Best restaurants in Paris

It is quite probable that many of us do not even guess that the first restaurants have appeared in Paris. However, according to the historical data Paris is the native land of restaurants which have replaced a great number of various taverns which have lost a considerable part of the visitors in the beginning of the eighteenth century. And the reason for it was the desire of well-founded Parisians to have their personal cook at home.

Originally restaurants were places where visitors could try dishes from eggs and meat, and also broths. If to speak about restaurants, differing in personal servicing (a la carte) similar institutions have started to appear in the second half of the XVIII century in Louvre vicinities. The quantity of beloved by inhabitants of Paris and city visitors restaurants increased very fast, and there soon enough appeared the “premium-class” institution – a tavern in English style in Palais Royal. In magnificent halls of this institution, there were mahogany tables, on ceilings smart crystal chandeliers hung, clothes have been embroidered by magnificent Damask patterns, waiters in beautiful dresses, and excellent dishes and remarkable wines on tables.

With the restaurant boom in Paris, the delicatessen actively developed. By the end of the eighteenth century, there was a restaurant in Paris which offered the visitors of the menu from more, than hundred various dishes, the known cook Meo was its owner. Such Parisian restaurants, as “Fevrier”, “Couver Espanol”, “Jure”, “Veri” and others were open at that time and were greatly popular. From institutions of that time at present in Paris, there is only one remained – «Cafe de Shartre», known today as “Le Grand Véfour”.

Almost all restaurants in Paris at that time had the distinctive culinary features, somewhere it was possible to try remarkable mutton legs, somewhere – dishes from fish, pubs where fans gathered is noisy to spend time also existed.

1804 became significant in the history of the French capital; the first edition of “The Almanac of gourmets” was published. It contained the list of the best restaurants in Paris.

In various decades the new restaurants appeared in Paris, some of them in due course disappeared completely, and others became rather cult.

For example, during the Second empire time restaurant “Cafe Angle” became very popular after 1867 when three European Emperors had a supper there. Also such institutions, as “Duran”, “Vuazen”, “Fuajo”, “Mani”, “Mayor” were known.

The Third Republic was characterized by the occurrence of the most prestigious Parisian restaurants such as «Pavilion de la Cascade», “Pavilion d’Armanville”, “Laurent”, “Prune”, “Weber”, “Laperuz”, “Drouant”, “Maxim’s”, “Fouquet’s”, many of which please fans of delicatessen nowadays. It was then when popular guidebooks to the Parisian restaurants “Michelin” and «Gault et Millau» were published.

We would like to speak a little about the rules of behaviour when you visit restaurants in France.

Generally, in this country cookery is very respectable and honourable, so historically there are many cafes and restaurants. Due to the large number of them you will always discover an appropriate one for a business lunch, dinner of a big company, romantic date, a banquet or any other aim. To find a good place you can browse the guides, consult with friends or just rely on your own taste.

From our side we would like to give some recommendations how to recognize a good French restaurant and how to behave in it.

So, important indications of deserving attention restaurant or café are below:

• cordial staff,
• you will be greeted at the entrance and saw to your table,
• you will get menu at once you sit down at the table,
• waiter (waitress) knows a full information about all dishes and drinks of the menu and can always give a good advice (good is not expensive),
• drinks are served in time,
• after paying bills you’ll be thanked and said goodbye.

In principle, to visit a very good restaurant in Paris (as in other French cities) you must order a table firstly, because otherwise you can become a bystander of a pleasant pastime of other guests. Also you can be late to a restaurant for thirty minutes maximum, after this time waiter will cancel your reservation.

If you are going to relax in a French cafe, you can be in any form of clothing, but restaurants welcome more strict appearance. There are some restaurants and bars, those rules bans to service men without a tie. Though, if you look closely, a dress code of visitors can seriously differ depending on level and class of places.

It should be remembered that Parisian restaurants are focused on a very cultural and friendly customer behavior, so the “best” tradition of Irish pub will be inappropriate here. Therefore, in an unpleasant situation do not make a row, just invite the manager or chief waiter and tell him (her) you claims.

