Your guide to the best cafés, restaurants and bakeries in Paris.

Where to Eat in Paris

Whilst Paris might be a food mecca for anyone who loves to eat, that’s not to say that a good meal can be found everywhere in Paris; a lot of restaurants and bistros are merely tourist traps, serving underwhelming food with questionable service to match.

It pays to research the restaurants and cafés in the area where you will be staying or visiting and to make reservations ahead of your arrival.

I always find comfort in knowing that lunch and/or dinner has been planned in advance, allowing us to fill the time in between for some sightseeing or other touristy activities.

Favourite Restaurants in Paris

I started writing this post about where to eat in Paris a while back, but found that I could never finish it. There was always another restaurant to add, another place to visit, more photos which had to be taken.

This post on Paris just never felt complete to me.

But then it dawned on me that, well, I suppose I am not done with Paris; that there will always be another charming café to discover, another cluttered kitchenware store to visit, another flavour-bursting macaron to devour.

So I thought it was best to just hit the publish button and come back frequently for any updates.

If you have visited any of the places mentioned below, or you have some recommendations of your own, I would love to hear from you!

The Best Cafés in Paris

carette paris

CARETTE

25 place des Vosges, 75003 Paris
www.carette-paris.fr

If you’re looking for a place for breakfast or brunch, you won’t be disappointed with Carette. They have delicious breads and pastries on offer, as well as great coffee and hot chocolate. Before you leave, treat yourself to a selection of their macarons – they are a must. And grab a bag of chouquettes while you are there. High chairs are available for small children – a rare find in Paris!

boot cafe paris

BOOT CAFÉ

19 rue du Pont aux Choux, 75003 Paris
www.instagram.com/bootcafe

The Boot Café is housed in a former cobbler’s workshop on a secluded street in the Marais precinct. With just enough room for three small tables, this cosy café is occupied by a steady stream of clientele who either pop by for a quick caffeine hit or who linger by the shopfront on one of the colourful stools. Definitely a place to visit for serious coffee lovers.

CAFÉ DE FLORE

172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
cafedeflore.fr

This is a well-known touristy spot, but it happens to be a nice place to grab breakfast, or maybe just a cup of tea in between shopping. Our kids love the ice-cream here.

CAFÉ KITSUNÉ

172 B51 Galerie de Montpensier, 75001 Paris
www.maisonkitsune.com/mk/find-a-store/cafe-kitsune-palais-royal/

This a café chain with several locations worldwide. I find it a convenient place to buy takeaway coffee, especially near the Palais-Royal or the Jardin des Tuileries.

CAFÉ VERLET

256 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
verlet.fr

A cosy and old-fashioned Parisian coffee shop with great coffee and a small selection of cakes. The café is a stone’s throw away from the Louvre, the Jardin du Palais Royal and the Jardin des Tuileries.

LE FLORE EN I’ILE

42 quai d’Orléans, 75004 Paris
lefloreenlile.fr/en

This is our favourite ice-cream spot. I think we come here mostly out of habit; even in the middle of winter will we find an excuse visit this café for a small bowl of ice-cream, even if it means having to rug up outside under one of their heaters. Their food menu is standard café fare and the service can be a bit questionable (or maybe it is typically French), but the ambience is always lovely.

ROSE BAKERY TEA ROOM

Le Bon Marché
24 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris
www.rosebakery.fr

My favourite department store in Paris is Le Bon Marché, and the Rose Bakery Tea Room is a nice little spot where I can treat the kids to delicious scones and loaf cakes in between purchases.

The Best Restaurants in Paris

BISTROT PAUL BERT

18 rue Paul Bert, 75011 Paris
bistrotpaulbert.fr

This is classic French bistrot fare at its finest. We’ve tried the Pork Terrine, Asparagus with Vinaigrette, Sole Meunière, Paris-Brest, and Crème Caramel – everything was just excellent. We try to visit at least once each time we are in Paris. Reservations by telephone only (if you can get them to answer the phone).

LA FONTAINE DE MARS

129 rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris
www.fontaine-de-mars.com

Several years ago, we were kicked out of La Fontaine de Mars during our meal because our crying baby was apparently disturbing the other patrons, even though the restaurant was half empty. We were not brave enough to venture back to this restaurant until during Covid when Paris was eerily empty of tourists, and it was suddenly possible to walk into any restaurant without a reservation. After bribing our kids to be on their super-best behaviour, we nervously survived an entire three-course meal without being kicked to the street! During Covid, the waiters were extremely nice and accommodating, and the food was exquisite. Their menu changes frequently, but it’s worth seeking out their Cassoulet and Duck Confit. I would highly recommend La Fontaine de Mars for traditional French bistrot cuisine, but I can’t make any promises about their hospitality post-Covid 😉

LE SOUFFLÉ

36 rue Mont Thabor, 75001 Paris
www.lesouffle.fr

If you fancy soufflé for entrée, main and dessert, Le Soufflé is the place to eat! Their famous dish is the Soufflé Henry IV – a cheese soufflé served with a creamy chicken and mushroom sauce. For dessert, I highly recommend the Soufflé with Apple and Calvados, as well as the Soufflé Grand Marnier. Children can order the entrée-sized soufflés, and there are also non-soufflé options available (such as Boeuf Bourguignon).

