Where to eat near Notre-Dame
The best croissants, cafés and classic French food near the cathedral
Notre-Dame cathedral will be reopening its doors to the public this Saturday, December 8. Mass will be celebrated at 6:30pm and broadcast to giant screens at viewing stations set up along the nearby Seine.
Secrets of Paris and Paris Unlocked both have great information about the reopening events, as does the cathedral website.
Saturday will be the first in an eight-day celebration at this landmark cathedral that went up in flames five years ago. These events will draw huge crowds to the Île de la Cité and the surrounding area. Over the coming year, more than 40,000 daily visitors are expected at Notre-Dame, more than double the daily attendance at the Louvre.
And when these people get hungry? Some will turn to the sad little stalls next to the cathedral that are hawking béchamel slathered hot dogs and industrial panini. Others will stumble into disappointing mussels and leathery steak along the Seine. But not you! You’ve got this list of our favorite places to eat near Notre-Dame, written by someone who lives in the neighborhood. My recommendations might be in the Latin Quarter, on the neighboring Île Saint-Louis, or in the southern Marais, but nothing is more than 15 minutes by foot.
You can also check out the full list of our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris.
WHERE TO EAT NEAR NOTRE DAME
CASUAL & EASY
Chanceaux
The much loved café + shop called Chanceux opened its second Paris location last year around the corner from Shakespeare & Company. They serve coffee and a few breakfast bites, but I come for the sandwiches (like this one with fried parsnip, shaved zucchini and sun-dried tomatoes). It’s an ideal place to stop for something tasty when you don’t want to spend two hours or too much money.
63 Rue Galande, 75005
Open Tuesday-Friday from 10am-5pm
Open Saturday-Monday from 10am-6pm
No reservations
Chez Gladines
My boyfriend refers to Chez Gladines as “that diner we like.” While not technically true, I can see his point - it’s an easy-going place serving inexpensive comfort food on laminated tables. I always get the salade complète, which is arguably not a salad. It’s a giant metal bowl with four leaves of lettuce topped with fried potatoes, cubed Cantal cheese, cured ham, and a fried egg. Gladines isn’t haute cuisine, but it’s fun. And with all the money you’ve saved here, you can splurge on a fancy candle at the original location of Diptyque, just a few doors down.
44 Bd Saint-Germain, 75005
Open every day for lunch & dinner
No reservations
Maison Bretonne
Breizh Café is the crêperie I most often recommend, but Maison Bretonne is the one I most often visit. It’s reliable, friendly, cheap and very near my apartment (and Notre-Dame). This version with ham, cheese, egg and chives is delicious.
5 Rue de Rivoli, 75004
Open every day for lunch & dinner
No reservations
Ha Noi 1988 Sao Vang
If you’re visiting Notre-Dame in the winter, you might want to warm up after with a steaming bowl of phở. This Vietnamese restaurant sits on a small side street on the Île Saint-Louis and provides a delicious refuge from the crowds that sometimes overtake the island. They also just opened a Vietnamese coffee shop at 35 rue Galande, a few doors down from Chanceux.
16 Rue le Regrattier, 75004
Open every day for lunch and dinner
Reservations aren’t necessary, but you can make them here
Poget et De Witte
Poget et de Witte specialize in oysters, shucking them for consumption on site or to take away. In good weather, you can sit at one of a handful of sidewalk tables where you can slurp oysters with a view of the Pantheon. There are only a handful of indoor seats, so call to reserve if you don’t want to risk being turned away.
5 Rue Jean du Bellay, 75004
Open Wednesday-Monday for lunch & dinner
Closed Tuesday
Reservations at +33 1 42 49 03 81
BREAKFAST & COFFEE
Le Saint-Regis
This all-day café occupies a beautiful corner on the Île Saint-Louis that’s a stone’s throw from Notre-Dame. The interior is beautiful (it recently featured in the Netflix show The Diplomat) and they deliver a reliable omelette and eggs Benedict.
6 Rue Jean du Bellay, 75004
Open every day from 7:30am-2am
Maison d’Isabelle
There’s no indoor seating at this Latin Quarter bakery, but who cares? These are the best croissants in Paris. Devour yours on the sidewalk outside or smuggle it into a nearby café. It’s one of the favorite stops on our Left Bank food tour.
47ter Bd Saint-Germain, 75005
Open Tuesday-Sunday from 6am-8pm
No seating, takeaway only
Noir
Noir is tiny, the seats are uncomfortable, and it’s expensive. But damn if those flat whites aren’t tasty! This is the best takeout coffee that you’ll find within a very short distance from the cathedral. Le Peloton Café is also good.
