Restaurants, cafés, and wine bars that should be on your hit list for your next trip to the city of lights.
I’m not an expert on Parisian restaurants by any means, but I do happen to have a lot of Parisian friends who are foodies (birds of a feather), which means I often end up dining and imbibing in some pretty lovely places. Check out the below list of places I enjoyed on my trip this past May.
Le Réveil du 10eme
Apparently Paris’ best wine bar since 1987, this place has a long, lovely wine list and a great menu of snacks to accompany it. My drink of choice? The Saint-Amour Beaujolais Cru (of course – is anyone surprised by this?). They don’t have a website – because of course they don’t. – but you’ll find it in the heart of the 10th between Rue du Château d’Eau and Rue Bourchardon.
Les Bichettes de Belleville
This adorable little hole-in-the-wall is probably the tiniest restaurant I’ve ever been inside (really redefines the term, if I’m being honest!), but it keeps itself familiar and charming that way. With a small menu and only a few wines to choose from, I loved the down-home, neighborhood feel of this place – and the food’s no joke either. Try the cod if it’s on the menu and don’t forget to pair it with the Muscadet!
Le Passager
There’s no doubt about it – brunch and bagels are trendy in Paris right now. If you’re on the lookout for a lovely little brunch spot that sports both American specialties and French fusion breakfast/lunch cuisine, this spot is cute, casual, and a favorite among locals. I loved the oeufs brouillés (I always forget how well the French do eggs of all kinds) and my friend Estee said the bagel was pretty great. Be careful to arrive early though – there was about a 20 minute wait (worth it!).
MARCEL
A casual little bistro in the heart of Montmartre, Marcel won me over when its staff made lighthearted jokes in French and offered us little white flowers at the end of our snack. (Flowers not guaranteed, but the jokes will probably maintain.) While I went to the Montmartre location, there’s also one on the left bank, so you might run into either and stop for a drink and a shareable plate. A proper bistro, not a wine bar, you’ll be required to get some food if you order wine off their small but eclectic list. It’s a perfect watering hole to stop in between long walks and market visits if you’re in the area. Oh – and the fries are delicious.
Les Rupins
From the outside, this café might seem unassuming, but believe you me the food here is fabulous and affordable. That duo is getting harder and harder to come by in Paris these days, since there are a lot of mediocre, overpriced bistros out there. The Dos de Cabillaud is served in a delicious curry-based sauce that’s as complex as it is aromatic. Perfect to pair with any range of the wines on the menu!
Floréal Belleville
If Williamsburg, Brooklyn turned into a chic Parisian café and restaurant, it would be Floréal. The distinctly trendy, local vibe to this place makes it feel like a slice of home. There are flowers and plants everywhere and on certain weekends they even have art exhibitions and community yoga classes (I repeat: hello, French Brooklyn). The wine list is small but impeccable, with organic cru Beaujolais, biodynamic Vinho Verde, and a selection of off-the-beaten-track rosés. The food is light, bright, and all shareable plates, with several vegan and vegetarian options. If you’re staying in the 19th or 20th as I like to do, this is one restaurant that is definitely worth stopping by.
The Dancing Goat
The first morning I woke up in my Airbnb, I realized that there was no coffeemaker (despite a description claiming there was). For someone who simply *must* have a cup – whether drip or espresso – I desperately began searching for a place in my neighborhood that would have something I could take away (à emporter) because I was working remotely and wouldn’t be able to languish at a café somewhere. Imagine my surprise when I found The Dancing Goat a few blocks away from where I was staying! This place is full of Parisian magic. It’s chic, minimalist, and even has café filtre – drip coffee – which until recently was rare in Paris. I happily walked away that first morning with two piping hot cups of coffee and returned every morning afterward. – sometimes to work remotely from there before lunch. If there’s one place I will definitely make sure to return to, it’s Dancing Goat!
Le barav
I have one thing to say: get there EARLY. The secret is out about how great this place is and people flock to this unique wine bar in République for an amazing evening. During the week, they open at 5 p.m., so to grab a table you’ll need to get there right when it opens. If you arrive late and can’t find a spot, head on over to their wine shop just next door! Grab a bottle and a corkscrew and head out to the Canal St. Martin for a picnic apéro.
