Finding a good restaurant in Paris has never been harder. Not because there are fewer good ones — there are more than ever — but because the signal-to-noise ratio has collapsed. Everyone has a list. Influencers eat for free and algorithms surface whatever is trending.

This list is different. Every meal on it was paid for in full — funded entirely by your subscriptions — eaten anonymously, and chosen because I’d send a close friend there without hesitation. I update it three times a year — in March, June, and October — which means nothing stays on the list just because it was once great.

I share it only with paid subscribers, for two reasons: it keeps the list from becoming the list everyone has, and your support is what makes the whole enterprise possible. No ads, no press trips, no freebies accepted.

Fifty restaurants. All worth your time and money in Paris.

You can find past editions of this list in our archives, and ratings for more than 300 Paris restaurants in our restaurant index.

WHAT’S NEW

NEW ADDITIONS

Six restaurants join the list this time: Substance, Le Bon Georges, Cypsèle, Fugue, Masaikuta, and Canard Sauvage. My favorite discovery of the bunch is Cypsèle, a new restaurant on the Île Saint-Louis from a former chef at Maison — one of the most exciting meals I've had in recent memory. Substance is also worth singling out: they were on this list years ago before falling off, and the arrival of chefs Flavio Lucarini and Aurora Storari has brought them back where they belong.

AU REVOIR

Six restaurants leave the list. Hémicycle closed at the end of 2025 — its chefs, happily, landed somewhere even better. Le Grand Café was a fun addition but ultimately not essential enough to hold its place. Le Tire-Bouchon Rodier, Double, and La Petite Chaise are places I still like — they’ve moved to our neighborhood guides for Saint-Germain and Montmartre where they’re a better fit. And Vaisseau, which was always hard to get into, has been superseded by stronger tasting menu options on this list.

QUICK PICKS

We've also pulled together top picks for the moments when you need a quick answer — the best options for dining on a Sunday or Monday, celebrating a special occasion, eating well as a vegetarian, feeling like a local, booking last minute, and finding the best restaurants in Saint-Germain, Montmartre, the Marais, near the Louvre, and more. Subscribe to see our picks in each category, plus the full list of fifty below.

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“Where should I eat in Paris?”

It’s an important question. Here are fifty answers.

These are my favorite spots in Paris, and I’m thrilled to share them. But I only grant access to our paid subscribers. Why so stingy?

• Fewer eyes on this list increases our chances of getting in. Call me selfish, but I’m saving the best stuff just for us.

• The financial support from you, our paid subscribers, makes this pricey endeavor possible. My budget to anonymously test Paris restaurants is higher than any major publication. This enables me to stay honest - to politely decline the many freebies now offered. These selections are independent, crowd-funded by you.

To make our list more useful, I’ve overhauled a few things:

• Restaurants are now organized by the date of my most recent visit, and that date is noted beneath each photo collection. I aim to retest every restaurant on this list every three years.

• I’ve included a short description for each restaurant, but you can click to read the full review, or explore the tags I’ve provided below each address. Click on links like “open Sunday” or good for vegetarians” or “off the beaten track” to find more options that fit that bill.

• Scroll to the bottom to find a cheat sheet that will help you to quickly find favored options by location, type of cuisine, opening days, and other useful details.

You can find past editions of this list our archives to see past editions of this list, and consult our restaurant index to see our rating of more than 300 Paris restaurants.

If you haven’t yet subscribed to Paris by Mouth, I hope you’ll consider doing so now.

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THE MOST RECENT SELECTION

PAST SELECTIONS

• 50 Favorites for Summer 2025

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• 50 Favorites for Summer 2024

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• 50 Favorites for Winter 2023/4

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• 50 Favorites for Spring 2023

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Disclaimer: this is more true at modern restaurants than at traditional French joints. It remains difficult to find much beyond poireaux vinaigrette at a bistro. But enjoying a meatless meal is now fairly easy at restaurants with a younger, more creative spirit. That’s especially true when they’re featuring flavors from the Mediterranean and the Levant, two cuisines that are hugely popular in Paris right now.

In this article, I’m sharing my personal favorites for vegetarians and for hungry omnivores with vegetarian friends. I’ve noted when a restaurant is purely vegetarian, when it has great veggie options in addition to omnivorous items, and when they can accommodate vegans. I’ve organized this list according to the ratings we use in our restaurant index:

• GREAT - these are the restaurants you should prioritize

• GOOD - these restaurants make us happy, but they’re not our top picks

• FINE - these restaurants come in handy in certain situations

• NOT RECOMMENDED - we did not enjoy our experience

We expect this list to expand over time, so don’t be shy about sharing your own tips in the comments for vegetarian and vegan dining in Paris.

