Splurge in Paris

20 places for Splurge in Paris, picked by creators — with what they said.

• YUSHIN — Louis, Ryoko Paris Guide
  He called it 'the best sushi in France' and said he was 'completely blown away,' adding that it made him want to give French sushi another chance.
  Heads up: He was clear that this is a much higher-end price bracket than the restaurants he actually visited that day.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).
• Les enfants du marché — Condé Nast Traveler
  Named the escargot the most French dish in France and their top pick, praising its buttery, hazelnut-like flavor, the balance of sourness and sweetness in the foie gras and smoked eel dish, and the fresh mustard.
  Heads up: Wine prices range from €40 to €2,000, so if you don't want an expensive bottle, mention it ahead of time.
• Motors Coffee — TOPJAW
  The pour-over, slowed down by hand at the end of the extraction, finishes so cleanly it tastes "like there's milk or cream in it." The cinnamon bun and lemon pastry are just as good.
  Heads up: A single pour-over runs €25, and there's no food beyond pastries — the brunch menu was dropped to keep the focus on coffee.
• Sweet Raviolis — Louis
  The steamed pork dumplings won them over — juicy filling, an "explosion of flavor," and Lan confirms while folding one that the dough is properly homemade; Louis concludes, "if you come here, get the pork."
  Heads up: Lan found the prices too high even for Paris (homemade dumplings usually cost much less), and the dough was thicker than the Chinese standard; the filling also tasted too salty to her, and the vegetarian options seemed bland after the pork.
• 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.
• L'Ours — Arielle in Paris
  Praised for thoughtful little touches — like pulling out chairs and guiding guests to the restroom, plus a sommelier personally explaining the wine — that together create a luxurious experience.
  Heads up: Still quite expensive, so best saved for a special occasion; also requires taking the metro out to Vincennes rather than staying in central Paris, and the meal can stretch to four hours with more courses.
• 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.
• 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.
• Le George — 또 떠나는 남자 ddoddunam
  Said it has a classic look overlooking the courtyard, but the music is quite trendy.
• Takara — Louis
  He named the ankimo—which he called 'foie gras of the sea'—the best dish of the day, and praised the squid's bold flavor, the finishing aroma of shiso leaf on the sea urchin sushi, and the excellence of the sukiyaki.
  Heads up: He recommended the sukiyaki over the sushi, noting a single piece of sushi costs €5.40 and the nigiri moriawase is around €40 but with small portions—'you'd need four plates'—putting the budget at €50-60 per person.
• 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.
• Pierre Hermé — Locavore Eats
  The chocolate and passionfruit combination was surprisingly great, and all four — pistachio, vanilla, raspberry included — tasted good.
  Heads up: Expensive, and they preferred Ladurée's macarons on texture.
• 우정식당 — 비밀이야 bimirya
  Widely said to be the best Korean restaurant in Paris, according to others.
  Heads up: Haven't been able to visit yet personally, and thought it's an upscale Korean restaurant best enjoyed in a group.
• Ladurée — Locavore Eats
  The addictive strawberry candy and the unusual, citrus-tinged Marie Antoinette were the standouts, and they found the macaron texture better than Pierre Hermé's.
  Heads up: They mention it's expensive.

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