Paris restaurants Fall 2025

[chachalaca]

Well, my last request had a lot of views, but no suggestions. So, let me open this up to general Paris eateries and I'll try again.

Generally, we're open to anything. We often prefer hole-in-the-wall excellent food over "THE place to be". Any suggestions? It's been a while since we've been in Paris, so don't assume we already have a list!

Restaurants, wine bars, lunch restaurants, traiteurs or picnic supply shops, international, traditional - any and all suggestions welcome.

Thank you all!
Laura

 

[DonPolo]

Well, my last request had a lot of views, but no suggestions. So, let me open this up to general Paris eateries and I'll try again.

Generally, we're open to anything. We often prefer hole-in-the-wall excellent food over "THE place to be". Any suggestions? It's been a while since we've been in Paris, so don't assume we already have a list!

Restaurants, wine bars, lunch restaurants, traiteurs or picnic supply shops, international, traditional - any and all suggestions welcome.

Thank you all!
Laura

You should checkout the Bouillon style of restaurants. They were very popular in the 1800s but went into decline in the back half of last century. However the have made a revival. Beautiful decor, traditional food, great service and astonishingly low prices for Paris. Some specific suggestions below.



AI Overview

+8

A bouillon restaurant is a type of traditional French establishment, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that serves traditional French cuisine at affordable prices in large, historic dining rooms, offering simple, hearty meals like those made with broth (bouillon). The concept was to provide everyone, especially workers, with access to good food in a beautiful setting without the high costs of fine dining.

Key Characteristics

• Affordable Prices:
  Bouillons offer traditional dishes at very low prices, making them accessible to people of all means.
  
  
• Spacious & Historic:
  They are characterized by their large, grand dining rooms and often feature charming, historical decor.
  
  
• Traditional French Cuisine:
  The menus focus on classic, hearty French dishes, with the name "bouillon" referring to the rich broth that was central to the original concept.
  
  
• Fast Service:
  Service is typically quick, fitting the original purpose of serving busy workers.
  
  
• Simple Menu:
  The choice of dishes is often limited, with a focus on quality ingredients and traditional preparation.
  

Historical Context

• Origin:
  The concept emerged in Paris in the late 19th century as a response to the exclusivity of fine dining, with the goal of democratizing access to good food for the working class and the public at large.
  
  
• Market Halls:
  Initially intended for workers in places like the city's central market, Les Halles, bouillons provided nutritious and inexpensive meals.
  
  
• A Revival:
  The concept has seen a recent revival in Paris and beyond, with iconic establishments like Le Bouillon Chartier and Bouillon Julien continuing the tradition of providing accessible, traditional French dining.

Bouillon Chartier: Some of the best Bouillons in Paris https://share.google/onvtdCKjMgyuGnars

 

[DonPolo]

There is also Bofinger. It is located at 5-7 Rue de la Bastille, 75004 Paris, near the Place de la Bastille. It is a historic brasserie established in 1864, known for its classic Alsace specialties, seafood, and stunning skylight. It's prices are a little higher but the have set menus which are a little lower.

As a sidelight, in each of Alan Furst’s 14 novels about spies—not spy novels, he insists there is a difference—characters inevitably end up dining at Brasserie Heininger in Paris. The fictional restaurant, based on the real Brasserie Bofinger, with its opulent marble staircase and shucked oysters, represents the glamour and the joie de vivre of 1930s Paris, a city he calls “the heart of civilization.”

 

[chachalaca]

DonPolo, Thank you so much. We've been to France (and Paris) many times and I've never heard of the bouillon style restaurant! I'm eager to pore over the link you included.

We have been to Bofinger, many years ago, and it was a feast for the eyes and dinner was pretty good. I am now going to also do a deep dive into Alan Furst to see if he and I are "on the same page". I enjoy a good book about spies every now and then.

I really appreciate the time and thought you took to reply. I'll report back in November.

Laura

 

[DonPolo]

My pleasure Laura, I'm very grateful for the advice I've received from this site. A little research and cut and paste is the least I can do. And yes, I found the story around the Bouillon fascinating; how they grew out of butchers making soup out of their offcuts to feed workers and how they gradually morphed into good value restaurants. The food is nothing fancy (not like the decor) but it IS traditional (some might say clichéd but not me) French fare.

And FYI I have read all 14 of Alan Furst's spy novels and thoroughly enjoyed them. PS there is no bullet in a mirror at the actual Boffinger (you'll know what I'm talking about if you read one of the novels). So when I had a chance, I just had to visit the restaurant since it is a quasi character in its own right.

Each book takes place largely from 1941 to 1945 and while not all of the characters are in every novel, many of them drop in and out of multiple novels if only for a brief time, so it's a bit of fun.

 

[Karen Frerichs]

I often check one of the many newsletters about food in Paris... one is Paris by Mouth.
Their website lists restaurants by arrondissement, so you can find places locally.

On my last trip to Paris, a year ago, a friend found a nice place in the 11th, just by walking around.
We went, nice, not crowded, seemed like a lot of people stopping by for take-out. It was quite good.
La Villaret 13, rue Ternaux in the 11th, which has become a hot spot for new restos.

PS: Alan Furst also a fave of mine!

 

[DonPolo]

I often check one of the many newsletters about food in Paris... one is Paris by Mouth.
Their website lists restaurants by arrondissement, so you can find places locally.

On my last trip to Paris, a year ago, a friend found a nice place in the 11th, just by walking around.
We went, nice, not crowded, seemed like a lot of people stopping by for take-out. It was quite good.
La Villaret 13, rue Ternaux in the 11th, which has become a hot spot for new restos.

