My Favorite Spots in Paris
As a headnote, please understand that these recommendations are pre-pandemic and therefore several years out of date. Still, the classics continue, but you might have a look at David Lebovitz’s website for more current information, until I get mine updated.
Robert et louise
64 rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
Tel: 01 42 78 55 89
My favorite restaurant in Paris! They self-describe as “Restaurant of Fire.” No molecular gastronmy here… Small, simple, but excellent. No fanfare, thankfully. Food cooked in a wood hearth on a chromed planche; terrific grilled meats and boudin noir, excellent sautéed potatoes. Sit at the bar or the big table, don’t sit downstairs. Go twice – by the second visit they’ll treat you like family, as often happens in France. You must promise not to tell anyone about it…
Le Comptoir du Relais
Carrefour de l'Odéon
75006 Paris
Tel: 01 44 27 07 97
Very good, but on the radar in a big way, so it's hard to get one of their very small tables. It’s usually packed, often with Americans who’ve read about it, but join the queue (no reservations). It’s well worth the wait, which is generally not too long. Watch out for americans in summer, though. A late lunch, about 3pm, is the ticket.
Café De La Nouvelle Mairie
9 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques
75005 Paris
01 44 07 04 41
My second favorite in Paris is a sweet, very well done bar à vin naturel in the 5th up behind the Pantheon that we found one day on walk around the neighborhood where we were staying. I don't really want to broadcast it, but you would like it, i think. Organic, biodynamic wines and well prepared, simple food, include sausages and patés like they used to be. Busy at lunch, so go early or, preferably, late. Cash only ("no carte bleu," no credit cards). I go there every time!!
l'Agrume
5 rue des Fossés Saint-Marcel
75005 Paris
01 43 31 86 48
Had a very good meal here, but maybe I was just notalgic for the taste of French food. Simple delicious food, a youngish chef cooking by himself. Michelin Star food in a neighborhood spot in a remote part of the 5th. Call ahead for a table. Excellent. Say hi to the chef when you’ve dined.
Bistro Paul Bert
8 rue Paul Bert
75011 Paris
01 43 72 24 01
Also on the radar and therefore busy, often many americans, but very, very good. Go for a late lunch if you can. I especially like the hure de cochon, a house speciaité.
Le Chateubriand
129 Avenue Parmentier
Paris 75011
01 43 57 45 95
Hard to get in, one of the top – and best – of the new French places run by Michelin Star ex-pats. If you can get a reservation, you’ll enjoy it, and its humble offspring.
Le Dauphin
131 Avenue Parmentier
Paris 75011
01 55 28 78 88
La Gazzetta
29, rue de Cotte
Paris 75012
01 43 47 47 05
Lunch, 16 euros; dinner, 38 to 50 euros.
A terrific place with a chef who has cooked around the city and elsewhere, and therefore has an eclectic menu. Still, can often be great. Younger than many places, hipper, too.
If you want an old-school Bistro or other interesting place (falafel, relais routiers, bar-a-vin)
Chez Georges
rue Mail, in the 2nd
Can’t go wrong here
Cravan
7, rue Jean-de-La-Fontaine
75016
New style wine bar with limited menu from Franck Audou, former co-owner of Châteaubriand
L’As du Falafel – the falafel ace!
34, rue des Rosiers, 75004
01 48 87 63 60
Les Marches
5, rue de la Manutention
75016
01 47 23 52 80
Les Provinces
20, rue d’Aligre
Paris 75012
01 43 43 91 64
Excellent butcher and restaurant near Marché d’Aligré, an excellent neighborhood market that worth a visit
If you're near the Aligré markeT, near Gare de Lyon, check out...
Le Baron Rouge
1 Rue Théophile Roussel
75012 Paris
01 43 43 14 32
It’s a good local – few or no tourists! – wine bar with a few tasty bite on hand. You can buy good wine from the barrel and take it home for very cheap.
Lazare
Parvis Gare St.-Lazare, Rue Interieure
Paris 75008
01 44 90 80 80
La Rotonde Montparnasse
105 boulevard du Montparnasse
Paris 75006
01-43-26-48-26
Café des Abattoirs
10, rue Gomboust
Paris 75001
01-76-21-77-60
Owned by the daughters of the famous Parisien chef, Michel Rostaing. Excellent, old school in spirit, but a serious place with no messing around.
Le Pantruche
3, rue Victor Massé
Paris 75009
01 48-78-55-60
My close friend, Sean, who lives in Paris half the year, says this place is fantastic!
New places of curiosity, with good reviews and recommendations; haven't dined there but would love to...
Verjus
52 rue de Richelieu
Paris 75001
01 42 97 54 40
Spring
6 rue Bailleul
Paris 75001
01 45 96 05 72
La Buvette
67, rue St.-Maur
Paris 75011
09 83-56-94-11.
Try this one out for sure. It’s run by a woman cooking everything by herself. It’s NOT related to Buvette in NYC, owned by Jodi Willams.