The places where locals love to eat in Paris serve creative and carefully crafted dishes, reflecting the city's passion for good food. The food scene in Paris changes very rapidly, so rather than trying to keep up with the trends, simply follow the residents to find the pick of the bunch.
The best of Parisian gastronomy incorporates organic ingredients, innovative flavours, and age-old cooking techniques. Dining in Paris is influenced by dishes from all over the world, but you'll still find staple French brasseries on every corner. Explore the cosmopolitan city from a local perspective with our favourite local restaurants in Paris.
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Boutique yam'Tcha
Sophisticated tea shop serving Asian fusion food
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Boutique yam'Tcha is a spin-off of Michelin-starred restaurant Yam'Tcha, and serves a shortened version of their menu. Locals come here for the fish tartare or wok-sautéed cuttlefish, which come at prices that are kinder to your wallet. There's also a great range of steamed buns, stuffed with Basque pig and aubergine, chilli tofu and vegetables, or Dominican chocolate. The pavement-facing window sells takeaway buns – great for a quick snack.
Tea is the drink of choice at Boutique yam'Tcha. The options are endless, from hand-rolled jasmine pearl tea to the classic Hong Kong milk tea. Dedicated tea fans can also buy boxes of fine tea, Chinese clay teapots, cups, and all kinds of tea-related paraphernalia.
Locatie: 4 Rue Sauval, 75001 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Wednesday–Saturday from noon to 7 pm (closed Sundays to Tuesdays)
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 40 26 06 06
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Glou
Regional cooking served at communal tables
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Glou is a clean, minimalist bistro with cosy shared seating downstairs and individual tables upstairs. The short and simple menu focuses on regional delicacies, such as grilled octopus, beef tartare, breaded aubergine, and chickpea croquettes. From the dessert menu, try organic ice cream from the Ardèche region or Glou's signature cheesecake with berry coulis.
The thoughtfully chosen wine list is mostly organic, biodynamic and almost entirely French, coming from the Loîre, Rhone, Alsace, and Corsica. Alternatively, order a glass of French cognac, Scottish whiskey, or Mauritian rum. Grab a window seat upstairs for pretty views of Hôtel-Salé-Léonor-Fini Garden across the road.
Locatie: 101 Rue Vieille-du-Temple, 75003 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Daily from 10 am to 1 am
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 42 74 44 32
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Afendi Paris
Authentic Lebanese mezze and craft cocktails
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Afendi Paris is the place to come for genuine Lebanese street food in Paris. The father-son chef team serve their food in a snug dining room lined with wooden beams and decorated with shelves of books and other odds and ends. It’s a great local restaurant in the vibrant and diverse Strasbourg-Saint-Denis neighbourhood.
Order a feast of hot and cold mezze dishes like tabbouleh salad, makanek (spiced Lebanese sausages), or hummus with hazelnut butter. The main menu features cod fillet with saffron rice, rib steak with pomegranate molasses and grilled chicken with garlic cream. Visit in the evening for a fragrant cocktail flavoured with honey, cardamon, or mint syrup. Alternatively, come for Sunday brunch to indulge in the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Locatie: 84 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Monday–Saturday from 11.30 am to 11 pm, Sunday from 11.30 am to 3 pm
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 56 92 28 01
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Schwartz's
Chunky deli sandwiches served in a fun diner atmosphere
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Schwartz's brings the style and flavour of a New York deli to Paris. The interior feels like stepping straight into New York – diner-style red leather booths, vintage film posters, and a deli counter piled high with condiments and salads. Expect it to be packed at lunchtime and during weekend brunch.
The menu is a symphony of deli staples like matzah ball soup, chicken Caesar salad, and a Reuben sandwich stuffed with beef pastrami and Emmental cheese. There's also an extensive burger menu, including veggie choices, plus brunch options like eggs Benedict and avocado toast. The substantial portions will keep you fuelled up for the rest of the day.
Locatie: 16 Rue des Ecouffes, 75004 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Daily from noon to 3 pm and from 7.30 pm to 11 pm
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 48 87 31 29
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Oh Purée!
Cool venue with innovative local cuisine
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Oh Purée! specialises in innovative French comfort food based on local and seasonal ingredients. Located in a hip, student-filled corner of the Latin Quarter, it occupies a rustic 19th-century building with exposed stone walls and a wood beam ceiling
The focus of the menu is the 'purées' (for which the restaurant is named) made from all kinds of root vegetables. Tuck into red tuna steak with soy and honey, beef tataki, veal sushi, or the restaurant's signature cottage pie. A carefully curated assortment of organic wines is chosen specifically to pair with the ever-changing menu.
