Discover Paris’s 188 best Gourmet Explorer spots for your trip

This Rue Marbeuf branch of the Paris bistro chain offers just one dish: a walnut green salad followed by tender contre-filet steak in a secret sauce, served with homemade matchstick fries. Founded in 1959 by Paul Gineste de Saurs, the format has remained unchanged across generations.

The setting reflects a classic, elegant Parisian bistro atmosphere, with efficient service and no menu to choose from.

Near the Canopée des Halles and the Louvre, this brasserie has served round-the-clock since 8am to 5am, seven days a week. The menu features generous, traditional French dishes such as frog legs, cassoulet and pig's trotters, alongside a seafood selection also available for takeaway.

With its classic Parisian décor, terrace and lively atmosphere, it's a spot for family lunches, late dinners or gatherings with friends.

Brasserie Des Prés serves classic French brasserie fare in Paris's 6th arrondissement. It belongs to the La Nouvelle Garde group, known for reviving traditional bistro cooking with a contemporary touch.

Expect a lively, convivial setting suited to casual meals or drinks, in keeping with the group's other Parisian brasseries.

Opened in 1875 to mark the inauguration of the Opéra Garnier, this Grands Boulevards brasserie retains its period charm. Open daily from 7am to 1am, it serves traditional French cuisine including pâté-croûte, steak au poivre and seafood platters.

A sunny terrace and private salons make it suited to family lunches, post-theatre dinners or private events.

Le Café du Commerce occupies a historic building with a distinctive covered courtyard, spread across several floors connected by walkways. The menu offers traditional brasserie fare, including steaks, seafood, and salads, served in a lively, high-ceilinged setting.

Its scale and central open atrium make it a well-known address for group dining in the 15th arrondissement.

Bofinger is a longstanding brasserie between Place de la Bastille and Place des Vosges, known for its historic decor and Alsatian cuisine such as choucroute, vol-au-vent and flammekueche. A large seafood display and classic French brasserie dishes round out the menu, paired with a selection of artisanal and traditional beers.

The restaurant offers a terrace, private salons for groups, and late-night dining, and is open daily including Sundays.

Café de Flore is a landmark café in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, long associated with Parisian literary and intellectual life. Since 1994 it has hosted the Prix de Flore, an annual award for a promising young author, presented each November over dinner at the café.

Expect classic café fare, coffee and breakfast service in a setting steeped in literary history.

This French bistro has served one signature dish since 1959: grilled steak with matchstick fries and a secret sauce, brought by traditional waitresses in a lively atmosphere. The menu also features a selection of French wines and rich desserts like profiteroles.

Its long-running, no-choice format has made it a fixture of the Paris dining scene for over 60 years.

Open since 1923 at the Vavin crossroads, Le Select is a classic Montparnasse brasserie once frequented by writers, artists and filmmakers. Mirrors and old woodwork line the interior, while a terrace overlooks the boulevard.

It serves coffee, lunch and dinner in a traditional Parisian brasserie setting, open daily from early morning until late at night.

Opened in the early 20th century at the corner of Boulevards Raspail and Montparnasse, La Rotonde is a longstanding Parisian institution known for its warm, traditional décor. The menu ranges from croissants and coffee in the morning to sole meunière, escargots de Bourgogne, and seafood platters served late into the night.

A weekday lunch formula is available at 25€.

Just steps from Place des Victoires, this bistro features an old-world decor of stucco and mirrors, with close-set tables and a lively atmosphere drawing regulars and tourists alike. The chalkboard menu lists classics like duck confit, roast chicken and steak tartare, with the house specialty being grilled entrecôte with charred thyme, served with hand-cut fries.

No reservations are taken, and a copious brunch is offered on Sundays.

This Montparnasse branch of the Relais de l'Entrecôte family follows the formula created in 1959: a walnut-topped green salad followed by tender contre-filet steak in a secret sauce, served with homemade matchstick fries. There is no menu choice to make, just the classic combination in a bistro setting.

Part of a small family-run chain with several Paris addresses.

L'As du Fallafel is a lively, always-buzzing street food spot in the Marais, considered one of Paris's most popular falafel stops. Expect a queue, with staff sometimes taking orders directly from the line.

The falafel is the highlight, served fresh with generous fillings. Note: cash only.

This Saint-Germain outpost of Le Relais de l'Entrecôte offers no menu choices beyond salad, steak and fries, served with a signature sauce. Expect queues, as reservations aren't taken and the format draws steady crowds.

The dining room has a lively, bustling atmosphere, with staff bringing a second helping of steak and fries after the first plate is cleared.

Established in 1686 in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Le Procope was the first Paris restaurant to serve coffee at table and became a meeting place for figures like Voltaire, Rousseau and Diderot. The 18th-century interior preserves this literary history, while a hidden courtyard terrace offers outdoor seating.

The kitchen reworks classic Parisian dishes such as coq au vin and braised beef cheek, and historic salons are available for private events.