PS: Alan Furst also a fave of mine!

 

[Steve R.]

There's a food website called HungryOnion.org. Its France website is very strong & includes several who live in Paris and others who spend quite a bit of time there.

That being said, from my own stays (all in various spots in the 11th) over the past several years, I've liked the several meals we've had at Bofinger. I've also liked the mix of locals and tourists at Aux Bons Crus. And I'd recommend Amarante and the well known L'Ami Jean. Since we stay a month or so each time & hardly eat "at home", I have a longish list of places we've also liked if you wish. All different levels, all below Michelin starred places.

 

[chachalaca]

Karen, Thank you for that reminder! I'll check Paris by Mouth.
And Steve, I will also visit HungryOnion as well as the restaurants you mentioned above. I'd love to peek at your list!

Thank you both so much,
Laura

 

[Steve R.]

If you like local non-fussy places with virtually no English spoken, we really liked L'Aubergeade. I wrote about it on HungryOnion and I think included some pictures. Le Colimacon is another easy going place, albeit more well known by tourists (the owner's daughter is a NYC based "influencer"). Good food & down to earth atmosphere though. Although it's well known & can have a room full of tourists, Fish La Boissinneire has good vibes and food. And it's only a couple of doors away from Huguette, our favorite place to sit out front at a street side table and eat oysters & fried baitfish, while drinking decent wines by the glass. We also liked Le Chardenoux, Octobre, Baca'v, Le Mazenay & Perception although they're all a bit pricier. Dilia was our favorite Italian place & Caspian our favorite Iranian.
Don't know when you were last in Paris, but the Musee Carnavalet (Paris History Museum) in the Marais re-opened several years ago and is excellent (& free). And the Marches at St. Ouen, pretty far up in the north of Paris, is a huge array of antiques, big and small, and artwork (good and bad). We also usually spend several hours at whatever is happening at Atelier des Lumiere.
Too much?

 

[mpstrong]

The restaurants that I have enjoyed very much and visited over the past 2 years include La Jacobine (6th), Le Florimond (7th), Le Bistrot d’Henri (6th), Chez Fernand (6th), L’Ange 20 (4th), and Les Papilles (5th). I ate at La Jacobine 3 times during my last trip when I stayed in the St Germaine area and loved everything I ordered. Its negative is that they do not take reservations by phone or email. We had to either get lucky showing up early, or make a reservation at lunchtime for the evening or next day. Les Papilles is a cute wine bar/restaurant with primarily a set menu of 3 courses each day. Very friendly service and very good food, reasonably priced. I enjoyed Le Bistrot d’Henri and Chez Fernand, neighborhood restaurants with a blackboard menu (escargot, beef bourgignon, etc). One last thought is a restaurant I have eaten at on two separate trips, Les Enfants Rouges. The chef is Japanese and the food is wonderful. I just realized it now has a Michelin star.

 

[chachalaca]

Steve and mpstrong, MERCI beaucoup! You have both included ideas that will 1. keep me engaged and intrigued as I check them all out and 2. well-fed during our stay.

I cannot thank you enough!

 

[mpstrong]

I will keep track of this thread. I am leaving on a solo trip to Paris for 5 days then Italy (Rome, Montepulciano, and Bologna for 2 weeks. Always looking for new restaurants.

 

[IslaWanderlight]

Well, my last request had a lot of views, but no suggestions. So, let me open this up to general Paris eateries and I'll try again.

Generally, we're open to anything. We often prefer hole-in-the-wall excellent food over "THE place to be". Any suggestions? It's been a while since we've been in Paris, so don't assume we already have a list!

Restaurants, wine bars, lunch restaurants, traiteurs or picnic supply shops, international, traditional - any and all suggestions welcome.

Thank you all!
Laura

If you’re in Paris this fall, check out Le Comptoir du Relais for classic French food, Septime for something more modern, and Chez L’Ami Jean if you want hearty comfort dishes. Perfect time to enjoy long lunches and cozy wine bars.

 

[chachalaca]

Thank you so much!

 

[Steve R.]

I found the Hungry Onion thread that the L'Aubergeade posts & photos were in: www.hungryonion.org/t/paris-traditional-in-11th/36002

 

[chachalaca]

I'm getting lost in The H.O. and all of your recommendations here. It's been great fun. We don't leave until the end of October, so I'm still "collecting" suggestions. In the mean time I am very hungry!

 

[chachalaca]

We're back and ate well in Paris. I'll be brief and highlight the best.
Dinner at Verjus was incredible, the wine pairing was not. Wish we'd just ordered off the wine list. Home grown food, prix fixe tasting menu and wonderful service. There's a reason they've been around since their "Hidden Kitchen" dinners.
Dinner at Au Petit Riche was also wonderful. Historically beautiful dining room and a traditional menu & excellent service.
French tapas (!) at Le Tire-Bouchon Rodier was fun and delicious. Great food, creative menu and felt like a way to have a lighter dinner without sacrificing taste. Interesting wine list, not a lot of depth, but good solid choices (there are selections "du moment". So you have a pinot noir du moment, a Bordeaux du moment, etc..
Lunch at La Riotte was fabulous! Excellent service. Everything is house-made and the day we were there the house was exceptionally fun. Finally found oeufs en meurette on a lunch menu!

We were only in Paris for 5 nights, so all in all not bad.
Thank you for all of your help and direction. Some restaurants you all suggested didn't have openings the nights we were in town or were closed. I used Hungry Onion obsessively for other parts of the trip as well. I appreciate everyone's input and experiences.

Laura