Do not forget that the generally accepted rules of etiquette are always recognized by others, and a restaurant in Paris in this respect is absolutely the same as in New York, Sydney, Warsaw or London. And if you visit a restaurant with a lady, you have to behave yourself only as a gentleman.

And finally. Remember, that in Paris restaurants you should leave a tip to the waiter, the sum is 5-10 percent of the total bill.

Cafes in France are not absolutely cafes where a person comes to have a cup of coffee or to have a bite. The French cafes are places where local residents are going, first of all, to spend time in a circle of acquaintances or friends talking in sincere conditions. If the Spanish cafes have more family bias, the French cafes are known for discussions, as a rule, on cultural, sports or political themes.

It is necessary to note a rather specific atmosphere which almost all Parisian cafes possess. If, for example, in Italy you will simply not be paid attention to if you are the new visitor; in Spain one positive gesture can make you a friend for almost all visitors-natives; in Paris it’s all different. Here you will always feel intense stare from both regular customers, and attendants. And it not the only specificity of cafes in Paris, it’s a feature of the country. In France the concept of hospitality has own distinctive features which differ from ours strongly, and to become “native” here is extremely difficult.

There’s, of course, a great number of tourist cafes where attitude to visitors is more than positive, however those are Parisian cafes to the same extent as we are native Parisians. You won’t feel the original spirit of French cafe in such institution.

And now we will tell some words about the direct history of cafe in Paris. According to some historical data, the first Parisian cafe has been opened in 1675 by the Sicilian Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli and was called Le Procope. In ten years the institution has moved to Rue de l’Ancienne-Comedie (that is in Latin quarter of Paris) where it settles down till today.

Such legendary persons, as Voltaire, Robespierre, Danton, Marat, D’Alembert; Diderot and others were regular customers of this Parisian cafe. Being in Paris presidents of the United States of America Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson visited the cafe. In the late eighties of the last century the new owners have carried out global “semi-antique” reconstruction for attraction of foreign tourists and the institution has lost the cultural value forever. Crowds of tourists are more likely to come here rather than the Parisian fans to sit in cafe.

The idea of the Italian immigrant was welcomed by the Parisians, and after a century the Parisian cafes were estimated not in hundreds, but already in thousands. In the beginning of the twentieth century cafes on Montmartre were especially popular; thousand of Parisians and visitors of the French capital daily came there. However, the reason of such popularity has not been caused by remarkable cuisine and magnificent coffee but by certain features which characterized heating system of Paris of that time. In winter the house in the city were not heated. Even those visitors who came from not the warmest countries felt big discomfort that forced them to go to the Parisian cafes.

Though dishes and drinks offered in the majority of cafes were not of great quality, but in the café hall centre there were ovens which heated the air. In those days such cafes were a place of pilgrimage of huge number of inhabitants and city visitors with short income, who could stay behind one cup of cheap coffee for many hours not to leave for cold streets of Paris.

As for more prosperous people the culture of visiting cafes has got the distinctive features. For example, visitors from America and Great Britain used to begin the day with visiting one of cafes with a big company and ordering a standard cup of coffee along with the well-known for the whole world French croissant. Having spent there some hours, tourists moved to a following institution to try the midday aperitif, and closer to the end of the day one might have visited five (and even more) cafes in which it was possible not only to spend time pleasantly, but to listen to numerous Parisian gossips on which this city was always rich. Many great books have been written in the Parisian cafes as quite often cafes were some kind of studies for many great writers. Then the Parisian cafes were also a place where it was always possible to get a picture of local (and not only) artists who were always a great number in Paris.

As for certain many tourists who visit the capital of the French republic, spend time in the Parisian cafes with pleasure, it would be desirable to tell about most interesting of them. For your better convenience, we will break our narration into the cafe description on separate Parisian districts.

So, the Saint-Germain Area which first of all is connected with such representatives of the existential direction of the French philosophy, as Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre will be the first.