MASLOW

Maslow offers small plates that eaters of any stripe could appreciate. The menu is about half vegetarian and half vegan and I’ve loved every bite during three visits. Their “Not Boring Salad” is aptly named (and delicious!) with red cabbage, apple, carrot, + seaweed gomasio. During the day, Maslow is a canteen for local office workers and museum-goers (now at two locations), but they serve wine and cocktails are open open late until 11pm. Open Sunday, Monday and every other day of the week.

Our review of Maslow

Near the Louvre

14 Quai de la Mégisserie, 75001
Open every day for lunch & dinner
Reservations online

In the Marais

32 Rue de Picardie, 75003
Open every day for lunch & dinner
Reservations online

OOBATZ

The sourdough pies from master baker Dan Pearson are simply phenomenal. His menu is compact, with five pizzas plus a “carte blanche” option to be chosen by the chef. Three of the five are vegetarian, and carte blanche can swing meaty or veggie. The meatless pizzas, like this one with asparagus and citrus, were our favorite. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris and open Sunday.

Our review of Oobatz

4bis Avenue Jean Aicard, 75011
Open Wednesday – Sunday from 6-10pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Reservations online or at +33 9 87 41 68 53

DUCASSE SUR SEINE

Ducasse sur Seine is a floating restaurant docked directly in front of the Eiffel Tower. It completes a circuit through Paris during your meal, moving silently on the Seine past all the major monuments. The views of Paris are unbeatable, and the food is surprisingly good. There’s one vegetarian option for every course on the menu. If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion without meat, this is a really fun time. Open Sunday and Monday.

Our review of Ducasse sur Seine

19 Port Debilly, 75016
Open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch & dinner
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Reservations online or at +33 1 58 00 22 08

KUBRI

Kubri is the latest Levantine restaurant to capture the hearts and bellies of Parisians… and our current favorite. Their Lebanese menu has plenty of vegetarian options, like the hummus with roasted carrot pictured above, or a gorgeous plate of fattoush with tomatoes, radishes and herbs - all dusted with sumac, dotted with toum, and served tostada-style on a khebez crisp. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris.

Our review of Kubri

108 rue Amelot, 75011
Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 1 71 27 43 71

TRÂM 130

Our review of Trâm 130

130 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011
Open Monday-Saturday for dinner only
Closed Sunday
Reservations online

EELS

Chef Adrien Ferrand puts a lot of ideas on the plate, and that includes the vegetarian offering for every course. We loved this salad of endives gratinéed with smoky Scamorza cheese, with Meyer lemon, pears marinated in walnut vinegar, and salty praline. For the main course he served Pastina risotto with Thai basil pesto, white asparagus, and tangerine marmalade. This may all sound like a lot, but it somehow works. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris.

Our review of Eels

27 Rue d'Hauteville, 75010
Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 1 42 28 80 20

LE SAINT-SÉBASTIEN

Le Saint-Sébastien is known for its vegetable-driven (but not vegetarian) cooking and desserts with a savory spin. The 400-reference-strong wine list and impeccable service make this neighborhood restaurant worth crossing the city for. Now helmed by chef Andrés Solis, the menu features a few subtle twists that highlight his Mexican culinary heritage. They have a beautiful bar, making it a great idea for solo diners and last-minute walk-ins.Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris.

Our review of Le Saint-Sébastien

42 rue Saint-Sébastien, 75011
Open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 6 49 75 27 90

LA TABLE DE COLETTE

La Table de Colette is a sleek restaurant with a sincere approach to sustainable dining. It’s tucked into a small Latin Quarter street, just a stone’s throw from the Pantheon. There’s a lovely garden for outdoor dining in nice weather. Tasting menus range from 35€ (at lunch) to 95€ and make the most of local, seasonable produce. The longer tasting menus include fish, but you can request a vegetarian version. It’s a great option for a special meal that includes both vegetarians and omnivores. Open Monday.

Our review of La Table de Colette

17 rue Laplace, 75005
Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinner
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Reservations online or at +33 1 46 33 18 59

FANA

I loved the food at Fana, a new neighborhood restaurant on the backside of the Montmartre hill. I also love that they have three course dinner menu for 45€ that’s even cheaper (41€) if you take the vegetarian options. You’ll be happy to do that, because the meatless dishes are delicious. After a starter of seasonal oyster mushrooms with coffee sabayon, we loved this dish of roasted celery root with horseradish, slivered almonds, and a punchy sauce made from the celery branch with Granny Smith apples. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris.

Our review of Fana

14 Rue Ferdinand Flocon, 75018
Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 9 86 37 80 77

FIEF

FIEF is a sleek and modern restaurant in the 11th with a Top Chef finalist in the kitchen. The name FIEF stands for Fait Ici En France (made here in France) and the restaurant’s goal is to import nothing. They offer a vegan tasting menu with five courses for 85€ alongside an omnivore tasting menu for 95€. Both are delicious, but the vegan dishes, like this first course of artichoke and cherry, bitter almond and meadowsweet, made the biggest impression. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris and open Monday.

