Top 5 Favorite Paris Restaurants
Every January I’m fortunate enough to go to Paris for work. There’s a big trade show called, Maison & Objet which I attend on behalf of Architectural Digest and Conde Nast. One of the biggest perks of this trip (although there are many!) is the incredible cuisine. What’s not to love about french food? Below I’m sharing some of my absolute favorite spots to dine in Paris.
Allard is so super chic with red velvet banquettes and whimsical floral wallpaper. The food is absolutely to die for. I’ve been a few times, but when I was there just last month in January 2020, the food was even better than I remembered, which is why it’s ranking #1 on my list of must-visit Paris restaurants. Allard sits within the Saint Germain neighborhood on a sleepy little street. It will be packed with locals, and I hope you go with a group so you can try all of the menu items. You can’t go wrong with the Sole , Duck, or Chicken, and I’m still dreaming about the buttery roasted potatoes. For dessert, the chocolate mousse was divine.
I went here with my husband, and had an an incredible experience. We had an 11PM reservation (they do seatings for their tasting menu at 7PM and 11PM). It’s 70 Euro per person and totally worth it. They brought dish after dish after dish of delicious courses. This place is full of locals, and when we left at almost 2AM, it was still packed with people. Great vibe, and great food.
Photo of La Cateaubriand from Bon Appetit
I’ve only dined here for lunch, but each time it has been absolutely perfect. This Art Deco-inspired space decorated by Joseph Dirand makes Monsier Bleu no doubt one of the prettiest restaurants in the City (and why most people dine here!). The interiors and the food are absolutely impeccable and worth a reservation. It’s located right by the Eiffel Tower. I’ve only been in January, but they do offer outdoor seating for warmer months.
My husband and I went to L’ami Jean to celebrate our Anniversary a few years ago. We started our evening by having a glass of champagne at Malabar, which is located just down the street. L’Ami Jean is an extremely tiny restaurant, with an actual hole in the wall where the chef will yell from time to time. It’s SUPER french and charming. The service is a little slow, but that’s almost what makes it so like-able. We ate traditional french bistro here, and you absolutely must get the rice pudding for dessert, it’s huge! After leaving dinner, we walked to the Eiffel Tower and watched it sparkle as the clock struck midnight.
Photo of the Rice Pudding by L’Ami Jean
Cafe De Flore is a Paris institution. You’ll find french locals smoking on the street while drinking their espressos, as well as influencers trying to “get the shot”, but what makes Cafe De Flore so special is the no-fuss attitude and menu. I recommend coming here for breakfast or lunch. They have great coffee, croissants, omelettes, and salads.
Photo by my lovely coworker, Benjamin Reyneart
Additional Restaurant Recommendations: La Palette, Ralphs, Les Foodies, Semilla, La Bourse et la Vie, Frenchie, Septime, & Le Train Bleu