Cafe des Deux-Magots. Throughout the whole century this institution decorated in the Chinese style was considered the present entrance on the world fiction Olympus. Many young writers in due time could save money in weeks to come here at cock-tail hour hoping to meet a known publisher who could be passing by. In Cafe des Deux-Magots it was possible to meet geniuses of that time, Verlaine and Rimbaud, Picasso and Oscar Wild – all of them were frequent visitors of this cafe.

In total distance of several tens of meters settles down Cafe de Flore. This institution also has a special history. Here liked to write his products great Guillaume Apollinaire, Jean-Paul Sartre and Jacques Prévert happened to sit here. And in the 30th of the twentieth century French fascists held their sessions in this institution (there is also such historical mark).

Brasserie Lipp. In general, it is possible to call this cafe legendary and unique as in the late fifties its owner has received the Award of the Honourable Legion “for the best Parisian literary salon”. Such celebrities, as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Ernest Hemingway and president of France François Mitterrand were guests here.

Also it is possible to allocate such Parisian cafes in Saint-Germain area as Le Montana, La Palette and Bar du Pont-Royal in which Aragon, Simenon, Camus, Cocteau, Proust and many others had rest and created.

The following area is Montmartre which also has many remarkable cafes.

Closerie des Lilas. There was a usual inn on the way to Orléans which has turned in due course to cafe. Here for inspiration quite often came Hemingway, leaving cafes on Saint-Germain. Later in this cafe James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, Dos Passos and Thomas Wolfe used to come.

In 1940th years a very popular place among artists and poets was cafe Le Coupole which was considered some kind of the standard of everything bohemian. Such legendary persons, as Henry Miller, Louis Aragon, Françoise Sagan and Gabriel García Márquez loved this Parisian cafe.

Nearby there is an old cafe Le Rotonde which is the present tourist attraction of the city for those who are interested in European avant-guard art as its history was made here by Chaim Soutine, Maurice de Vlaminck, Picasso, Modigliani, André Derain. Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin – the leader of Russian socialists – happened to be here in due time.

The following Parisian cafes on Montmartre – Dingo Bar and Le Select are also noteworthy.

Latin Quarter is also famous for the institutions. As we already wrote earlier, here there was the first Parisian cafe Le Procope. But it is not the only café that has a nice history.

Cafe de la Marie. As well as many other cafes in Paris, this institution possesses the historical uniqueness. In the middle of the last century in it the quarrel between great philosophers Camus and Sartre that became the reason of split of all intelligence of Paris of that time has taken place.

The author of the well-known “Dubliners“ and “Ulysses” James Joyce among other institutions preferred cafe Cremerie Polidor. At various times Mark Ernst, Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine quite often came here.

Also in Latin Quarter there is cafe Laperouse where it is possible to feel atmosphere and to admire architecture of the nineteenth century. The courses of life brought here Alexandre Dumas, père, Proust, Guy de Maupassant, Georges Simenon, Victor Hugo and many other great art workers of that time.

Dear readers, it is only a small part of what Parisian cafes can boast of, but we nevertheless hope that this information will appear interesting and useful for you.

This time we chose a popular Parisian cafe Georges for a brief description. Many locals and tourists advised to come here, when it is night already and the doors of Centre Pompidou are closed behind the last visitor.

If you are going to get into the cafe you will have to make a short trip in a luxury lift with a red interior to the sixth floor. Before entering the restaurant you’ll see (like in a fairy tale) two guards, whose form will tell you that there are some strange and exciting things in the cafe at this moment.

Nobody likes to queue on, so it is strongly recommended to reserve a table at Georges in advance. Sitting at the table here, you’ll get a magnificent view of Paris, that’s why this café never stands empty.

You should know that the real model can take your order and to serve a table the whole evening as an ordinary waitress. But even if your waitress will not be a professional fashion model, believe, she will satisfy all severe requirements of the restaurant’s direction to beauty and slenderness of staff.

