Paris Restaurants

The French have long been renowned for their love of the very best in all things of a culinary nature. From their highly desirable cooking utensils, sought by chefs throughout the world, to the creative, classical, understated luxury of simple, expertly prepared ingredients, Paris has long been vying with its southern neighbour Lyon for the mantle of Europe’s culinary capital. This is a city that has scaled the pinnacle of gastronomic success and is constantly seeking to improve.

Eating out is absolutely essential for a complete Parisian experience. From the relatively simple fare in the city’s many bustling brasseries and bistros, cafes, wine bars and tea salons, to ten-course gastronomic feasts in exquisite Belle Epoque surroundings, Paris offers a huge variety of dining experiences. Ethnic food from former French colonies of North Africa and Vietnam is widely available, though the city has a limited selection of vegetarian restaurants.

Parisians take their food seriously; tastes, textures and the time taken to enjoy good food, wine and company all matter greatly to the French in general. From a young age the French learn to identify the best seasonal produce, and so recognize quality: witness the queues for fresh bread at master bakers like Poliane; the care and attention still given to rich delicacies like foie-gras; the range of superb patisseries, charcuteries and boulangeries.

Menus are creative, inspired and elegantly presented, encouraging diners to be adventurous and try something new; décor is often as interesting whilst staff tend to be knowledgeable though service is sometimes a little slow. Simple but distinctly French treats such as Oeufs en Cocotte à l’Estragon and Homard Persille, desserts including Tarte Tatin and Pains au Chocolat and the extraordinary choice of cheeses await the inquisitive diner, with recent years having seen a revival for herby regional French cuisine in the capital.

Yet there is still such a thing as an ordinary or poor meal in Paris: dining in tourist-orientated areas like the Champs-Elysees and Montmartre can be either extortionate or bland - the best advice on that front is to immerse yourself in a venue bustling with locals and take their advice, armed with a menu translator of some description.

In recent years London’s accolades have perhaps taken a little focus away from Paris, but the French capital will inevitably prevail again over time, such is the strength in depth of its culinary scene.


Leading Paris Restaurants:

Le Train Bleu
Place Louis Armand, Gare de Lyon 75012 Paris
Tel: +33 1 4343 0906

Cristal Room
11 place des Etats-Unis, 75116 Paris
Tel: +33 1 4022 1110

Au Grain de Sel
13, rue Jean Beausire 75004 Paris
+33 1 4459 8282

1728
8 rue d'Anjou, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 4017 0477

Flora
36 avenue George-V, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 4070 1049

Aux Lyonnais
32 rue St-Marc, La Bourse, 75002 Paris
Tel: +33 1 4296 6504

Bamboche
15 rue du Babylone, 75007 Paris
Tel: +33 1 4549 1440

Kalimnos
47 boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
Tel: +33 1 4548 4463

Apollo
Hyatt Regency Paris-Charles de Gaulle, 351 Avenue du Bois de la Pie, BP 40048 - Paris Nord 2, 95912 Roissy CDG Cédex
Tel: +33 1 48 17 12 34 | Fax: +33 1 48 17 17 17

Café M
Hyatt Regency Paris-Madeleine, 24 Boulevard Malesherbes, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 55 27 12 34 | Fax: +33 1 55 27 12 35

Benoît
20 Rue St-Martin, 75004 Paris
Tel: +33 1 42 72 25 76

Brasserie 234 Rivoli
InterContinental Paris, 3 Rue de Castiglione, 75001 Paris
Tel: +33 1 44 77 11 11 | Fax: +33 1 44 77 14 60

L'Ambrosie
9 Place des Vosges, 75004 Paris
Tel: +33 1 42 78 51 45

Le Café de la Paix
InterContinental Le Grand Hotel Paris, 2 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris
Tel: +33 1 40 07 32 32 | Fax: +33 1 42 66 12 51

L'Arpège
84 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris
Tel: +33 1 45 51 47 33 | Fax: +33 1 44 18 98 39

L'Espadon
Hotel Ritz, 15 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris
Tel: +33 1 43 16 30 80 | Fax: + 33 1 43 16 33 75

La Tour d'Argent
15 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris
Tel: +33 1 43 54 23 31 | Fax: +33 1 44 07 12 04

Les Ambassadeurs
Hôtel Crillon, 10 Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 44 71 16 16 | Fax: +33 1 44 71 15 02

Lucas Carton
9 Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 42 65 22 90 | Fax: +33 1 42 65 06 23

Taillevent
15 Rue Lamennais, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 44 95 15 01 | Fax: +33 1 42 25 95 18

Violon d'Ingres
135 Rue St-Dominique, 75007 Paris
Tel: +33 1 45 55 15 05 | Fax: +33 1 45 55 48 42

Philippe Detourbe
8 Rue Nicolas Charlet, 75015 Paris
Tel: +33 1 42 19 08 59 | Fax: +33 1 45 67 09 13

Pierre Gagnaire
Hôtel Balzac, 6 Rue de Balzac, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 58 36 12 50 | Fax: +33 1 58 36 12 51

Guy Savoy
18 Rue Troyon, 75017 Paris
Tel: +33 1 43 80 40 61 | Fax: +33 1 46 22 43 09

Le Grand Vefour
17 Rue Beaujolais, 75001 Paris
Tel: +33 1 42 96 56 27 | Fax: +33 1 42 86 80 71

L'Astor
Hôtel Astor, 11 Rue d'Astorg, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 53 05 05 20 | Fax: +33 1 53 05 05 30

Alain Ducasse
Hôtel Plaza-Athénée, 25 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 53 67 65 00 | Fax: +33 1 53 67 65 12

Fouquet's
99 Avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris
Tel: +33 1 47 23 50 00 | Fax: +33 1 47 23 50 55

W restaurant Warwick Champs Elysées Hotel
5 Rue de Berri, 75008 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 45 63 14 11 | Fax: +33 1 45 63 75 81

Le Céladon Hotel Westminster
13 Rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 42 61 57 46 | Fax: +33 1 42 60 30 66