Opened in 1862 alongside the Grand Hôtel, Café de la Paix is a Parisian institution on Place de l'Opéra, known for its classified Napoleon III interior blended with contemporary touches. The restaurant serves French classics such as foie gras, tartare, sole and onion gratin, plus oysters and shellfish from its Écailler counter.

The terrace and café are open all day into the evening for coffee, light lunches or homemade pastries.

Chez Janou serves southern French and Provençal dishes on a leafy, tucked-away terrace near Place des Vosges. The restaurant is especially known for its large communal bowl of chocolate mousse, served with as many spoonfuls as diners want.

The relaxed, sun-dappled courtyard makes it a favorite for long lunches in the Marais.

La Crêperie Josselin is a long-standing Breton crêperie serving traditional savory and sweet crêpes alongside cider. The rustic dining room draws steady crowds, with queues often forming even outside peak hours.

Reviewers praise the flavor and quality of the crêpes, though prices run above average for the category.

Peppe Martyrs serves authentic Neapolitan pizza crafted by Giuseppe Cutraro, a world-champion pizzaiolo, with around 90% of ingredients sourced from Naples. The menu features signature pies like the burrata-topped Multicolore, truffle-laden Queen Tartufo, and the award-winning Campione del Mondo, alongside classics such as Margherita and Quattro Formaggi.

Expect a lively, contemporary take on traditional Italian cuisine in a casual setting.

Poni is a light-filled brasserie on rue Saint-Lazare, open daily from morning until late night. Its atypical layout includes two mezzanines, large windows and a bright bar stocked with wine, plus a quieter side room for more intimate meals.

The kitchen serves inventive, generous dishes such as pâté en croûte and duck with maple syrup, making it suited to a quick lunch or a relaxed evening drink.

Perched on the roof of the Jean Nouvel-designed Musée du quai Branly–Jacques Chirac, Les Ombres pairs a glass-walled dining room and terrace garden with sweeping views over Paris and the Eiffel Tower. The menu blends classic Parisian brasserie dishes with contemporary techniques, using ingredients from responsible fisheries, farms and artisan producers.

A starlit ceiling effect accompanies evening service, and the adjoining bar offers cocktails and light Mediterranean plates.

Located steps from the Eiffel Tower, La Casa di Alfio offers a warm, convivial setting for authentic Italian cuisine. The menu highlights homemade fresh pasta, wood-fired pizzas, traditional specialties, and hearty desserts.

Open seven days a week from 10am to 2am, it's suited for a relaxed meal in a cozy, elegant atmosphere.

Langosteria Paris occupies the seventh floor of the Cheval Blanc hotel, overlooking the Seine with views stretching from Notre-Dame to Sacré-Cœur. Led by Executive Chef Michele Biassoni, it offers Italian seafood-focused menus alongside dedicated wine, cocktail and dessert lists.

The space combines an interior dining room with a terrace, and also hosts private dining for events and celebrations.

Les Rupins is a Parisian bistro on Boulevard de Magenta offering a seasonal, 100% homemade menu, from its signature burger to duck breast with orange sauce, alongside vegetarian options and a French wine selection. The lively, convivial space also hosts group meals and private events for up to 160 guests, with tailored menus available on request.

L'Archimède is a bistro in Paris's 10th arrondissement offering creative bistronomic dishes made from fresh, seasonal produce. The menu changes monthly, providing good value, with vegetarian and vegan options available.

Guests can dine indoors or on the terrace in a warm, casual setting suited to meals with friends or family. Open Tuesday to Sunday.

Kehribar offers a Turkish dining experience with staff on hand to explain the menu and recommend dishes to newcomers. Reviewers describe friendly, attentive service and food memorable enough to leave a lasting impression.

It's a spot favored for both casual lunches and repeat visits by those passing through Paris.

Located in the heart of Montmartre near the Abbesses, this restaurant specializes in Southwest French cuisine, with dishes like magret de canard, foie gras, and boeuf bourguignon alongside generous salads. The setting is traditional and convivial, drawing a mix of Parisian regulars and tourists.

Portions are noted as generous and homemade, with attentive, friendly service.

Sacré Frenchy! offers a casual dining experience centered on French comfort food, in an approachable, friendly setting suited to a laid-back meal. Exact specialties vary, but the concept leans into classic, hearty dishes with a playful presentation.

Given limited independent source material, exact menu details should be verified directly with the restaurant.

Le Rempart Bastille occupies a listed historic building near Bastille métro, once part of the prison's old ramparts. The menu offers traditional bistro fare, charcuterie, burgers and cocktails, made from fresh, homemade products.

Open daily from 7am to midnight, it serves breakfast through late-night drinks in an authentic Parisian setting, suited to family meals or afterwork gatherings.

Set beside the Canal de l'Ourcq in a century-old building that once housed the canal inspector, this spot mixes raw materials, patinated wood and a light-filled glass roof. Downstairs offers homemade dishes from fresh, eco-responsible produce and a selection of natural wines, while the upstairs coffee shop serves warm drinks and homemade pastries.

It's a relaxed, quirky gathering spot in the 19th arrondissement.