — with what they said.

• Joséphine Chez Dumonet — Mark Wiens, Messinger Guides
  The pigeon layered with thin sheets of potato was his number-one bite of the entire 24-hour tour, the bœuf bourguignon — beef cheek braised for 18 hours — was "one of the best beef stews of my life," and the soufflé, as big as his head, was "the best ever." He also praised the chef and the service as warm and full of good humor.
  Heads up: Reservations are required and it's expensive at €265 for three; the mille-feuille is made to order on the spot, so you need to order it in advance.
• Bistrot Paul Bert — Mark Wiens, Les Frenchies
  He called the pepper sauce "one of the best sauces for meat I've ever had in my life," and singled out the meltingly tender filet steak, the freshly fried potatoes that arrived still radiating heat, and an intensely fragrant morel-and-egg dish as the highlights.
  Heads up: He went with a noon reservation — booking is required, and at €203.50 for three people, it's on the pricey side.
• Vaisseau — Condé Nast Traveler
  Called it a must-visit in Paris right now, raving about the experimental tasting menu where you guess what you're eating by flavor alone, the trout and oyster dishes, and an unusually fresh strawberry dessert.
  Heads up: Only one set menu is offered for lunch and one for dinner, with no choices at all — you eat without knowing what's coming.
• Arnaud Nicolas — Lucile
  A shop run by a state-decorated artisan where everything looks delicious, and the quiche lorraine with its thick, sabayon-like filling of cheese and bacon is a must-eat in Paris
• La Jacobine — Locavore Eats
  The French onion soup had a crisp cheese crust over deep, rich broth, the duck confit shone without any sauce, the wine-forward coq au vin was a highlight, and the thick, velvety hot chocolate may be the best in Paris.
  Heads up: The salmon and the pork tenderloin in mustard sauce were only just okay, and the mille-feuille is hard to eat neatly.
• Le Tout-Paris — 또 떠나는 남자 ddoddunam
  Rated as the best breakfast in Paris — the French toast is caramelized and crisp outside with a moist egg-soaked interior, the waffle is light and crispy served with vanilla cream, and the omelette is soft with melted cheese.
  Heads up: Breakfast is not a buffet and costs €60, excluding caviar and truffle. The 7th-floor view is a highlight, so it's a letdown in bad weather. You can also visit just for a cocktail without staying at the hotel.
• Bien Élevé — Lucile
  Excellent quality meat and friendly staff; the beef-fat fries rank among the best they've ever had, and the steak tartare, made with beef sourced directly from top French farms, is among the best in Paris, with sides and seasoning changing by season
  Heads up: The steak tartare is entirely raw beef with a raw egg, so don't confuse it with steak frites when ordering
• Le Train Bleu — Les Frenchies
  The crêpes Suzette is declared "hands down the best I've ever had", the chicken is juicy rather than dry, and the lamb tastes like something a mother would make. The baba au rhum, flambéed right at the table, is another showstopper.
  Heads up: Definitely on the expensive side (though considered worth it).
• Bofinger — Les Frenchies
  The choucroute is excellent — eating it here means eating the real thing. The pork belly melts in your mouth and the meringue on the île flottante is as light as air.
  Heads up: Choucroute is noted as a winter dish — a seasonal item on the menu.
• Parcelles — TOPJAW
  A vast but genuinely well-curated wine list — not just long for the sake of it — plus a veal head carpaccio served on a warm plate so the fat melts, and gnocchi dripping with sage butter.
• Roger La Grenouille — Locavore Eats
  The fried frog was crisp and tasted a bit like chicken wings, and the signature frog in parsley butter and the cheese-laden French onion soup were both excellent.
  Heads up: It specializes in frog, so it may not suit anyone who won't eat it (though they note the non-frog dishes are excellent too).
• Le P'tit Canon — Lucile
  The house-made duck confit is so tender the meat slips off the bone, the potatoes are cooked in duck fat, and the kitchen does Toulouse-region cooking properly, from cheese-laced aligot to Toulouse sausage.
• Comme un Bouillon — Arielle in Paris
  Praised as a wonderfully unpretentious, warm, traditional French home-style meal for a very low price — called their favorite bouillon in Paris.
  Heads up: Described as a slightly hidden-gem bouillon; noted that since there's no tipping culture in France, the card machine doesn't even have a tip option.
• Chez Michel — Messinger Guides
  Praised as a place where the plates speak for themselves without lengthy explanations, with chef Masahiro Kawai pouring his whole soul into a weekly menu that balances French tradition with raw creativity.
  Heads up: Noted that many bistronomy restaurants are self-indulgent, over-explaining even a single radish on the plate, but said this place is the exception.
• Le Quincy — Messinger Guides
  Concluded that 'the blanquette is superb,' with veal so tender it falls apart in the blanquette de veau, also calling it the perfect address to try boeuf bourguignon.
  Heads up: Noted there are no small plates or natural wines here, and not to expect a modern style.
• La Bauhinia — 또 떠나는 남자 ddoddunam
  Said the glass dome ceiling with chandeliers, the oriental-patterned carpet, and the mint-colored wallpaper are truly beautiful, and that breakfast — even with a simple buffet — is much more reasonably priced.
• La Bourse et La Vie — Les Frenchies
  The steak is as tender as it gets with wonderful beefy flavor, the sauce has just the right tang to make it perfect, and the starters, mains and desserts all show real imagination and polish.
