Wine and Food Lovers' Guide to Paris: Where to Eat and Drink in the City of Light
Welcome to my Paris food and wine guide! Wondering where to eat in Paris? This blog post lists all of my favorite places to eat and drink wine in Paris, from casual restaurants for lunch to fancy dinner spots and the best wine bars.
I’ve been lucky to visit the City of Light three times now, and I can easily say it is one of my top two favorite cities in the world - an oenophile’s paradise.
As someone who travels mostly to eat delicious food and drink good wine, I take my restaurant recommendations very seriously…so I hope you enjoy this list of my favorite places to wine and dine in Paris.
Note: At the end of this post, you’ll find a Google Map with all of the restaurants and wine bars mentioned here. Be sure to save it to your app for easy navigating!
Wine and Food Lovers' Guide to Paris: Where to Eat and Drink in the City of Light
I hope you’ll save this list of the best restaurants and wine bars in Paris for your next trip! If you give any of these a try, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you have any other recommendations I should try, feel free to drop them in the comments.
If you’re interested in a culinary-inspired adventure, I highly recommend booking a food tour with Secret Food Tours - use my code LEXI10 for a discount and feel free to check out my review of the experience here.
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RESTAURANTS
For Dinner
Starting out with my some of my go-to places for dinner in Paris, this list names the best restaurants for date nights, solo dinners, or late-night meetups with friends. Per usual, I highly recommend booking reservations in advance when possible, as these gems can fill up quickly.
Le Clown Bar
114 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris, France (11th Arrondissement)
Enjoy seasonal bistro cuisine in a vintage clown meeting room. Yes, starting in 1907, this building served as the official rendezvous for circus artists from around the world. The walls are still decorated with original ceramic depictions of clowns and the building was established as a historic monument in 1995. Dining here really does feel like you’re experiencing a slice of historical extravaganza.
Along with the fantastical environment, Clown Bar plates delicious bites from traditional beef tartare and seasonal vegetables to fresh fish filets and crab-filled pastries.
The wine selection changes frequently and focuses on minimal intervention, natural wines from France and beyond.
Bistrot Paul Bert
18 Rue Paul Bert, 75011 Paris, France (11th Arrondissement)
If you’re looking for steak frites, this is the place. Established in 1997, Bistrot Paul Bert is a charming restaurant with an iconic menu, wine list, and ambiance.
We celebrated my fiance’s birthday here with a bottle of Beaujolais, steak frites for the table, and the seasonal white asparagus. This is a RICH meal, so come hungry.
Le Bistrot d'Henri
16 Rue Princesse, 75006 Paris, France (6th Arrondissement)
I love this restaurant so much, I dined here twice in one week. Located in the 6th arrondissement, Le Bistrot d'Henri is a warm, inviting option for dinner after a day exploring Paris’s charming Saint-Germain neighborhood.
It’s quaint, cozy, and everything you want in a French bistrot. As a solo traveler, I felt comfortable here as the owner is kind and hospitable - he even sat me in the warmest corner table with a perfect vantage point for people watching.
Classic dishes like roasted duck or beef bourguignon (paired with Bordeaux) are musts here.
Le Servan
32 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris, France (11th Arrondissement)
Founded by two sisters, Le Servan served one of the best meals we’ve had in Paris. It feels more modern and experimental, but the food is incredible and unique - “French bistro with an Asian twist”.
Le Machon d’Henri
8 Rue Guisarde, 75006 Paris, France (6th Arrondissement)
Another hole-in-the-wall gem in the 6th arrondissement, Le Machon d'Henri is a casual French restaurant boasting French delicacies like bone marrow accompanied by fresh goat cheese salad. It’s a cozy spot for lunch or dinner and a glass of house wine, especially after a few hours spent bopping around the charming Saint-Germain neighborhood.
Image courtesy of @lallerretourparis on Instagram
L’Aller Retour Marais
5 Rue Charles-François Dupuis, 75003 Paris, France (3rd Arrondissement)
This is another great place for steak frites. Stumbling into this dark, moody restaurant at 11pm on a rainy Parisian night is one of my favorite travel memories. It’s a lively late night vibe and the steak frites are straight to the point - high quality and simple.