Our review of FIEF

44 Rue de la Folie Méricourt, 75011
Open Monday-Friday for dinner only
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Reservations online or at +33 1 47 00 03 22

AMÂLIA

One of our favorite special occasion restaurants offers Le Grand Menu Végétarien Menu (110€) next to Le Grand Menu Amâlia (130€). Each version has the same number of courses, so vegetarians and omnivores can enjoy dinner at the same pace. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris and open Sunday.

Our review of Amâlia

32 rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011
Open Saturday & Sunday for both lunch & dinner
Open Wednesday - Friday for dinner only
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Reservations online or at +33 7 68 72 45 06

ALÉA

This sweet little bistro on the backside of the Montmartre hill is run by a young couple. Chef Léa Lestage, who previously worked at the three-star Epicure, is serving a market-driven menu at night with 3 options per course, and one of these is always vegetarian. On a recent winter night, we enjoyed the pan fried gnocchi with white asparagus, bear’s garlic pesto, caramelized onion puree and pickled mustard seeds. William Atlan, who previously cooked with Daniel Rose at La Bourse et la Vie, runs a flawless dining room. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris and our guide to Eating in Montmartre. Open Sunday for lunch.

Our review of Aléa

39 rue Lamarck, 75018
Open Wednesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner
Open Sunday for lunch only
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Reservations online or at +33 1 81 69 96 93

BREIZH CAFÉ

Breizh Café is by far my favorite spot for crêpes in Paris. They have a lot of vegetarian options that change with the seasons - you might find asparagus in spring and wild mushrooms in the fall. They even have a vegan galette that’s made without butter and is topped with a delicious salad studded with avocado and tofu. Their buckwheat galettes are naturally gluten-free. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris. Open Sunday, Monday and every other day of the week.

Our review of Breizh Café

There are ten Paris locations - click the link above to learn more
All locations are open every day
Online reservations available at each location

SEMILLA

Semilla boasts a reliable roster of inventive vegetarian dishes, like golden puffy gougères, an artichoke topped with artichoke chips + black olives, and green asparagus with black rice, and eggplant with finely shaved mushroom + hazelnuts. Desserts are great, too, and Semilla has one of my favorite wine lists in the city. Included in our guide to Eating in Saint-Germain and open Sunday.

Our review of Semilla

54 rue de Seine, 75006
Open Wednesday-Friday for dinner only
Open Saturday-Sunday for both lunch & dinner
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Reservations online or at +33 1 43 54 34 50

ERSO

Erso is a cozy and creative neighborhood place in the 11th arrondissement serving a slim menu with three options per course. Every course has a vegetarian option, and in our experience it’s really good. We loved this vegetarian tart with girolle mushrooms, buttermilk apricot emulsion, and lemon verbena.

Our review of Erso

18 Rue Saint-Ambroise, 75011
Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 1 81 69 96 55

GRAMME

With its chili jam-slathered sandwiches and extra-salty chocolate cookies, Gramme could easily be found in London or Brooklyn. But Gramme shouldn't be dismissed as a watery import - the food is excellent, and the vibe is very local. Their signature vegetarian dwich (this is how Parisians now refer to sandwiches) is the sort of thing I want to eat every weekend - a runny egg with herbs, chili jam, copious herbs, and charred broccolini on a fresh brioche bun. They're open at night, but Gramme was clearly built for brunch. This location in Ménilmontant takes online reservations. Their sister location in the Marais does not. Open Sunday.

Our review of Gramme

96 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011
Open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch & dinner
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Reservations online or at +33 1 48 07 80 23

LES ENFANTS DU MARCHÉ

Les Enfants du Marché provides a delicious departure from classic French. Their counter inside the Marché des Enfants Rouge is the most “foodie” among this Marais market’s many stalls, with higher prices to match. You’ll find small sharable plates on their ever-changing chalkboard menu, many of them vegetarian. They don’t accept reservations and are slammed in nice weather - arrive before noon if you don’t want to wait. Included in our guide to Outdoor Dining in Paris.

Our review of Les Enfants du Marché

39 rue de Bretagne, 75003
Spring & Summer Hours (April to Mid-October):
Open Tuesday-Saturday from 12-10pm
Open Sunday from 12-5pm
Late Fall & Winter Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday for lunch only
No reservations

BONNARD

Bonnard is a stylish spot in the northern Marais with a fully vegetarian menu, including a vegan option for every course. They’re open for lunch on Saturday, making this a tasty stop during a day of shopping and gallery hopping in the Marais. But it’s mostly a dinner spot with soft lighting, organic wines, and a sexy curved booth that can fit 6-8 people.