BOBBY
The décor of this place is as trendy and cute as the food is delicious. Everything on the menu is made from local, fresh ingredients, so you won’t see anything that can’t be purchased from outside of 50 miles of Paris. We loved the melon and burrata salad (“Freschezza”), and the Pesto Trapani pasta was picture and tastebud perfect. Not a spot to be missed! It’s ideally located on the southwest fringe of the 18th arrondissement.
Daroco (Bourse)
Daroco has three locations in Paris and each one appears more sumptuous than the last. We met up with friends at the Bourse location to celebrate our engagement and we were not disappointed. Chic, delicious, and a visual feast of teal velvet, you will not be disappointed if you dine here. From refreshing salads to handmade pastas and tiramisus, everything on the menu is carefully curated and wonderfully delicious. P.S. – don’t skimp on the Champagne!
Le Sarment de Montmartre
If you’re looking for a fun, quirky wine bar with excellent food, Le Sarment de Montmartre is the spot to check out. Beloved by Parisians and visitors alike, the wine list here is an esoteric mix of up and coming Pays d’Oc stars, beloved under the radar Bourgogne, and classic Bordeaux, too. The food menu is a classic French bistrot selection that’s done simply and done very well. For modern ambiance and great wine in the heart of Montmartre, this is the place to go.
Café Pimpin
With three locations across Paris, Café Pimpin (not pronounced like you think!) not only has great coffee but a solid food menu, too, with so much more than your typical pastry list. You can get eggs, avocado toast, or a selection of the daily tartines. The perfect spot to have in your back pocket if that trendy lunch/breakfast spot you were eyeing has no open reservations!
REDD Montorgeuil
Tucked away on an otherwise very busy street, REDD is an unassuming, quiet wine bar with friendly staff and a rotating list of fabulous French wines. It’s a great place to go on a date or with a small group of friends and its location right next to the famous Rue Montorgeuil makes it the perfect spot to stop by before or after dinner for a glass.
BREIZH CAFE
Crêpes, crêpes, crêpes! If it’s your first time in France – or even if you are a Francophile like me – eating some authentic French crêpes is definitely going to be on your hit list. BREIZH is pretty much the gold standard, specializing in both the Normandy tradition of buckwheat savory crêpes as well as the classic crêpes sucrées. When I first studied abroad here they only had one location and it was always sold out, but I’m happy to report that there are now multiple locations throughout Paris so you can grab a reservation pretty much anywhere and enjoy!
HITE
Korean food is having quite the moment in Paris right now – you can’t take a 15 minute walk without seeing at least one outpost! I love Korean food so I was excited to try out an outpost with Parisian flair. HITE is a great little spot with incredible food – I highly recommend the classic vegetarian bibimbop. It was super flavorful and a great place to hit up if you are on a budget!
KB Coffee Roasters
Coffee was once overlooked in Paris, but the city is currently going through a café renaissance (you can read more about it in Lindsey Tramuta’s book The New Paris!) I was delighted to meet a friend of mine for a coffee at KB Coffee Roasters’ 9th arrondissement outpost. They have a lovely terrace, fabulous coffee and tea, and if you snag a spot on the terrace you even get a little glimpse of the Sacré-Cœur. An ideal spot to take a beat on a busy day!
A LOT OF WINE
If you love organic, biodynamic, or natural wines like I do – look no further, this place has a great bottle for you! Ideally located in the 4ème arrondissement, not too far from the picturesque Hôtel de Ville, this is a great spot to grab a glass, a snack, or even a bottle to go. For an even better experience, ask the server which wine he’s loving right now and chances are you’ll land on a great one. Santé !
BONUS: Parisian Food Tour with Paris by Mouth
If you’re going to Paris for the first time or even the fifth time and want to learn (and taste!) Paris food culture from the locals, you’ve got to book a tour with Paris by Mouth. On the tour, an expert Parisian guide (usually an expat, so in English!) will take you to Paris’ best boulangeries, fromageries, and wine shops. It’s a great way to get to know the food scene without exclusively going to restaurants. Bon appétit !
Looking for more restaurant recommendations? Head on over to my last post about restaurants and wine bars I visited when last there!
