Where to Eat in Paris

Breakfast, Bakeries and Coffee

Paul

Location: They’re everywhere! It’s a big chain around the world but based in France.
Restaurant Atmosphere: Cafe atmosphere, where most locations have tables with seating outside.
What We Tried: I’ve tried a lot of things, including the chocolate tarts (my favorite), pain au chocolat, and sesame and camembert sandwich.

La Cafotheque

Location: Not far from Notre Dame
Restaurant Atmosphere: This is a really nice breakfast restaurant with amazing coffee. They also have a baristas’ training program in the back of the restaurant.
What We Tried: I had a cappuccino, Sam had a latte, and we both had croissants. They were our favorite coffees and one of our favorite croissants in Paris.

Terres de Cafe

Location: Near the Eiffel Tower
Restaurant Atmosphere: It’s super small on the inside with only a couple tables, but several tables outside.
What We Tried: I had a hot chocolate and Sam had a coffee. They were both good!

Caoua

Location: Across the street from the Canal
Restaurant Atmosphere: This is a super cute coffee shop with two stories. We ate upstairs by a window and looked out on the canal and people passing by below us.
What We Tried: We both got coffees and pain au chocolats.

A la Bonne Biere

Location: Right across the street from the end of the canal.
Restaurant Atmosphere: Typical Parisian cafe.
What We Tried: I got a combination breakfast with hot chocolate, freshly squeezed orange juice, pain au chocolat, and bread with jam.

Laduree

Location: There are several locations, but we went to the one on Rue Cler.
Restaurant Atmosphere: This is just a small shop where you can buy macarons, baked goods, and coffee. They have a few tables outside.
What We Tried: I got the chocolate and pecan-maple macarons.

Lunch & Dinner

La Coïncidence

Location: Between the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe
Restaurant Atmosphere: Cozy and quaint. Most tables were for two people and the tables were pretty close together.
What We Tried: This was our favorite meal in Paris! We started by splitting a roasted camembert cheese with honey. For our main courses, I had the duck breast with honey sauce and Sam had the sirloin with peppercorn sauce. For dessert, we had crème brûlée. Everything was fantastic.

Chez Janou

Location: Le Marais
Restaurant Atmosphere: This is a super cute, popular bistro. We tried to come here our second night around 8pm, but they were fully booked, so we came back the next night when they opened at 7pm. They had a lot of reservations, so we almost didn’t get a table. We ended up outside, which was fine with us. We were seated at a four person table with two other girls, and we ended up talking to them throughout the meal.
What We Tried: We split an appetizer of mushrooms, main of pasta with escargot, and chocolate mousse. Everything was amazing! The bowl of chocolate mousse was literally the size of a mixing bowl. We shared it with our table neighbors. Best mousse I’ve ever had and ever will have!

Les Caves Saint Gilles

Location: Le Marais
Restaurant Atmosphere: We tried to go to Chez Janou our first full day, but they were fully booked for the night, so we went down the block to a cute restaurant we had noticed on our way there. We walked in, not having seen the menu and learned that they have Spanish cuisine here.
What We Tried: I got the risotto with scallops and Sam had the paella. It was the best risotto I’ve ever had!

Dai Dai

Location: Le Marais
Restaurant Atmosphere: Really cute pizza and wine bar. We walked by here on our way to dinner our first night and stopped back for a drink after we ate.
What We Tried: We got an Italian wine called Abruzzo from Montepulciano. So delicious!

Le Barav

Location: Le Marais
Restaurant Atmosphere: This is a charcuterie and wine bar. It was really crowded when we arrived, but there are several tables outside. We snagged a table outside under the heat lamps.
What We Tried: We got a mixed charcuterie plate and wine for our first meal of the trip.

Pink Mamma

Location: Montmartre
Restaurant Atmosphere: This Italian restaurant is so cool! Four stories filled with plants and vintage photos. What more could you want? Oh yeah and the food is incredible!
What We Tried: I got the pasta with bolognese sauce and Sam got a pork shank with potatoes. Our drinks were also fun and tasty!

Le Depart

Location: Latin Quarter
Restaurant Atmosphere: This is a cafe, where you can sit outside or inside. We sat outside, and despite the cold, the heating lamps kept us nice and warm.
What We Tried: I had a sandwich on a baguette and Sam got French onion soup.

Chez Claude

Location: Near the Louvre
Restaurant Atmosphere: This bistro was fairly quiet when we came in for lunch before going to the Louvre. A couple tour groups came in and out and sat in the back of the restaurant.
What We Tried: We both got French onion soup with a baguette topped with cheese. It hit the spot!

L’Abreuvoir

Location: Near the Eiffel Tower
Restaurant Atmosphere: This restaurant was so cute and the staff were very friendly. We came here for a late lunch our last day after the Eiffel Tower.
What We Tried: I got a burger and it was good!

Brooklyn Pizzeria

Location: Le Marais
Restaurant Atmosphere: We stopped here for drinks before dinner one night because the atmosphere was great. There is even a large table where all of the seats are swings!
What We Tried: We took advantage of their happy hour drink specials.

Cafe du Trocadero

Location: Trocadero
Restaurant Atmosphere: We sat outside on the cafe’s front porch that was mostly covered. The best part was the amazing view of the Eiffel Tower.
What We Tried: We both got freshly squeezed orange juice (which was a rip off at $8.50/glass) and croissants. Everything was pretty good but I would skip it in the future.