Paris Food Guide: Where To Eat & Drink (2026)

PARIS | What’s there to say about French food that hasn’t been said before? It’s one of the most recognisable cuisines in the world, renowned for chefs, techniques, and dishes that have shaped culinary culture globally.

Paris is naturally one of the best places to experience French cuisine. The city is packed with brilliant bistros, cafes, bakeries, and patisseries, along with countless spots to enjoy exceptional wine, charcuterie, and cheese.

What’s less spoken about, though, is how much Paris’ dining scene has expanded in recent years. Deep-rooted immigrant communities, particularly from former French territories, have enriched the food landscape. Today, a new generation of contemporary restaurants seamlessly blend classical French technique with diverse global influences.

Local dining has also been transformed by well-travelled chefs pushing the boundaries of what French food can be, alongside a renewed focus on sustainable sourcing. Whether you’re chasing century-old tradition or cutting-edge innovation, the options are endless.

In this Paris Food Guide, I’ve put together my favourite places to experience the best food and drink in the city, organised by neighbourhood. Are any of your top spots listed below?

At-A-Glance: Best Places to Eat & Drink in Paris

1st & 2nd Arrondissement (Center & Opéra)

Harry’s New York Bar

Harry’s New York Bar is one of Paris’ iconic bars. Moved piece-by-piece from New York City in 1911, the bar is still owned and run by the family of original bartender, Harry MacElhone.

The dark, mahogany bar evokes memories of a time long passed, with historic college sports paraphernalia and old newspaper clippings dotted about. It’s a casual place, where you’ll encounter people from around the world conversing and singing together. There’s a piano bar in the basement, where George Gershwin composed ‘An American in Paris’. There’s over 400 cocktails and 350 whiskeys on the menu, with classics like the Bloody Mary, French 75, and Sidecar created here.

5 Rue Daunou, 75002 Paris

Hoppy Corner

Hoppy Corner is a cosy little spot to visit if you’re into craft beer. There’s 15 different beers on tap, with a focus on craft breweries from across France. You’ll also find collaborations and tap takeovers from breweries further afield, alongside pub and bistro classics if you’re hungry.

34 Rue des Petits Carreaux, 75002 Paris

Le BaB Opera

Le BaB Opera is a low key place close to the Place de l’Opéra that’s a great option for lovers of craft beer. There’s 11 mostly French craft beers of varying styles on tap, along with an impressive can and bottle list, cocktails, single malt whiskeys, and wine.

25 Rue Louis le Grand, 75002 Paris

Motors Coffee

Motors Coffee is a great spot if you’re looking for excellent coffee in Paris. It’s a modern space where you’ll find an assortment of hot and iced espresso and filter based coffees, made using beans roasted by some of the world’s top coffee roasters, alongside top-notch house-baked pastries.

7 Rue des Halles, 75001 Paris

Substance Café

Substance Café is a boutique 16-seat specialty coffee bar where coffee is treated with the precision of fine wine. Founder Joachim Morceau brews exceptional single-origin beans, guiding guests through nuanced tasting notes, pour-over techniques, and rare harvests.

30 Rue Dussoubs, 75002 Paris

Tanat

Formerly known as Kawa, Tanat is one of the best places for coffee in Paris. They source their beans from top coffee growers around the world and roast everything in-house, offering a tight selection of espresso and filter coffees with multiple rotating single-origin options. There’s currently four locations dotted across Paris, the address below is the location that I visited.

36 Rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris

3rd & 4th Arrondissement (Le Marais)

Bar Nouveau

Helmed by bartender Remy Savage, Bar Nouveau is inspired by the Art Nouveau movement. From the fittings to light fixtures and glassware, there is meticulous attention to detail imagining what a bar of that era would look like. The tight menu features six rotating cocktails that riff creatively on the classics.

5 Rue des Haudriettes, 75003 Paris

Bistrot Des Tournelles

Step inside Bistrot Des Tournelles and you might assume it has been around for over a century. Head chef Geoffroy Lalangella has put together a menu of well-executed bistro classics with an emphasis on technique and quality ingredients: oeufs mayonnaise, Provencal beef stew, and Cordon Bleu with comté and Prince de Paris ham.

6 Rue des Tournelles, 75004 Paris

Candelaria

Behind an excellent taqueria lies Candelaria‘s hidden speakeasy cocktail bar. In the low-lit back room you’ll find a menu filled with thematic, creative, seasonally inspired cocktails alongside an extensive selection of agave spirits.

52 Rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris

Caractère de Cochon

Dedicated to the best quality hams and cured meats from across France, Italy, and Spain, Caractère de Cochon is a tiny deli famed for its sublime jambon beurre sandwiches. Simple, unfussy, and high quality.

42 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris

City Of Light Coffee

Opened by Charles and Catalina, City of Light Coffee brews brilliant espresso and filter coffee using house-roasted beans served in custom ceramic cups. They also offer non-coffee drinks like limonada de coco alongside fresh baked brownies, cinnamon rolls, and croissants.

3 Rue Malher, 75004 Paris

La Patate Douce Bar & Radio

La Patate Douce Bar & Radio is a vibrant listening bar and cafe tucked away in Le Marais. Blending natural wines, craft beers, and creative small plates with an eclectic, warm vinyl soundtrack broadcast live, it’s a fantastic spot for a relaxed afternoon drink or late-night tunes.

54 Rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris

Le Mary Celeste

Le Mary Celeste remains one of the best places in Paris to experience contemporary French food and drink. Centred around a long u-shaped bar, the menu champions small French producers with subtle Asian and North African flourishes, accompanied by creative cocktails and minimal-intervention wines.