Some time ago guests did not like the interior design of cafe Georges, but after a major reconstruction it became very original. The owners and regular clients of the café liked a radical solution to give each wall (they create a kind of individual cocoons) its unique color (yellow, steel, plywood, plastic, red and others). Georges has many VIP clients and is a part of famous restaurant chain of brothers Costes.

Being in Georges you always feel some carelessness, and not only in the interior, but also in the actions of staff and respectable audience. So, do not be surprised, if the waitress will suddenly stumble and drop to the floor a glass of champagne or a dessert, passing your table. But do not worry, because traces of the incident will be removed very quickly.

Talking about the audience, which visits Georges, we can compare these people with those who never miss any fashion show in Paris (somebody like Paris Hilton in America). There are always many visitors, great music plays, and though you feel intimacy.

The average cost of bills per person in Georges is about forty-sixty Euros, but this does not include drinks (wine, whiskey, vodka, champagne) you will probably want to order.

• Address of Cafe Georges: Centre Georges Pompidou, rue Beaubourg 19. Time of service: every day except Tuesday.

Enjoy your time in this magnificent Parisian cafe!

If someone tells you that Parisian restaurants and cafes are the places where people go only to eat, do not believe. Parisian cafe, first of all, is a place where you can relax after a hard day, communicate with interesting people and listen to emotional music…

Cafe Laurent belongs to these restaurants and offers its visitors a wonderful atmosphere – pleasant and romantic. And there is nothing strange, because since the foundation (that was in 1690) it was the place were Parisian writers, poets, philosophers, artists and other representatives of creative professions had spent time.

For a long time the distinguishing feature of Cafe Laurent is the wonderful coffee, preparing on own unique recipe. Thus, in his time a famous philosopher of the French Renaissance Charles Louis Montesquieu said about this place the following words: “In Café of Laurent coffee has being prepared in such a way that it gives the mind to those people who drink it”.

Today, the cafe, named after its founder Mr. Laurent, is a cult place in Paris for lovers of jazz. Here you can always listen to the music, playing live by the best Parisian jazz musicians.

The personnel of the cafe never forget and about the physical needs of the guests. The cuisine here is very good and able to satisfy the tastes of even the real gourmet, delicious wines and other beverages.

Address of Cafe Laurent: 33 rue Dauphine. It’s the 6th district of Paris near the station of metro Odeon ou PONT-NEUF.

Tourist season is approaching and Parisian cafes and restaurants are glad to receive thousands of guests at their famous terraces. Wine, cider, cheese, ratatouille, mussels… all this stuff you can order in any of them. However, morning in Paris without coffee is not the morning in Paris! 🙂

And as far as coffee in a cafe is absolutely required thing you have to know how to get a right sort of this wonderful drink. Believe us, in spite of the fact that English (as well as some other languages) has become usual for the French ear lately, some waiters can not understand your order. There are some lines on the subject.

If you want a cup of “americano” – say “Un allonge” to the waiter; want to get “espresso” – say “Un express”; in the case of white coffee – “Un creme” (although, no respectable Parisian will order it even at gunpoint). And a special one in our list is “Cappuccino”. The pronunciation is similar, but ordering it you have to be ready to hear a venomous answer like: “Do you think you’re in San Francisco?” 😉

Drink delicious coffee and get great impressions in Paris!

The owner and chef of Apicius is Jean-Pierre Vigato – known person in restaurant circles of Paris.

Restaurant Apicius is located in a magnificent private mansion near Champs Elysees. It was built in the eighteenth century, which gives the restaurant a unique charm. The building has a classic architectural style and is surrounded with a beautiful garden.

Foyer of the restaurant is decorated with original paintings. There are some nicely renovated rooms, where you can enjoy the wonderful cuisine in an intimate atmosphere. The author of interior design – Eric Zeller.

In restaurant’s menu you will find many delicious dishes prepared by professional cooks, including the owner. Some of them you will not find in any other restaurants of French capital. Excellent wine list, wide selection of delicious desserts.

As Restaurant Apicius is very popular among Parisians and visitors of the city, you have to book a table in advance.

