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Guide to the Best Restaurants in Paris

(updated 20 April 2011)

So you've bought your Eurostar ticket, reserved the hotel, and you're ready for a weekend in Paris, lapping up that Gallic culture, wiling away the hours sipping espressos on café terraces. But no trip to the French capital would be complete without a visiting some of the excellent restaurants the city has to offer. Full list of Paris Restaurants

I remember when I arrived in Paris, my first nervous restaurant visits - speaking hardly enough french to string a sentence together - the only thought in my head was the (rightly deserved) reputation of french waiters to be arrogant and impolite. Well I soon realised that if you know where to look, you can find excellent restaurants, with friendly service. So after a lot of testing, here's the list of some of my favourite Paris restaurants.

Pramil - Simple but delicious french cuisine, in a somewhat refined setting, quieter atmosphere, direct view into the kitchen from the restaurant. Menu at 35 €, very good selection of wines (some a bit pricey though). The wine by the glass is very good and very reasonable. The restaurant is easy to get to, 3 minutes walk from Republique metro.

Le Petit Marché

At first glance, this restaurant looks like a typical parisian bistrot, a part from the groups of people waiting in the road. But once you take your table (you may have to wait a good 20 minutes if you arrive at peak times) you will discover the menu with asian influences - tuna with sesame seed salafd or beansprout salad starters, and a wide selection of fish main courses. A mixed clientele - french and international.

Bistrot/Wine Bar

La Robe et le Palais - right in the centre of Paris, just next to the 'theatre de Chatelet', minutes from either Les Halles, Chatelet or Hotel de Ville Metro, this typically french bistrot serves a wide range of classic french dishes in an authentic environment. The choice of wine is excellent, you can buy a bottle, or drink by the glass, allowing you to match different wines with the different courses. The Waiters are knowlegable and can always recommend a good wine to complement your meal.

Au vieux comptoir This is a typical french bistro, right in the center of Paris, great atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food. The wine list is very comprehensive too. It can get very busy, so you definately need to reserve.

Classic Bistrot Style

Julien is a typical french restaurant. traditional decor, with lots of dark wood and mirrors. The food is fairly traditional too, lots of steaks, not so good if you are vegetarian

Flo - more discreet, with wonderful decor, down a quiet side street just off Rue du Faubourg st Denis.

Terminus nord - very busy, typical french bistrot, just opposite Gare du Nord, is often full so be sure to reserve. As an added bonus, if its your birthday, the waiters will sing Happy Birthday (in french) to you

Cheap and Cheerful Restaurants

You dont have to extend the limit on your credit card to eat well in Paris, and La Fresque is proof of that. Just outside Les Halles, the monstrous 1970s shopping centre in the centre of Paris, this restaurant has a terrace where you can sit and watch paris go by. The terrace is heated in winter so you can do this at any time of year. the food changes regularly, depending on the season, and what is available at the market, and the wine is always good, and most wines are available in smaller pitchers if you dont want a full bottle

Vegetarian Restaurants in Paris

Le Potager du Marais - less than 5 minutes walk from the pompidou centre, this tiny restaurant has a wide selection of vegetarian, organic dishes. its a non-smoking restaurant too, which makes a change in Paris.

Another excellent vegetarian restaurant is Le Grenier de Notre Dame - on the left bank, a stones throw from the banks of the Seine, and just minutes from Notre Dame Cathedral. This tiny vegetarian restaurant serves a wide selection of quiches and salades, amongst other options, and the portions are very generous.

Other vegetarian restaurants in Paris

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