I’d like to give some leads on restaurants and cafes that I’ve found in Paris that I particularly like. I would suggest that you look them up on Yelp and on TripAdvisor to see if they are your kind of place. I will stipulate that as a general rule, I don’t care for “Haute cuisine” super expensive kind of places, so if that is what you’re looking for, this won’t be a good list. I do like mid to high mid places that are small and personable. Assume that anywhere that is a restaurant, you are likely to need reservations, even if you just call an hour before you arrive.
Restaurants:
Les Fables de La Fontaine not far from the Champs de Mars, had an excellent lunch here, seafood, prix fixe was the way to go, otherwise pricey. Read trip advisor reviews before going, Michelin star no longer. Would not go for dinner here, but lunch was good. Les Fables de La Fontaine
Mieux Restaurant (9th) Read about his in Alex Lobrano’s blog, it was really good. https://www.mieux-restaurant.com
Pierre Sang (Oberkampf) This was a surpisingly good creative take on French food. In this case it was a 6 course 39 euro Prix Fixe, no choices, but everything was surprisingly delicious. Pierre Sang
Les Enfant Rouge The restaurant, not the market place. Run by Japanese with a nice take on French food. $$$ Marais, 3rd. Les Enfants Rouge
Breizh Cafe Odeon When you want a good crepe. I much prefer the location at Odeon to the one in the Marais, easier to get into too. Nice outdoor seating, close to Odeon Metro stop 6th. Breizh Cafe Odeon
Cidrerie du Marais Small crepe place that does a good job near St. Paul. 4th. Cidrerie du Marais
Creperie Gigi is nice, in the 3rd near Carreau du Temple. Creperie Gigi
Mokonuts Very small restaurant near Atelier des Lumieres with excellent lunch, need to reserve. 11th. Mokonuts
Robert et Louise Classic steak place in the Marais, cooking on wood fire in the restaurant. Robert et Louise
L’Avant Comptoir de La Mer This is a great stand up tapas bar with wonderful natural wines. Go early around 7:00pm before it gets packed. L’Avant Comptoir de la Mer
Huiterie Regis is devoted to Oysters, you must eat a dozen per person, that is pretty much it. $$$
Au Bascou has always been a favorite, Basque cooking.
Comptoir des Mers is a fish shop that has a restaurant in back. Near St. Paul, 4th. Comptoir des Mers
Cafe Hortense is in the 8th, stumbled on this walking from the Opera area, lots of business people but efficient and delicious, not cheap.
Cafe Seraphin in the 6th did a nice dinner.
Le Bistrot d’Henri has been consistently cozy, friendly and good food, in the 6th
La Pie Noir was very friendly and had good food, combines well with Bon Vivant wine bar. In the 5th.
Narro. Good restaurant with Japanese chef in the 5th.
Wine Bars:
O Chateau Very professional with tasting class every day at 5:00pm
Surnaturel Nice wine bar in the 6th near Odeon
Baron Rouge Great locals wine bar near the March D’Aligre, funky, inexpensive and cool.
Frenchie Bar a Vins is a highend place associated with the Frenchie restaurant.
Les Papilles is a wine store in the 5th with a good Prix Fixe dinner. Generous portions, makes for a good lunch as well.
BonVivant great locals wine bar in the 5th.
5e Cru: Really a wine store, but serves some pate and lots of personal attention, very nice.
CAFES:
Let me be clear that these are places with excellent terraces and/or great food, not necessarily good coffee, see my page on coffee if that is your goal.
Cafe de Paris In the 6th became my home base, friendly service, open early, open late, just a nice place to hang out. Really fast wifi too. Managers: Claire and David.
Deux Magots is the classic 6th historic place, have a glass of wine and hang out, save your money and eat elsewhere.
Le Compas D’Or on Montorgueil has great corner terrace and surpisingly good food.
Cafe Charlot in the 3rd is always good, nice terrace good food.
Le Sancerre in the 3rd has a great terrace friendly service and I had a really nice skate wing lunch. Yum!
Le Barricou is friendly and has good food. 3rd arr.
Les Philosophes, deep in the Marais is historic, classic and a great place to hang out.
Cafe Charlette, 11 r. Aligre, on the corner near the Marche d’Aligre, combine a walk on the elevated promenade, Coulee Verte, with a visit to the market, have lunch and coffee here, then head over to the Baron Rouge. Good food and good hangout.
Gluten Free:
A note that Buckwheat, or Sarrasin is not wheat and does not contain gluten, so galettes or buckwheat crepes are usually safe to eat, but ask if they have mixed in regular flour.
Chambelland is the main GF bakery in Paris.
Bear and Racoon is GF, healthy and does sandwiches.
Noglu has two locations. Good croissants. Location near Grand Epicerie is better.
Sitron, right around the corner from Compas d’Or has GF pastries.
Le Pont Traverse, restaurant run by the NoGlu people near Jardin du Luxembourg.
Resources for finding restaurants in Paris:
Probably one of the best books on Paris restaurants is Alec Lobrano’s “Hungry for Paris.” Here is his blog: https://www.alexanderlobrano.com/
Yelp works surpisingly well in Paris as does TripAdvisor.
Here’s the Yelp equivalent for Europe: https://www.thefork.com/restaurant+paris
France Explorations 