Benoit is not the most hyped-up restaurant in Paris and not every tourist will find it on their own, despite the fact that it is practically in the heart of Paris (Centre of Georges Pompidou and the famous noisy Rue de Rivoli). As a rule, visitors of the restaurant Benoit are patrons.

The restaurant was founded in 1912 as a classic Parisian family bistro with a unique atmosphere, which had been preserved and after a hundred years of its existence. Until 2005 the owners of Benoit were three generations of the Petit family when they sold it to the famous French chef Alain Ducasse. The new owner has made some changes in the interior of the restaurant, but he managed to keep the old tradition and charm of the bistro.

The cuisine in the restaurant Benoit is simply delightful, what is not surprising for such a master as Mr. Ducasse. The wine list will please even the most demanding lovers of this noble drink. This is an excellent place for a great dinner in Paris.

If you want to visit the restaurant Benoit you should book a table in advance. The bistro is not the cheapest – a bill for one person could be more than a hundred euros.

Address of the restaurant Benoit: 20, Rue Saint-Martin

In Paris every person will find an appropriate cafe, bar or restaurant without a problem. But if French cuisine for you is not just a phrase, then you must visit the famous Parisian restaurant Guy Savoy. Of course, it can’t be called cheap, because the average cost of dinner per person is about 250 Euro, but be sure, it’s worthy of it.

Even the interior of the halls in the Guy Savoy is great and unique – in its implementation the well-known designers used an interesting stylistic mix of glass, leather and exotic woods.

There is no need to speak a lot about the level of cuisine restaurant Guy Savoy, because even the most ordinary at the first view dish is a true culinary masterpiece, what confirmed by the famous Michelin ratings – «3 stars». The real gourmets most of all value soups served in a restaurant. It’s important, that French celebrities love the art of the restaurant’s cooks.

The restaurant is located at 18, rue Troyon (17th arrondissement of Paris). Metro: Charles de Gaulle Etoile.

Founded in 1784 the restaurant Le Grand Vefour is one of the oldest restaurants in Paris, and its popularity remains unchanged during all this time. The interior of the restaurant with original wall-paintings, furniture, beautiful stained glass windows in the style of the French Empire creates a great atmosphere. Many elements of the interior are so unique and valuable, that they are under a special protective glass. We can say that the restaurant is one of the few in Europe, where the old historic design of the interior decoration and modern kitchen combine so organically.

Chef Mr Martin manages all the culinary action. And thanks to his talent and work the restaurant Le Grand Vefour are awarded “three stars” in the respected rating of Michelin.

Among the delicious dishes, what the restaurant offers, we can underline the magnificent truffles, oysters and foie gras. The service at Le Grand Vefour is on the premium level. Average price of the menu per person is about 250 Euro. Opened only on weekends.

Address of the restaurant Le Grand Vefour: 17 rue de Beaujolais 75001.

In Paris there is a huge number of restaurants, but not everyone of them is destined to become one of the best in the world. Restaurant Le Meurice has received this honor in 2005 – the year when it was ranked among the fifty best restaurants of our planet. Of course, any rating can be viewed as subjective opinion, but in any case it is based on the certain facts. And the fact that Le Meurice has 3 stars in Michelin classification is a clear confirmation of its status.

If you consider yourself a real connoisseur of the high French cuisine, you must visit this wonderful restaurant, whose interior is truly magnificent and resembles the interior of one of the halls at the famous Palace of Versailles.

The cuisine here is “classic”, but at the same time something new appears in the menu regularly. The level of cuisine and service in the restaurant is the highest. The main person here is a talented chef Yannick Alleno, thanks to him the restaurant got its general recognition. Average price of the menu per one person in Le Meurice is about 200 Euro.

Address of the restaurant: 228 rue de Rivoli. This is in the 1st arrondissement near the Louvre.

It is difficult to judge but if to trust the opinion of Parisians it is necessary to call the given restaurant the most popular Parisian institution for today. And, being in Paris, you will see the proof of correctness of local residents by having visited always filled halls of Les Ombres. Every night hundreds of pleasant rest judges from Paris and city visitors gather here.

