August 2025 Restaurant Buzz: Where to Eat in Paris

“I drink to make other people more interesting.” -Ernest Hemingway.

In August, as Parisians leave for their summer homes/holidays, the city settles into a gentle rhythm. Isn’t it the perfect time of year to get out and about, discovering our favorite capital’s delicious addresses? Here’s where you’ll find us! And, take a tip from Nicole Kidman, Robert Redford, Penelope Cruz, Daniel Craig & Co: Don’t leave home without Alfresco’s classic moisturizer, created by confirmed Francophile Sarah Lou Morris.  

Les Petites Mains 

For the fifth summer, gastronomy takes center stage in the bucolic gardens of the Palais Galliera, the city’s chic fashion museum. Chef Youssef Gastli, whose culinary career includes Le Meurice and Lucas Carton, takes inspiration from a season dedicated to love, reflecting the epic, must-visit “Temple of Love” exhibition curated by designer Rick Owens.

And, as if that’s not enough, chef has created a modern, generous, “Mediterranean” style menu. Starters include Sea Bream Tartare (€18) and White Landes Asparagus (€16), then go for the grilled Sea-Bass with seasonal vegetables (€30), and finish with Hazlenut Tahini Paris Brest (€16). Perfect with White Blanc Posey (€8-38), Champagne Taittenger coupe (€20), or the red Pinot Noir, delicate and crisp (€9/42). Here’s an enchanting summer gem: eating al fresco, on the shady terrace, with views of the Eiffel Tower. Until October – see you there! 

DETAILS:

Lunch: Tuesday- Friday 12 noon – 2:30 pm. Weekends 12 noon-4 pm.
Dinner: Tuesday – Saturday 7:30pm-10pm
10, avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 16th 
Metro: Alma-Marceau 
Tel:  +33 (0)1 86 95 10 60  

Le Café Longchamp 

Here’s retail therapy at its zenith, as only the French know how. Longchamp has opened a delightful pop-up café in Le Marais. Until September 2nd, eat, drink – and add to you collection of designer goodies!

As Hector Cassegrain, Longchamp managing director for France, points out, the setting’s intended to be “warm, authentic and, above all, very Parisian”, adding on LinkedIn, that “it reflects our image perfectly and is waiting to welcome you.” 

Longchamps’s the French family-owned leather goods company, founded in Paris in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain. Not a lot of people know they pioneered luxury leather-covered pipes before expanding into leather goods!

They launched women’s handbags in 1971 and are up there with France’s leading leather goods makers. The café’s retro setting, and a covetable capsule collection, are designed by young talented artist Constantin Riant. “This pop-up is a love letter to the city,” he says. 

Café Longchamp’s the only Parisian pop-up serving from breakfast to brunch, right through to afterwork, 7/7. And, if you prefer, order take-away! 

DETAILS

Monday – Friday 9 am – 7pm. Saturday & Sunday 9am – 8pm.
45, rue du Vielle du Temple, 4th 
Metro: Hotel de Ville 
Average Spend €29.50. Cocktails €12. Champagne Pommery €14 flute. 

La Marina Les Maquereaux 

At the furnace of this unique designer péniche/barge, Chef Saghatel Karapetyan signs off dishes from his quirky onboard kitchen, sending out delicious dishes to tables on a sunny waterside terrace. Trained at Les Ombres – Alain Ducasse, the chef is now putting his know-how to use at his waterside kitchen. On the menu: seafood of the day, ceviche, barbecue grills, club sandwiches, terrine prepared on site, and fish & chips! The quality products are well sourced, including organic eggs, red label chicken, and seasonal vegetables. Eat with your feet almost in the water! 

Near to La Defense, Boulogne and Longchamp Hippodrome, La Marina Les Maquereaux offers a “complete experience” with music (DJ sets in the evening), dining, swimming (yes, there’s a pool!). There’s also al fresco breakfast and an oyster bar.

