Paris' most sophisticated dining spots

No city in the world can rival Paris when to comes to eating and drinking. As the world’s greatest gastronomic city, you’ll want to make a lot of time for dining in Paris.

Chateaubriand

129 avenue de Parmentier Arr. 11 METRO: Goncourt

Ranked at number 27 on the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Chateaubriand is overseen by self-taught chef Inaki Aizpitarte whose Michelin star nose-snubbing style has been described as ‘cuisine de vagabond’. There’s a 65 Euro tasting menu and a sizeable waiting list.

Le Wood

Almost Scandinavian, the seating at Marais hipster eatery Le Wood Paris

1 place Thorigny Arr. 3 METRO: Chemin Vert

The bar area of the funky Marais eatery Le Wood

Le Wood is a funky little restaurant tucked away in the Marais, run by hipsters and serving seriously delicious food for relatively reasonable Paris prices.

Join the Marais groovers at the bar of le Wood

Patisserie Carette 

Sweet treats and light lunches are the meal d’jour at Carette.

25 place des Vosges Arr. 3 METRO: Chemin Vert The original Patisserie Carette was founded in 1927 at Trocadéro, and its Place des Vosges outlet with its pretty salon and outdoor seating is perfect for tea and sweets or a light lunch.

Le Pré aux Clercs 

Le Pré aux Clerks is a famous local brasserie without the tourists,

30 rue Bonaparte Arr. 6 METRO: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Hang out at a favourite of Ernest Hemingway, Le Pré aux Clercs without hordes of tourists.

Le Pré aux Clercs in Saint-Germain-des-Prés was a hangout of Ernest Hemingway back in the day and is not as touristy as Brasserie Lipp, Café Flores or Les Deux Magots around the corner.

Cosy up in the corner at Le Pré aux Clercs

Welcome Café

The dining room at the Welcome Cafe is heaving during Fashion Week.

210 Rue de Rivoli Arr. 1 METRO: Tuileries

The chandalier at the Welcome Café

On the Rue de Rivoli, Welcome Café is jumping during Fashion Week when the fashionistas spill out of shows nearby and take a seat for unctuous Gratin Onion Soup and petit servings of fois gras.

Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée

25 avenue Montaigne Arr. 8 METRO: Alma Marceau

Now reopened with the Plaza Athénée itself, Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée features a mod white-on-white dining room and some of the best food in the world from one of the world’s undisputed best chefs.

Mariage Frères

A tea (or should that be thé) experience like no other on Faubourg Saint-Honoré

260 Faubourg Saint Honoré Arr. 8 METRO: Ternes

Mariage Frères’s original tea salon in the Marais, or the one on Faubourg Saint Honoré near the Arc de Triomphe, are gorgeous rooms festooned with colonial-sequence furniture and white orchids where taking tea is a joy.

Le Café Marly 

As Parision as it gets, Café Marly is a traditional Parisian bistro style food in one wing of the Louvre overlooking I.M Pei’s Pyramid.

Palais de Louvre, 93 rue de Rivoli Ar. 1 METRO: Palais Royal

One of the best seats in Paris, at Café Marly overlooking the courtyard of the Louvre.

Musée de Louvre Café Marly is the ultimate place for coffee with a view, located under the colonnade of the Louvre Palace overlooking I. M Pei’s Pyramid.

Monoprix / Paul

Various locations throughout the city

The Monoprix chain of supermarkets are dotted throughout the city and many have separate shops attached selling readymade baguette sandwiches, croissant and pastries for a few Euros. The Paul chain of boulangeries also does pretty amazing bread and pastries for next to nothing that you can eat while walking.

To help you plan the ultimate Parisian getaway, check out our handy Paris travel guide…