10 Best Restaurants in Paris, the High Temples of French Gastronomy and Art de Vivre

Jonell Galloway

By , Local Expert, Paris
Ten Best Logo 03

 

 

 

Gastronomy finds a perennial welcome in Paris thanks to the luxuriant, sensual nature of traditional French cookery. Superlative ingredients – including premium wines and cheeses – enrich the cuisine, which runs fat with foie gras, escargots, moules frites, and such classics as coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon. Even so, cued by a fashion-forward culture, innovative chefs unabashedly shake up standards, reinventing them in light of globalization and emergent trends. As a result, while incredible bistro and brasserie fare remain strong, fantastic restaurants also offer foods from once-French areas like...  Read more »
  • 1

    Pierre Gagnaire

    • Cuisine: European, French
    • Average Main Course Price: €100
    • Neighborhood: 8ème Arrondissement

    Local Expert Tip: "Lunch menu quite affordable. Dress stylishly. For culinary adventurers. Reserve as many months or weeks ahead of time as possible. "

     
  • 2

    L'Arpege

    • Cuisine: European, French
    • Average Main Course Price: €200
    • Neighborhood: 7ème Arrondissement

    Local Expert Tip: "Semi-casual dress, but stylish. Great for vegetarians. Reserve well ahead. Light."

     
  • 3

    Guy Savoy

    Local Expert Tip: "Lunch menu, including starter, main dish and dessert for 100 euros, must arrive by noon. Advisable to reserve well in advance."

     
  • 4

    Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée

    Local Expert Tip: "The Athénée hotel is a palace in the purest sense of the word, so dress up instead of down. Wear your Jimmy Choos. Jacket and tie required for men. Ask questions about dishes, since menu lacks descriptions."

     
  • 5

    L'Astrance

    Local Expert Tip: "Perfect for intimate dinner. Take a taxi if you're wearing high heels. Dress like a good French bourgeois."

     
  • 6

    Le Meurice

    Local Expert Tip: "Great venue for special occasions. Located in the heart of Paris, convenient to get to. Perfect for architecture aficionados. Original place to experience exceptional wines. Dress well to fit in to the palatial setting."

     
  • 7

    Le Pré Catelan

    • Cuisine: European, French
    • Average Main Course Price: €100
    • Neighborhood: 16ème Arrondissement

    Local Expert Tip: "All-inclusive lunch menu at 95 euros lets you experience full depth of Anton's talents. Lunch allows you to enjoy the setting from either outside or inside. Taxi advisable because of location in the woods. Terrace in summer, but more splendid inside. Nice walks in Bois de Boulogne for a postprandial stroll."

     
  • 8

    Apicius

    • Cuisine: European, French
    • Average Main Course Price: €140
    • Neighborhood: 8ème Arrondissement

    Local Expert Tip: "Dress conservatively; you're dining among the old families and the great. Talk softly. Great place to discover both new and old French wine. Best place to experience traditional classics."

     
  • 9

    L'Epicure

    Local Expert Tip: "Great for people-watching. Can see the garden in the daytime. Wear your new Paris fashion items, including your over-the-top heels."

     
  • 10

    Taillevent

    • Cuisine: European, French
    • Average Main Course Price: €150
    • Neighborhood: 8ème Arrondissement

    Local Expert Tip: "Set price lunch menu at 82 euros (or 98 all drinks included), one of best deals in town in this category of restaurant. Perfect stop for wine aficionados and to celebrate great occasions. Dress conventionally and well so as to blend in with the other highly respectable bourgeois diners. Speak softly."