Our review of Bonnard

18 rue des Gravilliers, 75003
Open Wednesday-Friday for dinner only
Open Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday-Tuesday
Reservations online or at +33 9 78 80 48 59

MAISON CLUNY

Maison Cluny has a great Latin Quarter location close to the Cluny Museum, Shakespeare & Company and Notre Dame. There are only 1-2 vegetarian options per course, but for us that’s enough to visit and spend time on their stunningly beautiful terrasse. Don’t neglect to order the fried Socca chips as a first nibble - they’re crazy delicious. Included in our guide to Outdoor Dining in Paris.

Our review of Maison Cluny

3 Rue de Cluny, 75005
Open Tuesday-Saturday from noon to midnight
Kitchen open from 12-2pm and from 7-10pm
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 1 56 81 82 53

TEKÉS

A meal at Tekés might be the most fun a vegetarian can have in Paris. This restaurant from the team behind the Israeli restaurant Shabour doesn’t have any meat or fish on its menu, but omnivores won’t miss a thing. The ambiance is lively, the service is friendly, and the food is both clever and delicious. It’s centrally located and open every day for dinner, plus lunch on weekdays. The very performative kitchen counter is a fun seat for solo diners. Included among our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris, and open Monday.

Our review of Tekés

4 bis Rue Saint-Sauveur, 75002
Open every day for dinner
Open Monday-Friday for lunch
Reservations online or at +33 7 81 42 54 74

MARSO & CO.

Marso & Co. is the third restaurant from Tomy Gousset (Tomy & Co. and Hugo & Co.), and this one has a focus on Mediterranean flavors. The dishes here take inspiration from Italy, Greece, Turkey, and North Africa and make great use of seasonal produce. In addition to some meat and fish dishes, nearly half the menu is meatless - making this a delicious option for mixed groups of omnivores and vegetarians. Open Monday.

Our review of Marso & Co.

16 rue Vulpian, 75013
Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinner
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Reservations online or at +33 1 45 87 37 00

CHANCEUX

Almost half the sandwiches are vegetarian, like this fried parsnip sandwich with ribbons of raw zucchini, sun dried tomato, pesto and arugula. There are a few vegan options as well. They also serve breakfast. Their original location is in the 11th, but I prefer this new one in the Latin Quarter, just steps from Shakespeare & Company and the Cluny Museum. Open Sunday, Monday and every other day of the week.

63 Rue Galande, 75005 Paris
Open every day from 10am-6pm
Reservations online, but walk-ins are usually fine

GRANDCOEUR

GrandCoeur is the GrandCoeur is the Paris address of Mauro Colagreco, whose restaurant Mirazur was rated in 2021 as the World's Best. GrandCoeur isn’t quite on that level, but they offer beautiful outdoor dining in a central neighborhood and serve a better-than-average Mediterranean menu with vegetarian options every day of the week.

Our review of GrandCoeur

41 Rue du Temple, 75004
Open every day for lunch and dinner
Reservations online or at +33 1 58 28 18 90

LE TAGINE

A fun Moroccan spot with a phenomenal natural wine list - convivial and casual and easy to book. There’s a vegetarian couscous and plenty of vegetarian starters on their short but sweet menu. Open on Sunday.

Our review of Le Tagine

13 Rue de Crussol, 75011
Open Thursday-Sunday for lunch & dinner
Open Wednesday for dinner only
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Reservations online or at +33 1 47 00 28 67

KAPARA

Kapara is a boisterous restaurant in the old Balagan space from the team behind Shabour, Boubalé and Tekés. It’s centrally located near the Tuileries and the Louvre, and it’s a very fashion-y scene. The (Israeli) food and (party) vibe are not my favorite, but they have a ton of vegetarian options and are open every day.

Our review of Kapara

9 Rue d'Alger, 75001
Open Monday-Saturday from 12-2:30pm & 7pm-1:30am
Open Sunday from 7pm-1:30am
Reservations online or at +33 7 67 40 56 29

BRASSERIE DES PRÉS

Le Brasserie des Prés opening inside the Cour du Commerce Saint-André. Brasserie des Prés is open from 9am to midnight, so you can eat early or late. Prices are cheap. They have vegetarian options. They’re in a historic building in the heart of Saint-Germain. They have space for large groups, for outdoor dining, and are easy to book at the very last minute. Brasserie des Prés may not be a foodie destination, but it’s one of the most useful new addresses in Paris. Open Sunday, Monday and every other day of the week.

