The best restaurants in Paris according to my friends!

This must be the most frequent request I have from friends and colleagues: can you give me your best tips for places to eat, shops to visit, things to do with kids in Paris. I have my favourites of course but having left Paris a few years ago, I am not as much in the know as my local friends.

So I asked them for their recommendations on restaurants, shops, cafés etc.. Here it is, the true list of the best places to go as if you were a true Parisian starting today with the restaurants.

There is also a handy map at the bottom of the post to view all of them.

The best restaurants Parisians truly like – classic French

Le Square Trousseau

1, rue Antoine Vollon, 75 012 Paris

http://www.squaretrousseau.com/

Very nice for a diner : classic Paris atmosphere and good foofd with a famous big bowl of chocolate mousse.

Laiterie Sainte Clotilde (La)

64 Rue de Bellechasse, 75007 Paris

Chic and relaxed bistrot with a menu on a black slate which adds a bit of fantasy to classic French dishes. Mr Big and I had diner there during our honeymoon and really liked the relaxed atmosphere and the good food with fresh produce.

Café Richer, 2 Rue Richer

2 Rue Richer, 75009 Paris

Delicious food with a very good value for price ratio

Le Temps des Cerises

18-20 Rue de la Butte aux Cailles, 75013 Paris

http://www.letempsdescerisescoop.com/

Classic simple French restaurant in this neighbourhood rarely visited by tourists.

La Table d’Eugène

18 Rue Eugène Sue, 75018 Paris

http://latabledeugene.com/

For a bit of classic refined cuisine, my friend recommends this restaurant in the Montmartre area. I like the decor which is classy but not too formal. The chef just received his first Michelin star. Go quickly before it becomes too busy.

The best wine bars with food in Paris

Les Caves Legrand Filles et Fils

1 Rue de la Banque, 75002 Paris

http://www.caves-legrand.com/en/paris/legrand-lunch-at-the-comptoir-de-degustation

Located in the magnificent Galerie Vivienne (do wander around the various “passages” in Paris like this one), this wine shop has now opened a wine-tasting bar where you can choose a wine as well as choice bites: plates of charcuterie, saucisson, hams, tuna, salads. At lunchtime, their chef creates hot dishes based on the produce of the season. Booking is mandatory but you can do it online on their site.

Le Baron Rouge

1 rue Théophile Roussel, 75 012 Paris

A fantastic wine bar with some charcuterie plates to go with your glass of red.

World food restaurants in Paris

Bob de Tunis 10 Rue Richer

10 rue Richer, 75009 Paris

According to my friend “a unique place, not chic but worthy of being added to the Unesco heritage list. You are transported back in time to Tunis in the 60’s. Bob makes you a sandwich ‘with everything inside’: tuna, crushed tomatoes, confit lemon, olives, chill, olive oil, capers. It’s so delicious, there are no words. When Bob dies, half of the neighbourhood will be in mourning”.. Need I say more?

Il campionissimo

26 rue Léopold Bellan Paris 2è

Tél 01 42 36 40 28

www.ilcampionissimo.fr/

The world’s pizza vice-champion ! My friends used to work nearby and would go there all the time.

La Rallonge

16 rue Eugène Sue, 75018 Paris

Check the website of la table d’eugène (see above )

Tapas bar with “topissime” food according to my friend (yes, it’s a word that mixes French and English!) and I must say that the photos really make me want to go!

Pho Avenue de Choisy

13 avenue de Choisy, 75013 Paris

Further into the 13th and you get into the Chinese neighbourhood in Paris where you’ll find this very good Vietnamese restaurant. You won’t come for the decor as the neon lights remind you of your childhood but for the Pho soups, filled with noodles, meat-balls, beef, or chicken, all served with fresh mint and basil.

Le Cherche Midi

22, rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006

Mr Big really likes this classic Italian restaurant for its good antipasti buffet, fine charcuterie and home made pasta. I had a good veal scallopine there too.

Le 404

9, rue des Gravilliers Paris 3è

Tél 01 42 74 57 81

http://404-resto.com/fr/restaurant/paris/404/menus/

One of the trendy restaurants in Le Marais but a good traditional Moroccan cuisine.

Le Mansouria

11 rue Faidherbe Paris 11è

Tél : 01 43 71 00 16

http://www.mansouria.fr/carte.html

Between Bastille and Nation, a moroccan restaurant where you feel you are welcomed by family.

Le Colorova 47 Rue de l’Abbé Grégoire

47, rue de l’Abbé Grégoire, 75006 Paris

Mostly known for its cakes but they offer a few dishes at lunchtime that are always tasty. Nice decoration in a light Scandi style.

Other ideas

Monsieur Bleu

20 Avenue de New York 75116, Paris

For a design detour, go to the Palais de Tokyo and have lunch on the terrace at this modern restaurant.

La Crêpe Dentelle

10 Rue Léopold Bellan, 75002 Paris, France

Classic pancakes from Brittany are hard to find. They are nothing like American or Dutch pancakes. They are made with sourdough flour and are just so delicious. I haven’t been to this place but according to my friend, they really make them like in Brittany. You ought to try!

4 Comments

Sarah says:

25 March 2015 at 14:01

This is great, it’s always so much nicer to have personal recommendations when you’re travelling to a new city

- Stephanie Bonnet says:
  
  25 March 2015 at 14:07
  
  Yes, I thought I would leverage my local friends’knowledge as I moved out of Paris some years ago. Glad you like it!
  
Deidre says:

21 April 2015 at 04:32

Why (?!?!?!) did I look at this post at 11pm at night. Ugh! I’m so hungry now 😉 Great list. I will pin this bad boy in case I ever make it to Paris! Thanks for the info!

- Stephanie Bonnet says:
  
  21 April 2015 at 09:44
  
  You should definitely go Deidre. Maybe print it and leave it casually next to your partner’s desk as a hint 😉

The best restaurants in Paris according to my friends!