We should say that Les Ombres has more than enough reasons for popularity.

First, the institution is on a roof of the well-known Museum of civilizations of antiquity Quai Branly which has been designed by the well-known French architect Jean Nouvel (for those who don’t remember, this person is the owner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize).

The tourists who have visited this place say that the optimal time for restaurant visiting is an evening after you already take pleasure in viewing the works of art in the halls of the museum located lower. Without the slightest exaggeration we notice that Les Ombres will amaze you both with its culinary masterpieces, and simply amazing view opening before the visitors. To tell the truth, even glamorous Georges (a restaurant located on the roof of the Center of George Pompidou we already told in one of our previous articles) remains a bit behind.

The interior of the restaurant is extremely elegant and at the same time underlined laconic. The basic element of the interior is the decorative grid perfectly well combined with glass walls, looking through which, the well-known Tour Eiffel is represented to your eyes on distance of several meters. Sitting at a little table of this restaurant the bright fires of Paris at night and ships on the Seine will seem to you small glowworms before your eyes. The romanticism and restaurant atmosphere will amaze you already at the entrance and will continue to rejoice throughout all evening.

The head cook of Les Ombres is the well-known master Joel Rebushon. This culinary specialist cooks for all visitors alone, therefore you shouldn’t expect excessively original appearance from the dishes, but their taste is simply magic. Alongside with many known Parisian restaurants the service at Les Ombres is not refined; it attracts visitors with the surroundings, spirit and a magnificent view on Paris. Don’t doubt that having spent a hundred Euros for a supper here; the impressions will remain in your memory for long years.

On the map you will find Les Ombres at: 27 quai Branly, Paris.

Restaurant L’Espadon is located under the roof of one of the most luxurious hotels of Paris Ritz and considered the most deserved restaurant in Paris. It was opened by the founder of the hotel Cesar Ritz in the 1898.

The elegant hall with interior in the Baroque style with a huge panorama of the sky, the decor with a chic red velour, the gold elements, a large number of flowers… All of this is waiting for you at the restaurant L’Espadon.

However, in any case, the main dish of our “celebration” is culinary delights, cooked for the guests by the great chefs. Menu at the restaurant L’Espadon varies depending on the season and offers a fine cuisine from a young calf meat, risotto with artichokes, soup with chestnuts, wild mushrooms, a wonderful parmesan cheese, vegetarian dishes and much more. The main restaurant’s menu has being change one time in every two weeks.

In addition to the gourmet cuisine, the guests of the restaurant L’Espadon have the opportunity to try wonderful wines of the best varieties. The wine list has over a thousand titles.

Undoubtedly, the Parisian restaurant L’Espadon is not a cheap place, what is confirmed with the “two-star” rating of Michelin Guide. And a visit would cost some hundred Euros per person. However, the memory about the restaurant will stay with you for the long years.

Address of the restaurant L’Espadon: 15 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris

Restaurant Michel Rostang – this is the place where you get the real gastronomic treat.

The owner of the restaurant is a very famous and respected person in this business, he is the representative of the fifth generation of restaurateurs in Paris and one of the most creative chefs of the city today.

Interior. The restaurant consists of four separate halls, which have the original design of the mahogany, wood of pear and cherry, complemented with beautiful frosted Crystal panels.

Service, as it befits a serious institution, is at a very high level. Assortment of dishes may surprise even the most enlightened gourmets.

The restaurant is one of the most prestigious in Paris, so be prepared for the fact that the dinner can cost about 100 euros (the average amount per person).

Dress code: smart.

Address of the restaurant: 20 Rue Rennequi (17 arrondissement of Paris).

Restaurant O’Naturel is a result of imagination and work by twins Mike and Stephane Saada. The owners of the restaurant themselves are not nudists, but they have seen big prospects in this direction.