Our review of Brasserie des Prés

6 Cour du Commerce Saint-André, 75006
Open every day from 9am-midnight
Reservations online or at +33 1 42 03 44 13

LE JARDIN CHEVAL BLANC

Le Jardin de Cheval Blanc is an ephemeral restaurant on the roof of the Cheval Blanc hotel that runs from mid-May through the end of summer. The space is lush with plants and the tables and staff are all dressed in red. This color theme extends to the food because every single dish contains tomato or strawberry. About half the menu is vegetarian. It’s pricey and portions are small, but the rooftop views over central Paris are phenomenal. It’s a good place to sip rosé and nibble a light meal on a hot day. Open Sunday, Monday and every other day of the week.

Our review of Le Jardin Cheval Blanc

8 quai du Louvre, 75001
Open every day from noon to midnight
From June 2 - October 1
Reservations online or at +33 1 79 35 50 22

MIZNON

This casual Israeli restaurant has four locations in Paris, but we’re most loyal to the original Marais location. Miznon expanded here from Tel Aviv in 2013 and has been delighting both vegetarians and omnivores with food that’s fast, fresh, casual and fun. The charred cauliflower is one of our favorite veggie options, but we also love their pitas stuffed with ratatouille or falafel.

Our review of Miznon

22 rue des Ecouffes, 75004
Open Sunday-Thursday from noon to 11pm
Open Friday from noon to 4pm
Closed Saturday

LA BÊTE NOIRE

La Bête Noire is a sweet spot for breakfast and lunch at the southern tip of the Luxembourg Gardens. I loved this dish of burrata with peas, yellow squash, favas and mint in a sorrel sauce. Come for breakfast pastries or for lunch, when they always have a meatless option for every course. Open Sunday, Monday and every other day of the week.

58 rue Henri Barbusse, 75005
Open every day from 8:30am-4pm
Reservations online or at +33 1 42 01 86 14

COMER

In terms of flavor (and actual heat!), Comer might be the best Mexican in Paris. It’s fast casual, with bright lights, high stools, and not a lot of incentive to linger. But you can book online to ensure a spot, and they have options for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diners. Its location near the train stations at Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est make it an ideal quick bite before or after a journey. For those who live here and miss good Mexican, chef Carlos Moreno sells his tortillas and sauces to go.

96 rue d’Hauteville, 75010
Open Monday to Friday for lunch & dinner
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Reservations online or at +33 6 63 02 56 25

FAUBOURG DAIMANT

This vegan restaurant has been included on so many top lists, and I’m still scratching my head to understand why. I’ve visited twice, and on both visits encountered some of the most vile dishes that I’ve ever tasted in Paris. Plenty of friends and readers have argued with me about this, but I’m not masochistic enough to return and try again.

Our review of Faubourg Daimant

20 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75010 Paris
Open every day for lunch & dinner
Reservations online or at +33 7 88 09 73 48

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This post was originally published in October 2023 and updated in June 2025.

The Latin Quarter is one of my favorite parts of Paris. I’ll tell you about some of my favorite places to visit in these first few paragraphs, but you can scroll down to find the restaurant recommendations.

The Latin Quarter gets its name from the common language that was spoken by students who came study in this neighborhood a thousand years ago. The early scholastic gatherings took place in the open air - students would bring their own stools to attend outdoor lectures here before the Sorbonne was founded in 1253.

With the exception of a few big Haussmannian boulevards, the streets of the Latin Quarter are winding and medieval. The Seine river provides the northern and eastern boundaries for this ancient neighborhood, running from the Jardin des Plantes to Notre-Dame.

The rue Mouffetard is the major market street and runs through the heart of the district. It’s based on a Roman road that was completed more than two thousand years ago.

The Latin Quarter is full of weird and wonderful places that are only lightly visited, like the Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, a church that contains the shrine of Sainte-Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris.

You can stop into the Grand Galerie d’Evolution, where almost every taxidermized animal makes me laugh…

… or visit the Arènes de Lutèce, where locals play soccer and pétanque in the remains of a Roman amphitheater (it’s a great place to eat a sandwich).

There’s also the Pantheon, where France’s greatest influencers - ranging from Marie Curie to Josephine Baker - are buried. Nearby, the Cluny museum displays the country’s medieval heritage, including the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, next to the remains of a Roman bathhouse.

One of the biggest tourist draws in the neighborhood is Shakespeare & Company, the iconic literary institution that opened in 1951. It’s a special place, but plan to wait in line if you want to go. It’s at least 500x more crowded today than it appears in the video below, which was shot the day after France reopened its borders in June 2021.

In terms of food, the Latin Quarter has an unsavory reputation that’s unfairly based on two unappetizing areas. You should steer clear of the rue de la Huchette - a small street that runs parallel to the Seine near the Place Saint-Michel. It’s lined with tourist traps that have men outside shouting “lady, lady, you eat here!” There’s one of these in nearly every European capitol, and you don’t want what they’re selling. The streets around the place de Contrescarpe are the heart of the student zone (there are 13 universities here with almost 50,000 students), and they offer cheap beer, greasy kebabs, and other forms of gastronomic distress.

