"Where to eat in Paris?" is the question I get asked most, and honestly it's also the hardest. There are thousands of restaurants, and most of my favorite spots are on the Right Bank, often over near République and the eastern side of the city. So instead of an endless list, I've put together one address per craving. Just one, the place I'd send a friend to every single time.
Street Food: Alain Miam Miam
For eating on the go, head to Alain Miam Miam, in front of the Marché des Enfants Rouges in the 3rd. Alain makes the most generous sandwiches you wonder how they still close. Bring some patience, there's often a line, but it's well worth it.
Bakery: Plein Coeur
For a bakery, my pick is Plein Coeur, in the Batignolles in the 17th. It's the house of Maxime Frédéric, the pastry chef of Cheval Blanc, and you can taste it. The vanilla flan and the Paris Brest are among the best in the city, not to mention the viennoiseries. It's a little detour off the tourist path, but you won't regret it.
French Bistro: Chez Fred
Craving a real old school French bistro? Go to Chez Fred, on Boulevard Pereire in the 17th. It's a former Lyonnais bouchon that opened in 1945, with white tablecloths and vintage posters, and the kind of saucy cooking that hasn't budged in decades. Œuf mayo and pike quenelle on the menu, a sunny terrace the moment the weather turns. It’s famous for its cheese platter, with more than 50 different ones. Don’t miss it! It's old Paris, and it's still going strong.
Pastries: Le Loir dans la Théière
For something sweet, I'll send you to Le Loir dans la Théière, on Rue des Rosiers in the Marais. It's a tea room as cozy as they come, with vintage decor and mismatched armchairs. Their lemon meringue tart is absolutely huge and it's what made the place famous. Come on a weekday to skip the weekend line.
Coffee Shop: Recto Verso
For coffee, my spot is Recto Verso, on Rue Portefoin, still in the Marais. A warm little wood paneled room, big windows, really good coffee, and nice homemade pastries to go with it. The owners are lovely, and you feel at home right away.
International Food: Our House
For a break from French cooking, go to Our House, on Rue Coquillière in the 1st. It's a tiny Japanese counter, barely fifteen seats, run by the Dreamin' Man team. At lunch they serve a teishoku, that Japanese tray with lots of small balanced dishes. It's simple, precise, and it takes you straight to Tokyo for the length of a lunch.
For a Date: Early June
For a date night, my choice is Early June, near the Canal Saint Martin in the 10th. It's a natural wine bar that invites chefs from all over the world to cook in rotation, so the menu changes all the time. The vibe is young and lively, a bit like a slightly fancy dinner party. Get there early, they don't take reservations for fewer than four people.
Brunch: On Partage
For brunch, head to On Partage, on Rue de Charonne in the 11th. It's a small coffee focused canteen, mostly vegetarian, with a menu that changes daily and excellent specialty coffee. I also love that they have 3 ecotable, very responsible for the environment. On weekends people come for the homemade brunch, and the mood is soft and warm. Try to go early, the room is small.
Wine Bar: Superfine
For a drink, go to Superfine, in the 11th between Bastille and Charonne, in the former Motel space. You'll find a great selection of natural wines and seriously sharp cocktails, with street food to go alongside. It's lively, a bit of a dive bar at heart, perfect for ending the night.
Fine Dining: Alan Geaam
And for a big meal, real fine dining, book a table at Alan Geaam, on Rue Lauriston in the 16th. The chef came from Lebanon with nothing and earned a Michelin star with refined French cooking threaded through with Lebanese flavors. It's as much a beautiful story as it is a beautiful meal. Save it for a special occasion.
And for Everything Else, My Paris Map
Here I've given you one address per craving, but in real life you'll want more than a single restaurant per category. The problem, once you're here, is not spending your trip hunting for where to eat and comparing reviews for hours. That's why I built my Paris guide as a map.
It isn't just a list of addresses. Everything is pulled together in one place, my restaurants, my cafés, my bars, my bakeries, more than 600 places pinned on a single map you open in two seconds. You download it once and it works offline, so you don't need a signal or data to find somewhere to eat, even at the last minute. You look at what's good around you, and off you go.
And you'll discover far more than what you came looking for. People often buy it for a few good tables, and they leave with hundreds of discoveries they never would have thought of. That's my whole goal: to help you eat in Paris like a local, not like a tourist who falls into the first trap they walk past.
The full map and its 600+ addresses, is right here:
And for all my Paris discoveries, come find me on Instagram: @ellevousguide