The guests coming to the restaurant have not to worry about privacy – all the windows are closed by dense blinds. Moreover, service staff has developed an own recognition system for “unreliable” clients, and thanks to it the guests feel free and comfortably at O’Naturel. According to the brothers, the public of the restaurant with normal behavior, nobody wants to effort to startle, people prefer to share a meal in a low-key atmosphere.

Not to walk barefoot, clients can use special slippers. If women want, they can keep their shoes. All the sits at the restaurant are equipped with disposable covers, so you don’t have a reason to worry about cleanliness and hygiene – here it’s on a high level.

An important moment, those who love to speak on the phone and take photos during the meal can be upset, but all mobile devices you have to leave at a cloakroom of the restaurant O’Naturel.

What about the main component of every restaurant – its cuisine – the emphasis is laid on traditional French cuisine, dishes of snails, deep-sea scallops, lobsters, as well as a classic roast lamb. Minimum dinner of three dishes (a snack, a hot plate, a dessert) is 49 Euro per person.

The restaurant O’Naturel is located at 9 rue de Gravelle, 75012 PARIS and opened at night (7:30 pm – 11:00 pm). You can have a dinner at the restaurant by preliminary booking only.

Dear friends, we’ll not open America for you saying that Paris is not the cheapest city for tourists. That’s why certain lifehacks in the issue of “to save” have to be obviously pleasant and useful :-), especially concerning Parisian restaurants and cafes which often offer not the very tempting prices.

So, if you find yourself in the centre of Paris and want to have a lunch – believe, it will happen without fail, because the main sights of the city are concentrated in its central part. Food? People need to eat!

Logically, not always we can spend 40-50 Euros for lunch at a restaurant, so we would like to recommend you a new place – Saucette. This name says us that its feature is surely in sausages. And, yes, bingo, you’re absolutely right! 😉 Only don’t think that this one of usual fast-foods – that’s not.

Restaurant Saucette combines elements of fast service but at the same time you’ll find a true French cuisine here – sausages are popular in France for a long time.

What can attract us there? Of course, prices! Minimal bill here is 13,5 Euro, believe us, it’s very and very cheaply for Paris. Second, high level of cooks offering tasty and creative dishes on basis of their original recipes.

The main combinations of “local” cuisine: veal+poultry+tarragon, pork+ginger, beef+sesame, pork+fragrant herbs.

Briefly, restaurant Saucette – an excellent place on the quality-price ratio.

The restaurant is located at 30 Rue Beaubourg, Paris 75003 close to very interesting George Pompidou Center where you can spend your time with pleasure and see the masterpieces of the modern art.

The interesting thing about the restaurant Bel Canto located on Hotel de Ville is that the waiters sing arias and parts of the operas.

You enjoy the delicious Italian food to the accompaniment of professional opera singers and the sounds of grand piano. There were 4 signers: two men and two women. It is worth to try!

There are 3 restaurants like that: one in London and two in Paris. Actually the third one is in Neuilly-sur-Seine, 2 km from Paris and as I was told the interior there is more attractive.

I was talking with the girl under the piano about the repertoire – there are around 100 artists working in these restaurants, so every day they sign different operas.

In the 16th district of Paris there is very good restaurant which is called BON. It has a modern interior. It has a modern cuisine with very much asian influence. The food is very good there and you can also get a variety of wine. Very nice place to spend time with your business partners or with your girl.

The big advantage there is a smoking room – a nice place where you can smoke instead of freezing outside.

The prices are: 15-20€ for the starter, 20-35€ for the main dish, 10-20€ for the dessert.

Today the restaurant Taillevent is one of the best restaurants in Paris and has «two stars» in the prestigious ranking of Michelin. Opened in 1950, the restaurant is a real brand and it has popularity and respect among the true gourmets of French cuisine. The dishes of Taillevent’s chefs are the standard of French cuisine.

The restaurant had changed its location several times before. Now it is in a beautiful old building of the 19th century near Champs Elysees. Classic interior of Taillevent, supplemented with stunning crystal chandeliers, is conducive to a pleasant rest in a good company. The owners of the restaurant created a design of interior with full attention, making it remarkable even in the minor elements.