LATIN QUARTER RESTAURANTS

But aside from these blemishes, the Latin Quarter boasts some really great restaurants. I’ve been revisiting old favorites and trying new spots in order to create this collection. As with our guides to eating in the Marais and Near the Eiffel Tower, I’ve categorized these selections as:

• GREAT - these are the restaurants you should prioritize

• GOOD - these restaurants make us happy but they’re not our top picks

• FINE - these restaurants come in handy in certain situations

• NOT RECOMMENDED - we did not enjoy our experience

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The Marais is gastronomically blessed in term…

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A more recent version of this list has been published. You can find it and all previous editions of this list at:

This list represents our very favorite spots in Paris. We update our selection twice a year to include new openings and old favorites that are still worth your time. Thanks to your subscriptions, all our restaurant visits (52 during this period) are anonymous and fully paid.

Within each category (type of cuisine), our picks are organized by date, and you’ll find the date of our most recent visit under every photo. We’ve included a short description for each restaurant, but you can click to read our full reviews.

At the bottom of this post we’ve included a cheat sheet to help you quickly identify which restaurants are open on Sunday or Monday, which ones have outdoor seating, and which are best for vegetarians. We’ve highlighted which ones are in popular neighborhoods like Saint-Germain or Montmartre. I’ve also noted which ones to book far ahead, and where you don’t need to plan (too much) in advance.

Please continue to tell us in the comments what you’ve tried and loved, or what failed to hit the mark. We really do listen! Check out our archives to see past editions of this list, and consult our restaurant index to see our rating of more than 300 Paris restaurants.

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WHAT’S NEW THIS ROUND

NEW ADDITIONS

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Thanks so much for reading and for discussing our shared obsession. I’d love to hear in the comments about your favorite meals or dishes of th…

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Secrets of Paris and Paris Unlocked both have great information about the reopening events, as does the cathedral website.

Saturday will be the first…

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A more recent version of this list has been published. You can find it and all previous editions of this list at:

Hello again! I know that many of you have been waiting for this update to our list of favorite restaurants. Thanks so much for your patience. We’re now updating this twice a year instead of quarterly, in time for cold weather (in November) and warm weather (in May).

I wanted to remove the pressure to make unnecessary changes for the sake of novelty. I didn’t want to publish a quarterly “update” that had only 1-2 changes, but I also didn’t want to boot a perfectly wonderful restaurant to make room for something less delicious.

Saying less, or saying it less often, serves to strengthen this top list. Or so I hope. Because I’m only making changes when they’re justified, I can truly say that these are my fifty favorite restaurants in Paris.

Within each category (type of cuisine), our picks are organized by date - the most recent visits are first. You’ll find the date of my most recent visit under every photo. We’ve included only a short description for each restaurant, but you can click to read our full reviews.

Please continue to tell us in the comments (or in reply to this newsletter) what you’ve tried and loved, or what failed to hit the mark. We really do listen! And check out our archives to see past editions of this list.

WHAT’S NEW THIS WINTER

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A more recent version of this list has been published. You can find it and all previous editions of this list at:

Every time I test a new restaurant - and I anonymously visit hundreds every year - I’m hoping it will be good enough to land a spot on this list. It’s thrilling when that happens, but also a little bittersweet. If I add seven new loves, as is the case this time around, then I have to give the axe to seven former flames.

In most cases, we’ve just grown apart. Restaurants that haven’t been revisited recently, within the last two years, are most in danger of being replaced by something new. But I sometimes come back to them and fall in love all over again (Reyna).

These return visits compliment our research into new openings and keep this list from being dominated by fleeting trends. I think it’s important to include classic joints, but also to keep tabs on them over time. Restaurants go through phases, and I don’t want you wasting your time on something that seems to be going through a rough patch (L’Assiette). And I want to sound the trumpets when an old standby has a new chef and new energy (Quedubon).

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Within each category (type of cuisine), our picks are organized by date - the most recent visits are first. You’ll find the date of my most recent visit under every photo. We’ve included only a short description for each restaurant, but you can click to read our full reviews. We’ll be rolling out full reviews for our new additions in the coming month, and we’ll be adding details about summer holiday closures next week.

Please continue to tell us in the comments (or in reply to this newsletter) what you’ve tried and loved, or what failed to hit the mark. We really do listen! And check out our archives to see past editions of this list, which we update quarterly.

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FIND OUR 50 FAVORITES FOR SPRING

But I understand that fifty options can feel overwhelming, even if they’re broken down into categories.