Here’s your “vacation in Paris” – spend the day, sip a glass of wine at the crossroads of the Riviera and the Parisian right bank. The pool bookings are available: contact [email protected] 

DETAILS

Restaurant open year round. Booking highly recommended
1, Allé du Bord de l’eau, 16th 
Tel: +33 (0)1 75 57 01 35  
Metro: Line 10 – Boulogne Pont de Saint Cloud 
Average spend €30-€40 + wine 

Chez Margaux 

Discover this gem on Avenue de New York, at the foot of the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, with breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower. Taken over by Michel Puech, with chef Paul-Alexandre Laumont, from Biche, Margaux’s undergone a chic makeover. 

The atmosphere’s warm, reminiscent of Mamie Margaux’s house (Michel’s grandmother, from whom he inherited his culinary passion). To walk through the doors of Margaux is a flashback; you’re back in time in your grandmother’s dining room. Wood-panelled walls, bistro tables with starched white tablecloths, beautiful antique plates – everything in the room has been tracked down by Michel with the aim of giving the space a particularly vintage feel.  

The comforting French cuisine evokes your best bistro memories. Here’s a sampling: Egg Mayo; Paté en croute “du moment”; Tuna tartare with avocado; Snails in garlic butter; Croque Monsieur/Madame; Beef tartare; Boeuf Bourguignon; Chicken en cocotte, mushrooms, yellow wine; Salmon with sorrel. End on a sweet note with the epic Chocolate mousse, tarte Tatin, or wicked Baked Alaska!  

Chez Margaux’s more than a restaurant: it’s a feel-good address promoting generous and authentic traditional French cuisine. The wine list is comprehensive and interesting, so are the cocktails. Vive La France! 

DETAILS

10 avenue de New York, 16th 
Metro: Trocadero/Alma Marceau 
Tel: +33 (0)1 86 04 40 54 
Starters from €11. Mains from €19. Desserts from €11. 
Open 7/7, Lunch & Dinner 

Bibie  

The new epicurean, Left-Bank resto and wine-bar hotspot is located under the vast glass roof of the Le Jardin de Verre at Locke Hotel. People arrive from 7am for a specialty coffee and to discover product-centric seasonal cuisine, served at lunch and dinner. In the evening, natural wines, delicious cocktails, and sharing plates extend the experience. Open 7/7 from first coffee to the last glass, Bibie offers organic food in a warm friendly atmosphere.

DETAILS

Open 7/7 
7, rue Lacépéde, 5th 
Metro: Place Monge 
Tel: +33 (0)1 87 70 63 19 

Alain Passard  

Announced on his website: from July 21, his menu’s now devoted to vegetables! For three decades Passard has been at L’Arpège, also cultivating his two estates with gardens, under the guidance of Head Gardener, Sylvain Picard. (Bois Giroult, in Normandy, between Dreux and Evreux, on four hectares of clay soil, and Gros Chesnay, in Sarthe, south of Le Mans, on a little over three hectares of greenhouses installed on sandy soil.) These gardens supply the seasonal vegetables he preps at his Michelin 3-star (since 1996) rue de Varenne resto, and also supplies to restaurant friends.

“My passion for the seasons invites me to write a new chapter. The garden has always guided my hand and nourished my inspiration. L’Arpège restaurant is now exclusively plant-based cuisine – our vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers… and the honey from our hives will be the new notes of our score. I look forward to sharing this journey,” says Passard. “Remember that in New York, my colleague and friend Daniel Humm successfully transformed his three-star Eleven Madison Park into a vegan restaurant, retaining its Michelin-starred awards.”

Closed in August. Exciting news! See you in September.

DETAILS

84 rue de Varenne, 7th 
Metro: Invalides 
Tel: +33 (0)1 47 05 09 06 

By the way: 

Superstar Cédric Grolet, Le Meurice Hôtel chef pâtissier (since 2012), created the multi-layer wedding cake for the June wedding of Lauren Sanchez to Jeff Bezos. It was a “coup de food.” Madame Bezos was celebrating her hen-party tea with BF’s Eva Longoria, Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian – at Le Meurice. The rest is history! 

It’s that time again. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has announced the best pastry chef 2025 award: Maxime Frédéric.