Favorite Restaurants in Paris: Our Experts Share Recommendations

25 January 2018 by Bonjour Paris Editors    14080    2
Favorite Restaurants in Paris: Our Experts Share Recommendations
It’s no secret that people travel to Paris for the food. From small neighborhood bistros to gastronomic temples of haute cuisine, the restaurant choices are mind-boggling. No wonder so many readers write us for recommendations! Here, we’re happy to share some favorite restaurants as selected by our expert team of contributors. These aren’t necessarily the newest, nor the trendiest, but they are tried-and-true favorites. Bon appétit! Bistrot Victoires In the center of Place des Victoires stands a regal equestrian statue of Louis XIV. The horse’s head points down Rue Catinat; let it guide you to end of that street and the Bistrot Victoires. Each day this local favorite is bustling with workers from the Banque de France, which guarantees good quality and prices that can’t be beat. My favorite lunch is the Tartine Savoyarde – an open-faced sandwich with melted cheese, potatoes, lardons and onion. A glass of the house red fits perfectly and you won’t find a more authentic, everyday meal in Paris. 6 Rue de la Vrillière, 1st arrondissement  — Corey Frye is an editor/writer and a sought-after Paris tour guide. Café Bullier It is a common misconception that people who are not “foodies” don’t care about good food. This is not true! My culinary tastes are simple, but I do have my preferences. My favorite restaurant is Café Bullier. The food (which is unpretentious, traditional French cuisine) is always good; the service is professional, friendly, and kind. A short walk away from the Jardin de Luxembourg, Café Bullier is a comfortable place to spend an afternoon or an evening, enjoying the simple pleasures of la bonne cuisine française in a relaxed, congenial atmosphere. 22 Avenue de l’Observatoire, 14th arrondissement, website: www.cafebullier.com — Janet Hulstrand is a writer, editor and teacher based in Essoyes, a beautiful little village in the Champagne region. Halle Saint Pierre My friend Charlie has a theory about what makes a meal memorable. According to him, it’s not just food or the hype or the number of stars in the guidebooks, but the chemistry of company gathered ’round the table. And, in my book, the view. Whenever I need a break from the worries of the world, I trek it to Halle Saint-Pierre’s cozy café in Montmartre’s fabric district. Housed in a former 19th-century food market, the museum is similar in spirit to Switzerland’s Collection de l’Art Brut and Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum, featuring works by self-taught and outsider artists. This place has everything. Historic building? Check. View? Check. Sacré Coeur’s dome shines in through the huge windows like a giant sugar confection. Blue skies suit the blindingly white basilica, though she also glows after dusk. Affordable? Check. It’s the perfect place to take a break after hiking up and down the hill or seeing one of the museum’s thought-provoking exhibitions. Art lines the walls in the café, too. Sample the house red and the homemade quiche and gaze up to your heart’s desire. Or work on your novel. No one’s going kick you out. It’s Paris, after all. Musée Halle Saint Pierre, 2 rue Ronsard, 18th arrondissement, website: www.hallesaintpierre.org — Theadora Brack is a Paris-based writer who has a regular column, called “My Life in Paris,” in France Today magazine. Hostellerie de l’Oie qui fume To prolong my stays in Paris (and my finances), I live like a very aging student: baguettes in the Luxembourg Gardens and cafe crèmes standing at the bars of my favorite cafes. It stands to reason then that sadly I won’t be found in a Michelin-starred restaurant in a swanky hotel, so if beautifully set tables and impeccable wine waiters are what you want (and why not?), stop reading now. My restaurant, L’oie Qui Fume, in Rue de la Huchette is slap bang in the much derided ‘Little Athens’ tourist area in St Michel. I was there two years ago when three course menus were 10 and 15 euros. My son and his new wife were there in October when I think they had added a euro to the basic menus. Starters are varied: salads, escargots, onion soup; main courses include steak, tartiflette, bœuf bourguignon, and mussels. Desserts or cheese to follow. The restaurant is cozy and crowded enough to overhear the next table’s conversations–often more interesting than your own. The covered terrace on the pavement has heaters for colder evenings and red checked table cloths. The owner and staff are friendly. The food is good and excellent value. The restaurant is what it is: cheap and cheerful but a notch above the others on Rue de la Huchette. Only one word of advice– don’t go in evening dress… 59 quai de la Tournelle, 5th arrondissement, website: www.facebook.com/oiequifume — Marilyn Brouwer is an established freelance writer and regular contributor to Bonjour Paris Le Grand Véfour When asked about my favorite restaurant I usually reply, “the next one I’m eating at!” It really depends on mood, type of food, atmosphere and budget. But, when the pressure’s on, I have to admit my favorite Paris address is definitely Le Grand Véfour. Guy Martin is at the door to meet and greet guests, old and new. This talented self-taught chef, born and raised in his beloved Savoie region, has been at Véfour since 1991 where he once notched three Michelin stars and now, strangely, only has two. Some mistake surely? Not only the exquisite food, traditional dishes with Martin’s exciting modern twists, the historic atmosphere is enchanting – my favorite table has a…
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Lead photo credit : courtesy of Pirouette

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By Bonjour Paris Editors

BP's expert editorial team includes some of the city's top English-language journalists.

Comments

  • Nicholas Cox
    2018-08-09 12:48:10
    Nicholas Cox
    My favourite is Brasserie Bofinger, 5 Rue de la Bastille, 75004, just off Bastille, seems expensive when they give you the menu but if you turn to the back page you will find the menu fixe options – the champagne, oysters and Chateaubriand plus desert make an excellent combination and if you wash it down with a pichet de vin maison it’s not too expensive!

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  • Martinn JC
    2018-08-09 12:06:49
    Martinn JC
    On Place des Victoires, I'd rather eat at "Chez Georges". We , a group of 6, had lunch at Victoires and none of us enjoyed the food (and service was Ok but not friendly) as for Georges everytime I take some guest there, they leave happy, and content. Very friendly service. Only problem is because it is a good address that people recommend to their friends, it is quite booked and a bit noisy. Was never disappointed.

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