If I need to deliver a quick answer and don’t have time to inquire about mitigating circumstances (is there a vegetarian? Do you need it to be open on Sunday? Are you booking in advance?) I always have a trio at the ready, including a classic bistro, something really modern or international, and a fancier “special occasion” spot.

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A more recent version of this list has been published. You can find it and all previous editions of this list at:

We’re constantly trying new restaurants and revisiting old favorites in order to put together this list of our Fifty Favorite Restaurants in Paris.

We review places anonymously, booking under false names and paying full price. We return frequently to make sure that our favorites are still worthy of this list. You’ll find the date of our most recent visit under every photo, and very few are more than a year old. Why bother with all this? We want you to have genuinely delicious meals in Paris.

Within each category (type of cuisine), our picks are organized by date - the most recent visits are first. We’ve included only a short description for each restaurant, but you can click the links to read our full reviews.

Did we miss something you love? Tell us in the comments what we should visit next. And check out our archives to see past editions of this list, which we update quarterly.

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WHAT’S NEW THIS SPRING

NEW ADDITIONS

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I used to cringe every time someone asked this - not because it’s a dumb question, but because it actually used to be hard to find soupe à l'oignon gratinée in Paris.

The history of onion soup in Paris

Scroll down if you prefer to jump to the recs

This dish can trace its humble origins to Les Halles, a Parisian market that no longer exists. Between 1135 (when Louis VI installed a public market) and 1969 (when this market moved to a suburb called Rungis near the Orly airport) the center of Paris was dominated by a sprawling food complex. A dozen iron and glass pavilions housed separate markets for meat, cheese, vegetables, fish and flowers1. They drew thousands of people to the area - those working the night shift (wholesale auctions started around 4am), and those delivering their produce.

These people needed to eat, so all-night restaurants sprung up nearby to cater to the workers of Les Halles. Onion soup became a popular option on these menus. Why? Because it was cheap. It was easy for these all-night restaurants next to the market to keep a cauldron of bouillon (stock or broth) bubbling in perpetuity by just adding water and additional food scraps every day. To this, they could add inexpensive onions and eventually a few croutons (more scraps) and serve a hot meal for not much money. Onion soup in the beginning was a lot closer to what we now call bone broth.

Then came the cheese. In the 19th century, writers were beginning to rave about an onion soup “whose cheese stretches like a cable,” according to the excellent book Let’s Eat Paris.

It’s this cheesy version that endures on French bistro menus from Birmingham to Brooklyn. But onion soup became a lot harder to find in Paris when the Les Halles market was destroyed and replaced by a mall. A few holdouts like Au Pied de Cochon remain, but most of the all-night restaurants near Les Halles shut down without a working population to feed.

But that doesn’t mean that onion soup is impossible to find in Paris.

Where to find onion soup in Paris

Tourist trap versions

You won’t struggle to this dish if you’re near a museum or monument. In fact, restaurants catering to tourists were until recently the only place you could find onion soup. I wonder sometimes if we foreigners have kept this dish alive. French bistros abroad almost always serve it. When we visit to Paris, we expect to eat it. Paris restaurants catering to tourists have long been happy to oblige, but it’s not a mainstay of the local food culture. And it’s not always good.

Classic versions done right

But the last ~fifteen years have seen a revival of bistro culture in Paris, with big name chefs revisiting humble dishes like onion soup. Here’s where I recommend going for a tasty bowl of the classic version with bubbly cheese.

LA POULE AU POT

Chef Jean-François Piège (who has the Michelin two-star Le Grand Restaurant) operates two eateries in the Les Halles district, both serving extremely classic French fare. À l’Épi d’Or is his more affordable address, but it doesn’t serve onion soup. La Poule au Pot is pricer, and has what you’re looking for - the best onion soup in Paris.

At least in my opinion. As you can see in this recent video, there’s a little cheese, but not a mountain of cheese. The broth itself is profound and delicious. It’s a small enough portion that you can consider eating a second course(20€).

READ OUR REVIEW OF LA POULE AU POT

BOUILLONS RÉPUBLIQUE & PIGALLE

I also appreciate the versions at Bouillon République and Bouillon Pigalle. This pair of inexpensive eateries are a good place for people on a budget to discover classic French food, including onion soup.

This petit bowl at Bouillon Pigalle is considered a starter and costs only 3.80€.

READ OUR REVIEW OF BOUILLON PIGALLE

At Bouillon République, a larger portion is served as a main dish for 8.50€. Both locations are open every day, open late, and can accommodate large groups.

READ OUR REVIEW OF BOUILLON RÉPUBLIQUE

You were probably expecting a longer list of options, weren’t you? The reality is that it’s still a lot easier to find a bad onion soup in Paris than a good one. I’ll update this list as I learn about more reliably delicious versions, but in the meantime, consider this:

Making French onion soup at home

If you’re craving this dish and can’t get to Paris, it’s actually pretty easy - and wonderful - to make at home. Our pal Jaíne Mackievicz has created a great recipe for us to share, based on her training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Give it a try!