  Heads up: The dining room is small, so a reservation is essential.
• Le Grand Colbert — Les Frenchies
  The chicken, slowly cooked in its own broth, is simple but genuinely delicious, and the roasted tomato and pan-seared goat cheese salad is excellent too — remarkable value for a €29 lunch menu.
• Chez Savy — Locavore Eats
  The signature bone marrow was like a 'meat butter' to spread on bread, and the andouille sausage with creamy mustard sauce and the tender, fatty pork ribs made for a full lineup of excellent bistro classics.
  Heads up: The menu changes with the seasons, so the dishes shown in the video may not be available.
• Plénitude — 또 떠나는 남자 ddoddunam
  Noted as one of only 9 three-Michelin-star restaurants in Paris, and as having received a 19.5 score from Gault&Millau.
  Heads up: Reservations are notoriously hard to get, but hotel guests often manage to secure one, so it's advised to ask at check-in.
• La Galerie — 또 떠나는 남자 ddoddunam
  Live music plays from afternoon into late evening, and though a cup of coffee isn't cheap, it's not unreasonable — recommended as a spot to stop by and soak in the atmosphere during a trip.
  Heads up: You have to walk through the dining area to reach the rooms, which can feel a bit awkward.
• Brasserie Dubillot — Lucile
  A short but well-judged menu of French classics — leeks vinaigrette, tartare, paupiette de veau — at very good prices, in a lively room.
  Heads up: It's a "quick" meal by French standards, so don't expect to be done in under an hour, and the snails have a good sauce but a mushy texture.
• Epicure — 조승연의 탐구생활
  Praised not just for the food quality but for the setting itself — dining while looking out through the massive windows of an 18th-century aristocratic mansion onto a garden in the heart of Paris — as the reason for its three Michelin stars.
• Le Cinq — 또 떠나는 남자 ddoddunam
  Said the mirrored walls, palm trees, and floral decor make it a space worth a hundred photos, and that the breakfast is a must for bread lovers.
  Heads up: Expensive and hard to book, and the restaurant is so quiet that even the sound of forks and knives echoes.
• Bistrot Des Tournelles — TOPJAW
• Frenchie — TOPJAW
  Lamb balanced by the acidity of carrot and plenty of butter, a trout tartare, and seriously good value at €25 for two courses or €30 for three at lunch.
• Bouillon Pigalle — Locavore Eats
  The profiteroles were excellent for €4.80, and ordering the full spread of bistro classics came to just €87 — unbeatable value.
  Heads up: They say outright that the food isn't world-class — this is a place you go for value.
• L'Aller Retour Marais — Les Frenchies
  The quality of the meat comes through clearly, seasoned perfectly and cooked exactly to order, and the bone marrow scooped from a big bone is simple but excellent.
• Vaudeville — Messinger Guides
  Praised the lively 'organized chaos' created by the clatter of cutlery and efficient waiters instead of music, the ornate decor, and reliable French classics, singling out the île flottante served in crème anglaise for special praise.
  Heads up: Noted it's so popular it was fully booked even on a Tuesday evening in February, making reservations essential, and warned not to expect red-carpet service.
• Chez Fernand — Locavore Eats
  The foie gras with cider jelly was smooth and rich enough to spread on bread, and the comforting food and unpretentious atmosphere made for a lovely meal.
  Heads up: They note that foie gras can be controversial on animal welfare grounds.
• Café Antonia — 조승연의 탐구생활
  Describes having brunch while looking out through arched windows three times human height at the garden where the Castellane ducal family once lived in seclusion.
  Heads up: To dine in the old family brunch room with its rounded bay overlooking the garden, you need to arrange it with the concierge the day before — highly recommended.
• Le MaZenay — 비밀이야 bimirya
  Described it as a restaurant so good they had to come back.
• La Coupole — Les Frenchies
  The onion soup isn't the heavy, onion-packed version — it's generous with broth and light, with bread and cheese in good balance. The sea bass fillet is remarkably delicate and the mashed potatoes come out fluffy.
  Heads up: At noon the place is empty and you can take your pick of tables, but by 1pm it's full; dancing and live music happen only once a month.
• Le Quartier Général — Locavore Eats
  The old-fashioned hot chocolate — melted chocolate with hot milk poured over it — was rich and warming enough to melt away a Paris winter, and the croque madame and Le British breakfast set were both well put together.
• Brasserie Lipp — Les Frenchies
  The duck confit is braised so slowly and for so long that the fat renders away while the meat stays moist and falls right off the bone. The pavlova gets a nod for its crisp meringue base.
• Le Relais de l'Entrecôte — Les Frenchies
  The steak is very tender and full of flavor, the secret pepper sauce has punch without blowing your head off, and the food arrives in about 15 minutes.
  Heads up: No reservations are taken, so you queue outside; some locations can mean a 30–45 minute wait, so arriving right at noon is recommended.
• Derrière — Jeremy Jacobowitz
  Enjoyed wandering through rooms styled like a bohemian mansion, and said there's even a hidden speakeasy bar behind a mirror.
  Heads up: Said the food wasn't great — recommended coming just for drinks and skipping the meal.
• Le Petit Bouillon Pharamond — Messinger Guides
  Praised for letting simplicity on the plate speak for itself rather than relying on decor, with food described as humble but delicious and consistent.
  Heads up: Warned that anyone expecting a minimalist designer restaurant, shared plates, matcha lattes, or natural wine will be disappointed.

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