SAPPORO

37 Rue Sainte-Anne, 75001 Paris

I had to include at least one Japanese restaurant because we always try to squeeze in a bowl of ramen when we are in Paris. Dare I say it, but I think the best Japanese food is in Paris! We love going to Sapporo because the service is fast and friendly, and the food is always delicious. They have a few locations in Paris, but it’s worth visiting Rue Sainte-Anne which is popular for its Japanese and Korean restaurants.

The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Paris

PHO 14

17 rue Molière, 75001 Paris
pho14paris.fr/en/

No trip to Paris is complete without a bowl of Pho, and Pho 14 is one of our favourite Vietnamese restaurants. They have several locations around Paris, but we always go to the one near the Opéra. I highly recommend their Pho Tai (beef Pho with raw beef slices), Cha Gio (spring rolls/egg rolls) and Papillots aux Crevettes (prawn spring rolls). The decor is cheap and cheerful, and the service is always friendly. They also serve a simple Pho without meat – it’s just a big bowl of noodles in beef pho broth, which is sometimes just all that you need.

HA NOI 1988

72 Quai des Orfèvres, 75001 Paris
www.viet-eat.com

One of the best bowls of pho I have ever tasted! Pictured is their “Pho TNT” where the broth is served steaming hot and bubbling in a stone pot, with the meat and noodles served on the side (which you add to the broth just before eating). And as you would in north Vietnam, you can order a side of Chinese fried dough sticks to eat alongside.

The Best Bakeries and Pâtisseries in Paris

POILÂNE

8 rue du Cherche-Midi, Paris 75006
www.poilane.com

A visit to Poilâne is worth it just to breathe in the wafting scent of freshly baked buttery pastries. My favourite is their apple tart. Softly cooked apples, gently spiced with cinnamon, sit atop a crisp and flakey puff pastry base which tastes of heaven at the first bite. These tarts are not for sharing, although a family-sized apple tart is also sometimes on offer, but even then I would want to claim it all for myself. Grab a few pastries and a packet of their shortbread biscuits for snacks on the go, or to sustain you on a long train journey out of Paris.

LADURÉE

21 rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris
www.laduree.com

You can’t go to Paris and not try a macaron from Ladurée. And if this happens to be your mission, you should visit one of their tea salons and make yourself comfortable with a cup of Earl Grey tea and a selection of their pastries.

ANGELINA

226 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
www.angelina-paris.fr

This is a lovely tea salon to visit for their exquisite pastries. It also happens to be opposite the Jardin de Tuileries, so it’s a good place to stop with the kids for afternoon tea. I highly recommend their signature pastry, the Mont Blanc, which is whipped cream encased in chestnut purée. The kids love the éclairs, giant macarons, millefeuilles, as well as the ice-cream.

PIERRE HERMÉ

www.pierreherme.com

The macaron phase looked to be a fleeting one, but even I have fallen victim to these petite morsels of heaven. I once thought I had tried every possible flavour combination that could be squeezed into these coin-sized bites, and even thought my quest for the perfect macaron was over when I discovered Ladurée, but the macarons of Pierre Hermé will make you understand why he is considered the most creative and gifted pastry chef in Paris. Enticing flavours include milk chocolate with passionfruit, or rose and lychee, but the simple salted caramel is an enduring classic. If you’re not a fan of macarons, his chocolates are also highly regarded. Be prepared to part with some hard-earned money for these delectable but worthy delights.

L’ÉCLAIR DE GÉNIE

14 rue Pavée, 75004 Paris
www.leclairdegenieshop.com

If you are a fan of éclairs, L’Éclair de Génie is the place for you. The name of this venue is a smart play on French words which translates to “a stroke of genius” in English, something which you won’t deny the moment you step foot on the premise. On offer are an assortment of vividly colourful éclairs with equally bold flavour combinations, such as pistachio with orange, vanilla with blackcurrant or passionfruit with raspberries. While you are there, you may as well try all of them.

AKI BOULANGERIE

16 Rue Sainte-Anne, 75001 Paris
akiparis.fr

If you love Japanese bakery treats, come with an empty stomach! They have a wonderful selection of Japanese breads and buns, donuts, cakes, and even takeaway sushi and onigiri. I always stock up before a long-distance train journey, especially their mochi-stuffed dorayaki and kinako donuts.

Update

This article was first published on 22 July 2014. It has been updated with new photos, as well as new listings.

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