1 Rue Commines, 75003 Paris

Marché des Enfants Rouges

Dating back to 1615, Marché des Enfants Rouges is Paris’ oldest covered food market. It is a vibrant, buzzing spot filled with vendors selling fresh produce, cheeses, wines, and hot cooked meals reflecting global cuisines from former French territories.

39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris

The Cambridge Public House

Blending classic British pub hospitality with French culinary sophistication and world-class mixology, The Cambridge Public House is an award-winning cocktail pub in Le Marais. The rotating drinks menu features inventive, seasonal cocktails alongside local craft beers and comforting pub classics done right.

8 Rue de Poitou, 75003 Paris

Tiba

A welcoming neighbourhood coffee spot in Le Marais, Tiba serves exceptional specialty coffee alongside high-quality teas, matcha, and a small selection of excellent house-made cakes and pastries.

51 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris

6th & 7th Arrondissement (Saint-Germain & Left Bank)

BA/C

Formerly known as Racines des Prés, BA/C continues to be a standout destination for produce-driven French dining near Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The open kitchen serves a refined, seasonal menu that balances contemporary bistro fare with classic techniques, alongside an impressive list of minimal-intervention wines.

1 Rue de Gribeauval, 75007 Paris

Debauve & Gallais

Founded in 1800 by Sulpice Debauve, former chemist to King Louis XVI, Debauve & Gallais is famous for its Marie-Antoinette Pistoles and fine chocolates. They also carry artisanal black tea blends like Saints-Pères, infused with cocoa nibs and red berries. There are three locations around town, the one below is the original.

30 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75007 Paris

Jean-Paul Hévin

Developing his craft under Joël Robuchon, master chocolatier Jean-Paul Hévin crafts some of the finest chocolates, truffles, and cakes in Paris. Several of his boutiques include tearooms where you can sit down for chocolate drinks and delicate pastries.

Multiple locations

Pertinence

Pertinence is a Michelin-starred restaurant run by chefs Ryunosuke Naito and Kwen Liew. The elegant, intimate dining room sets the stage for refined French gastronomy executed with Japanese precision and subtle Asian accents.

29 Rue de l’Exposition, 75007 Paris

Pierre Hermé

Renowned globally for his legendary macarons, pastry chef Pierre Hermé produces unmatched flavour combinations. Look out for his signature Ispahan creation: a fragrant blend of rose, raspberry, and lychee featured across macarons, cakes, and croissants.

Multiple locations

Sadaharu Aoki

Pastry chef Sadaharu Aoki seamlessly combines Japanese ingredients like matcha, black sesame, and yuzu with classic French pastry techniques. Highlights include the matcha éclair and the zen cake, layering sesame pastry, matcha dacquoise, and white chocolate cream.

Multiple locations

9th & 11th Arrondissement (Bastille, Oberkampf & Canal)

Acmé

Pastry chef Margot Delacroix and sommelier Lucas Moissonnier’s restaurant, Acmé, evokes the welcoming atmosphere of 1980s Paris. The regularly changing tasting menu combines global influences with French technique, paired thoughtfully with regional wines.

16 Rue de l’Asile Popincourt, 75011 Paris

Au Passage

Au Passage is a bustling, low-key bistro tucked away in a covered arcade. Famous for its small, market-driven share plates and natural wines, it offers an unpretentious, lively dining atmosphere loved by locals.

1 bis Passage Saint-Sébastien, 75011 Paris

Au Petit Panisse

Housed in a former butcher shop with period tiles, Au Petit Panisse captures the charm of a classic Parisian bistro. The kitchen uses top-quality seasonal French produce alongside a great natural wine list, and is conveniently open on Mondays.

35 Rue de Montreuil, 75011 Paris

Le Servan

Run by French-Filipina sisters Katia and Tatiana Levha, Le Servan blends French culinary technique with vibrant Southeast Asian flavours. Dishes feature organic produce directly sourced from sustainable local producers, paired with a great minimal-intervention wine list.

32 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris

Mokoloco

Created by Omar Koreitem and Moko Hirayama (the team behind Mokonuts), Mokoloco hosts rotating chef residencies. It provides a platform for emerging talent to showcase unique global culinary concepts over several weeks or months.

74 Rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris

Picotte

Picotte celebrates regional French gastronomy with inventive, seasonal bistro dishes made for sharing. Set in a bright space in the 11th arrondissement, the menu highlights traditional recipes from across France’s provinces brought into a modern light.

42 Rue de Malte, 75011 Paris

Septime

Bertrand Grébaut and Théophile Pourriat’s Septime is one of Paris’ most celebrated neobistros. Holding a Michelin star and a Green Star for sustainability, it offers creative, produce-forward tasting menus served in a stripped-back, industrial-chic space.

80 Rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris

Union Boulangerie

Union Boulangerie produces exceptional artisan sourdoughs, cornbreads, and classic viennoiserie using top-tier French ingredients. Don’t miss their seasonal patisserie, flaky croissants, and pain au chocolat.

2 Rue Bleue, 75009 Paris

14th & 19th Arrondissement (Montparnasse & Outer Paris)

Gilou

Set in a former butcher shop near Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Gilou focuses on seasonal, ingredient-driven cooking. Co-owner/chef Chris Woolard brings English and international culinary notes to contemporary French bistro fare, paired with minimal-intervention wines.

9 Rue du Tunnel, 75019 Paris

La Crêperie de Josselin

Located in Montparnasse, La Crêperie de Josselin specialises in authentic, butter-crisped Breton buckwheat galettes and sweet crêpes. Pair your galette with traditional Breton cider served in ceramic bowls for a quintessential meal.

67 Rue du Montparnasse, 75014 Paris

Planning a trip to Paris? Check out my guide to 48 Hours In Paris for top tips on things to do across the city.