Do you want to explore Paris off the tourist tracks, then these are the restaurants to go!
During my studies, I was living in Paris and explored all the nice restaurants in the different neighborhoods. Let me share my favourite places with you. Unfortunately, while being in Paris, I didn‘t take a lot of pictures, but I always kept the business cards and the receipts of the places I liked.
So these are my favourite restaurants and insider tips for Paris:
Septime – Nr. 15 on the list of the world’s best restaurants
Pretty unknown when I was there and now number 15 on S. Pellegrino’s world’s best restaurant list: Septime is one of the top choices in Paris. Although being famous now, it didn’t change its super-cool character. The menu is still based on the same prices and they are still serving relaxed and unpretentious food with a lot of taste.
Frenchie – French cuisine focused on seasonal products
French cuisine with seasonal ingredients which are meticulously selected from suppliers all over the country. It’s all about the taste of the products, their perfect preparation and the different textures. We love this restaurant, it’s cosy, trendy and the food is amazing.
Clamato – sleek place with amazing seafood
Freshly caught seafood and wild oysters from the Atlantic is – amongst many other beautiful things – what you get at Clamato, the little sister of the Septime. Being half french from the Bretagne, I adore sea food – and at Clamato, you will get it in perfection, served together with a nicely chilled, natural white wine.
Dersou – Food and cocktails
At this restaurant, I was introduced to the concept of pairing food with amazing cocktails. The very talented barkeeper, Taku Sekine, who was working for Alain Ducasse in Tokio, is now mixing cocktails that match perfectly to the Asian inspired menu. Take a seat at the bar where you can watch the guys do their magic.
L‘Office – Lovely lunch place
This is a lovely bistrot, located in the 9th Arrondissement. They serve very nice seasonal French dishes with a twist. The perfect restaurant for a nice long lunch.
Le Severo – Best meat
This is simply the best place to eat meat in Paris. William Bernet, a former butcher, will serve you perfectly dry aged meat and delicious “charcuterie” in his simple restaurant with just around 10 small tables. Definitely another highlight is his nice selection of cheese as well as the “tarte aux poires” (both for desert) and not to forget the lovely wine list containing beauties of the Côte du Rhône and Burgundy.
La Société – Chic and elegant
La Société is a chic and elegant restaurant located just in front of the church St. Germain-des-Près. If you want a night-out to remember, surrounded by beautiful people, than this is the place to go. A club-like, architectural dining-room, beautiful staff and delicious French/Asian-inspired food are awaiting you.
Au Pied de Fouet – Pure tradition
Au Pied de Fouet is a very traditional restaurant – not just regarding its interior design but also in relation to the dishes. It’s tiny, lively and you will find the typical French, red and white tablecloths. You will get all the traditional dishes in a great quality, such as “entrecôte”, “confit de canard” with smashed potatoes and so on. For desert, you should try either the “tart tatin” or the “moeulleux au chocolat”, which are both just delicious.
L‘as du falafel – Best falafel
This is definitely the best falafel that I ever had! They serve it with thinly sliced eggplant and hummus and many other ingredients of your choice. Just delicious! But be aware, there is always quite a long waiting line (which even extends at lunch-time), but it’s totally worth it.
Le derrière – Hip and fun
This is a hipster place, where you will instantly feel “at home”. There is a ping-pong table in the main room and for dining, you will be placed at the edge of a bed or on the window bench. Everything is just very friendly and cosy. The food they serve is best described as modern and innovative french cuisine.
Merci – Lunch after shopping trip
This is a department store with a nice small lunch place in front of it. You will get tasty salads and pie for lunch – a live saver after an exhausting shopping trip – which, by the way, the “Marais” is perfect for.
Breizh Café – Breton cuisine
If you are looking for some authentic food from the “Bretagne”, then this is the place to go! The Breizh Café offers the best “Crèpes and Gallettes” – and don’t forget to order a bottle of Breton Cider!
Marché des enfants rouges – Best sunday afternoon lunch
This is the oldest still existing market place in Paris. Next to many fruit and vegetable vendors, you will find food stalls and small restaurants preparing amazing take away dishes. We love for example the Lebanese stall serving mezze platters to their guests sitting around beautiful mosaic tables.
La Fidelité – Beautiful Brasserie
This is such a fun place: A combination of “Brasserie” and “underground club”. After some tasty bites, you may join the party one floor down. The location is beautifully decorated in the “art-nouveau style” – surrounded by stucco work and chandeliers, you will feel like a diva in the twenties.