RECIPE FOR FRENCH ONION SOUP

Video by Jaíne Mackievicz from her recipe for French onion soup

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Saint-Germain doesn’t have the hipster cred of the 11th or the architectural richness of the Marais, but this Left Bank neighborhood represents for so many people the postcard Paris of their dreams.

With its stately Haussmannian buildings, twisting streets, and leafy parks, Saint-Germain presents an ideal habitat for strolling (then reading, then snacking).

Its streets are filled with bookshops, antique shops, and just-plain-weird shops. One of my favorite is Deyrolle, a taxidermy boutique that was frequented by Picasso, Dalí and Modigliani.

The pastry and chocolate shops that you’ll find here are among the best in the world. We run three different food tours in this area because there are so many incredible options. You can get a glimpse of some of my favorites in this article by baking queen Dorie Greenspan.

The Café de Flore, once haunted by Breton and Sartre, now hosts an Emily in Paris crowd. But some of my favorite Substack authors still sneak in to write here, usually very early or very late.

But what about the restaurants? Because of high rents, this neighborhood isn’t a hotbed of young culinary creativity. But there are historical gems, some standout spots, and also some places to avoid.

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To assemble this collection, I’ve been trying new places (Oktobre, Ambos, Baillotte, Les Parisiens, Colvert, Brasserie des Prés) and to returning to old standbys (Chez Dumonet, Le Comptoir) to see how they’re holding up.

Everything in this guide has been anonymously tested within the last three years. A few favorites from the previous version of this list have been removed because they didn’t meet that cut-off (Quinsou, Colorova, Sauvage, Freddy’s). I’ll update this guide as I continue to review restaurants in this area (Allard is coming soon).

As with our guides to eating in the Marais, the Latin Quarter, and Near the Eiffel Tower, I’ve organized my selections into categories:

• GREAT - these are the restaurants you should prioritize

• GOOD - these restaurants make us happy, but they’re not our top picks

• FINE - these restaurants come in handy in certain situations

• NOT RECOMMENDED - we did not enjoy our experience

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A more recent version of this list has been published. You can find it and all previous editions of this list at:

Since we started publishing these quarterly top lists, we’ve raved about more than 80 Paris restaurants. For this selection, there are five new additions, and two old favorites have rejoined the Top 50 after stunning return visits.

There isn’t anything on this list that I haven’t personally loved within the last two years. You can see the date of my most recent visit (always anonymous and fully paid) at the end of every listing. I’ve also included information about holiday closures for these restaurants.

LEARN WHAT'S OPEN DURING THE HOLIDAYS

As always, please let us know what we missed, what you loved, and tell us if anything let you down. We’re so grateful for feedback from our passionate community!

And if you’re coming to Paris this winter, we hope you’ll consider joining us for a food tour. In addition to our small group tours, we’re offering a discount of 25% on all private tours through March.

LEARN MORE

WHAT’S NEW THIS WINTER

NEW ADDITIONS

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A more recent version of this list has been published. You can find it and all previous editions of this list at:

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve been publishing these quarterly selections for more than a year. They remain our most popular posts, with more than 85k people reading every installment. That’s way more than our number of subscribers, which shows that you’ve been forwarding the list to your hungry friends - merci!

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As a reminder, these selections are based on recent and personal experience. I visit restaurants anonymously and pay full price, avoiding the press events and freebies that fuel so much food writing today. If your experience with any of these restaurants was different, I hope you’ll share that in the comments.

What’s different for this edition: I’ve posted the date of our last visit at the end of every entry so you can see how recent the experience is. The overall Top 10 section is gone, but I’ve ordered the restaurants in each category according to my preference. I added pricing information within the larger category of Tasting Menus because I understand there’s a big difference between 75€ and 275€.

There’s so much delicious stuff happening in Paris right now… let’s get to it!

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Because you asked, we’ve assembled a guide to eating near the Eiffel Tower. To make it, I returned to old favorites to see how they’re holding up, and visited a few spots that are new (or new to me). As with our guide to eating in the Marais, I’ve categorized these selections as:

• GREAT - these are the restaurants you should prioritize

• GOOD - these restaurants make us happy but they’re not our top picks

• FINE - these restaurants come in handy in certain situations

• NOT RECOMMENDED - we did not enjoy our experience

I’ve also added pricing information (per person, not including drinks), since you’ve asked for that:

€ Less than 25€
€€ 25-74€
€€€ 75-124€
€€€€ 125-200€
€€€€€ More than 200€

I’ve mapped every restaurant included in this article, and have color coded each selection.

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