While all of these options are amazing, of course I have a few favorites that I’ll always return to. Check out my Instagram post below to see my top three picks for dinner in Paris.
For Lunch or casual meals
For a midday lunch break or a quick, unplanned dinner, check out these equally delicious restaurants in Paris.
Les Enfants du Marché
Marché des, 39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, France (3rd Arrondissement)
This is a hidden treasure located within the oldest food market in Paris established in 1615, Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges. Trust me, this is a must on your next trip to Paris.
The fresh seafood menu rotates regularly, and they offer an ever-changing selection of natural wines to pair. It’s a lively atmosphere with bar-seating only, and the owner is likely there enjoying natural wine and grooving to vibey tunes.
The mussels with gorgonzola are one of the original menu items and a must order. This is a place you’ll want to hang out all afternoon, especially on a sunny day.
Benchy
50 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Paris, France (6th Arrondissement)
An unexpected treat for me in Paris, this traditional Japanese sandwich window is to-die-for. I highly recommend the pastrami (random, I know) and the egg salad. Perfect for an afternoon snack or late lunch.
La Grande Épicerie de Paris
38 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris, France (6th Arrondissement)
This is basically Disneyland for any foodie. Wander around the multiple floors of French delicacies and be sure to grab some souvenirs to bring home.
There are also a few casual dining options for takeout, or a quick meal. We ate at the truffle restaurant and ordered the rigatoni - it was better than we could have expected.
Planning a trip? Check out these top tours and activities in Paris:
WINE BARS
As a full time wine lover and educator, you know I had to check out some of Paris’s best wine bars. This list includes some of my favorite wine bars to grab a glass before or after dinner.
Folderol
10 Rue du Grand Prieuré, 75011 Paris, France (11th Arrondissement)
If you’re like me and your two favorite things are wine and ice cream, this is a must stop. They make their own ice cream accompanied by an array of natural wines. It’s a fun spot to hang after dinner and enjoy some dessert.
Delicatessen Place
7 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris, France (11th Arrondissement)
A tiny spot with a rotating selection of minimal intervention wines and seasonal bites. You might have trouble finding a seat, but don’t worry, you can drink your wine on the street in true Parisian fashion.
Image courtesy of @compagniestgermain Instagram
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
7 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris, France (6th Arrondissement)
A moody gem in the heart of Saint Germain with a diverse selection of hundreds of wines. I stopped by for a glass of champagne at the bar before heading to dinner nearby and it was a treat.
Liquiderie Cave
9 Rue des Trois Bornes, 75011 Paris, France (11th Arrondissement)
This little bottle shop has a great selection of natural, organic, and biodynamic wines to-go, or you can settle into one of the four stools in the back of the shop to taste what’s on draft for the day. Yes, wines on draft.
Planche
30-32 Rue du Sentier, 75002 Paris, France (2nd Arrondissement)
Hidden in the Hoxton Hotel, Planche is a cozy wine bar with unique small plates, like banana and bacon arepas, or mustard and truffle-stuffed burrata.
The wine selection focuses on minimal intervention, and the hospitality is 10/10 - our server let us try basically every wine before we committed to a few glasses.
By the way, I also highly recommend staying at the Hoxton Hotel on your next trip to Paris. Book your room here.
Here’s a map of all the restaurants and wine bars mentioned in this post. Be sure to save this to your Google Maps app for easy navigating!
I will continue updating this blog post after future trips to Paris, so be sure to bookmark this page for easy access. In the meantime, I hope this list hopes you plan the ultimate food and wine inspired trip!
If you enjoyed this post, check out this list of my favorite restaurants and wine bars in Copenhagen.
If you’d like to learn more about how to taste wine like a pro and get to know your palate on a deeper level, book an in-person or virtual wine tasting with me. And if you interested in trying new wines, you’d love my Wine Tasting Club - it’s like a book club, but for virtual wine tastings.
Ready to further your wine education? Enroll in a WSET class today and use code LexiStephens for a discount.
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