Photo courtesy of Paige Donner

Au Rocher de Cancale

Item: Au Rocher de Cancale
Author: Paige Donner

Cuisine: European, French

10Best Says

Opened in 1846 this is one of the neighborhood's longest standing and most richly historical restaurants. Opened when the rue St. Denis and rue Montorgueil were largely just footpaths, this restaurant has welcomed such artistic greats as Gavarni and Baudelaire. For decades and decades, it had the reputation of being one of the best places in Paris for oysters, a delicacy that wasn't even featured on the menu but simply served as an "amuse-bouche" to whet the appetite. This location is actually the second incarnation of the restaurant. The first stood across the street, opened at least as early as 1734 and closed in 1845. It's believed that it was at this location that the celebrated gastronomic club, "Caveau," had its defacto headquarters and met here regularly. This location today, with its powder blue and gold-trimmed façace, remains a landmark dining destination on this street and also in Paris.

Address:

78 Rue Montorgueil
Paris, 75002

Phone:

01 42 33 50 29

Website:

aurocherdecancale.fr

EXPERT TIPS BY: Paige Donner
Former Contributor

2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Restaurants: "Rue Montorgueil was once known as the place to buy oysters. At the time of the opening of this restaurant in the mid-1840s Parisian oyster, consumption was up to six million dozen oysters per year. For a city of 1 million inhabitants, that equals 25 dozen oysters per person."

Best for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Restaurants Because: Even in Paris, there are few restaurants who can trace their historical roots all the way back to 1734.