Locatie: 8 Rue Tournefort, 75005 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Tuesday–Saturday from noon to 2 pm and from 7 pm to 10 pm (closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 43 37 10 66
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Bouillon Julien
A brasserie with Belle Époque styling and classic French cooking
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Bouillon Julien is an old-world French brasserie that has been serving Parisians since 1903. The food is classic French gastronomy – think garlic Burgundy snails, country-style terrine, veal head and Toulouse sausage. Try the crème brûlée and rum baba with whipped cream, or a bottle of wine from a small local producer.
The restaurant's breathtaking interior is quintessential French Art Nouveau, with mirrored walls and a stunning coloured-glass ceiling. Look out for the lavish paintings of peacocks covering one wall, and the original mahogany bar. The venue has served as the backdrop for several period films, and has another claim to fame – singer Edith Piaf used to dine here quite frequently.
Locatie: 16 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Daily from 11.45 am to midnight
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 47 70 12 06
Kaartfoto door Bouillon Julien (CC0 1.0) bewerkt
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Soya
Sustainable vegan food that's also gluten-free
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Soya is a cool, cutting-edge Parisian venue that mixes a stylish industrial-style interior with a fresh and healthy menu. The food is entirely vegan and organic, featuring creative dishes like cream of tofu with pesto, seaweed tartare or homemade lasagne. The menu is influenced by foods from all over the world, with Korean kimchi, masala curry, and soy falafel.
An impressively broad drinks list includes organic wines, biodynamic champagne, pear cider and cocktails made with mezcal and smoked beetroot. As well as a great dinner spot, it's also good for an afternoon break with a matcha latte or soymilk cappuccino, maybe with one of their gluten-free cookies or macarons.
Locatie: 20 Rue de la Pierre Levée, 75011 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Monday–Friday from noon to 2.30 pm and from 7 pm to 11 pm, Saturday from 11.30 am to 3 pm and from 7 pm to 11 pm, Sunday from 11.30 am to 4 pm
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 48 06 33 02
Kaartfoto door mike (CC BY-SA 2.0) bewerkt
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Fulgurances
Inspired dishes by a rotating line-up of different chefs
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Fulgurances is a restaurant in Paris that changes its chef every few months, giving new talents a chance to showcase their skills. The menu is different from week to week, incorporating diverse ingredients and influences from all over the world. Its list of natural wines, much like the food, foregrounds small vineyards and innovative producers.
There are set menus of 3, 6 or 9 courses, so you get plenty of opportunities to taste the latest creations. Past dishes have included ceviche with hibiscus flowers, smoked eel with broccoli puree, tonkatsu pork cutlets, and fondant of Medjool dates. The bright, modern dining room is always packed, so consider booking in advance.
Locatie: 10 Rue Alexandre Dumas, 75011 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Monday–Friday from 7 pm to 9.45 pm (closed on weekends)
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 43 48 14 59
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La Cantine Bretonne
Wide choice of sweet and savoury crêpes
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La Cantine Bretonne is a favourite among locals for its crêpes, which come with nearly every topping imaginable. Choose between wheat or organic buckwheat crêpes, then choose your favourite option. Savoury toppings include salmon gravlax with seaweed, garlic shrimp, Breton sausage, and lemon goat's cheese. Sweet versions feature fruit, chocolate, and caramel, and come with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.
The rest of the menu is traditional Breton cuisine like Breton beef or Moules marinière, as well as a drinks menu featuring 9 different types of apple and pear ciders. Take home more Breton delicacies from La Cantine Bretonne’s speciality grocery store, which sells terrines, jams, preserves, biscuits and sweets.
Locatie: 22bis Rue de l'Ourcq, 75019 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Daily from 8 am to 1 am
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 42 00 86 09
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Le Jourdain
An eclectic bistro where you can sample a little of everything
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Le Jourdain is a vibrant bistro serving a varied selection of small plates. Both the food and venue are bang on trend, with retro furniture and touches of mid-century decor in a light-filled restaurant. Lunch is a set menu using seasonal ingredients, while the evening tapas lean towards fresh seafood.
Among the small plates are veal tartare, horse mackerel in ponzu sauce, oyster mushroom tempura, and burrata cheese with roast vegetables. The dessert menu takes the same mix-and-match approach, featuring plum and blackberry cake, caramel flan, and roast figs with custard. Drinks-wise, you can expect Japanese whiskeys, wild raspberry brandy, and craft beers from a nearby microbrewery.
Locatie: 101 Rue des Couronnes, 75020 Paris, France
Openingstijden: Monday–Friday from noon to 3.30 pm and from 7.30 pm to midnight (closed on weekends)
Telefoonnummer: +33 (0)1 43 66 29 10
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