63 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, 75004
Open Monday-Friday from 8am-6pm
Open Saturday-Sunday from 9am-6pm
Tram Café
Tram Café is just oozing with atmosphere. The food is solid, but you’re really here for the vibe: an adorable bookshop adjoining a café, with a large communal table at lunch. Come in the morning for coffee and breakfast pastries (laptops are permitted until noon), for lunch, or for an afternoon dessert break after visiting Notre-Dame.
47 Rue de la Montagne Ste Geneviève, 75005 (near the Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont)
Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-7:30pm
Closed Sunday & Monday
CLASSIC FRENCH
Benoît
Benoit is a vintage 1912 bistro that has been preserved by Alain Ducasse. It’s centrally located, open every day, and the space is charming. Newspapers hang on wooden rods. Warm gougères are served upon arrival. Classics like escargots and profiteroles are delicious, but skip the famous cassoulet - it’s a dud.
20 Rue Saint-Martin, 75004
Open every day for lunch & dinner
Reservations online or at +33 1 42 72 25 76
Le Petit Célestin
After walking by one million times, I finally stopped last week at this petite bistro along the Seine. What a wonderful surprise! The vibe is pleasantly raucous with loud pop music playing over the sound of locals laughing. The menu is classic - steak frites with pepper sauce, seared scallops, razor clams with garlic and parsley. It’s not mind-blowing, but it’s casual and fun.
Our review of Le Petit Célestin
12 Quai des Célestins, 75004
Open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch & dinner
Open Tuesday for dinner only
Closed Monday
Reservations at +33 1 42 72 20 81
La Rotisserie de la Tour
When I professed my love for the roast chicken at this Seine-side bistro, a chorus of people replied to say theirs wasn’t good. From that, I think we can assume that it’s hit or miss. I’ll keep going back for dishes like this overpriced salad with roast chicken, avocado and bacon because OMG look at that view! The chance to sit outside overlooking the Seine and Notre-Dame over-rides any quibbles I might have about the middling quality of their food.
19 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 (near the Seine)
Open every day for lunch & dinner
Reservations online or at +33 1 43 54 17 47
MODERN & CREATIVE
Maison Cluny
This restaurant occupies prime Latin Quarter real estate with an outdoor terrace looking onto the gardens of the Cluny museum. It’s a quiet street where you can hear birdsong, and a welcome respite from the tourist bustle near Notre-Dame. They have what might be the best apéro nibble I’ve tasted this year – addictive socca (chickpea) crisps that are fried to order.
3 Rue de Cluny, 75005 (near the Cluny museum and Le Sorbonne)
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
HUGO & CO.
Hugo & Co has been a reliable outpost on the rue Monge for five years, and I’ve been happy every time I’ve visited. The culinary influences are more wide-ranging than you’ll find in most Paris kitchens. I loved this roasted cod with fregola, dried ham and bear’s garlic pesto.
48 Rue Monge, 75005 (near the Arènes de Lutèce)
Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinner
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Reservations online or at +33 9 53 92 62 77
FINE DINING / TASTING MENUS
La Tour d’Argent
There’s really nothing that compares to the feeling of exiting the elevator on the sixth floor and entering this dining room. I’m very often asked to recommend restaurants for special occasions, and restaurants with a view. Here, the service is adorable. The wines are incredible, and (more than) fairly priced. The food feels special, and deserves more than one Michelin star. And the view of Notre-Dame is priceless, the best in Paris.
They also have a wonderful rooftop wine bar called Le Toit where you can have a glass and a nibble while watching the sun set over Notre-Dame.
Our review of La Tour d’Argent
Our review of Le Toit rooftop bar
15, Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 (near the Seine)
Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 1 43 54 10 08
ALLIANCE
Alliance has long been one of my favorite spots for fine dining in Paris. The room is intimate, service is outstanding, and the creations from chef Toshitaka Omiya are phenomenal. If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion near Notre-Dame, this is your place.
Our review of Alliance
5 Rue de Poissy, 75005 (near the Seine)
Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinner
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Reservations online or at +33 1 75 51 57 54
A.T.
This restaurant from chef Atsushi Tanaka has one Michelin star and offers a no-choice tasting menu that’s both modern and seasonal. It’s a fun place to experiment, especially at lunch when the tasting menu is only 85€.
Our review of A.T.
4bis Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 (near the Seine)
Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 1 56 81 94 08
Meg, that inner city 'tour' was a delight as I sit here in Hà Nội. I look forward to testing your suggestions and a Marais foodie 'tour' in an April/May stay for a month. Brett Moir
We went to Benoit in 2022 for my husband’s birthday on your recommendation . Great meal. We did not have the cassoulet. The staff and the manager were so lovely. Have you tried Sourire Galande on the Rue Galande, Our hotel recommended it. The food is very good. Wine bar and small plates.