To emphasize some specific dishes from the restaurant’s menu is quite difficult, because absolutely every dish is distinguished by its unique taste and aroma, and no matter a salad or the firm ragout of crayfish. Special thanks for this must be expressed to chefs of restaurant Taillevent, who are among the best masters in Paris.

As a real Parisian restaurant, Taillevent offers the excellent wine list, which can be compared with lists of few restaurants in the world. Each of the guests will find a drink to liking here, and some wines you will not find anywhere else, excepting this place.

Restaurant Taillevent – this is a luxury restaurant, so you should not think that it’s easy to have a dinner here. Usually, people reserve a table in advance.

Address of restaurant Taillevent: 15, rue Lamennais (8th arrondissement of Paris). The doorman is always at the entrance, there is a parking. Metro: George V

Paris is original itself but, agree, it’s fine to discover something striking and truly unusual. In the city there is a lot of restaurants and bistros for any taste, but today we can’t pass by a unique Clown Bar in the 11th arrondissement of the capital.

Probably, someone knows this once popular place located near the legendary cirque Circus d’Hiver founded as far back as the middle of the 19th century. Though, the Clown Bar has changed its owners, lived over the rooms reconstruction, fully changed the menu…

However, there are invariable things. The restaurant managed to keep a wonderful atmosphere of cirque in its interiors – fun and irony, reality and illusion. Oh yeah, and the famous terrace is in its place.

We’re not going to tell about the cuisine peculiarities of the bar or about its wine list. We just want to say, ‘In Paris there are still places distant from a mass globalization, not striving to combine incongruous things and to be a sort of “unisex”’.

The Clown Bar is different, it’s special (like Jose Mourinho), already modern a little but still vulnerable and naive…

Bar address: 114 rue Amelot, 75011 Paris

Founded in the beginning of the last century (more precisely in 1908), the restaurant is an example of a classic Parisian bistro to this day, it is no wonder that the French authorities granted the status of the national historical monument.

Since its opening over a hundred years ago to the present time Le Chardenoux is located at rue Jules Vallès 1, in the eleventh district of Paris. The restaurant is bordered on rue Paul Bert, became famous thanks to the numerous restaurants, nestling on it and offering a variety of foods representing the culinary traditions of many countries over the world. This small street is considered as the main Parisian gastronomy place interesting for the thousands of travelers coming to Paris. For a long time this is the place of gathering for many professional salesmen and tourists. In those memorable times these people spent time at the restaurant Le Chardenoux, relaxing with the most delicious aperitifs, eating them with hard-boiled eggs from the bar. And only a few years ago the new owner of the restaurant abolished this tradition.

But to the delight of regulars not everything in it was changed. Fortunately, the wonderful old interior made in the style of Belle epoque, supplemented with vignettes and painted ceilings in white and blue colors had not been changed. Changed their form from the time mirrors, stained glass, forming an original partition had stayed on the old places. We can also note that fourteen different types of natural marble were used in the design of the restaurant Le Chardenoux. And in those old days it was a big fortune.

During the opening of the restaurant a massive iron bar was installed. But the German occupiers liked it. They decided to confiscate it to cast one more army cannon. Since that time the bistro has a substitute – the rack of zinc.

Of course, everything could remain unchanged for a long time, there are certain requirements of the time what must be followed. So, the restaurant changed any things.

But at the same time, even with the new owners of the bistro we can see the respect of many old canons of this French restaurant in relation to the traditions of cuisine. The author of the excellent wine list is well known among the restaurateurs Jérôme Moreau, the famous sommelier the legandary restaurant Bristol. The menu has the drinks from all the provinces of France, so all connoisseurs will be pleased with a choice.

To visit the restaurant Le Chardenoux, you definitely need to book a table in advance, because the free space in the last time (according to regulars) was during the war.

Enjoy your vacation in the restaurant-bistro Le Chardenoux!

There are lots of restaurants in Paris, but do you know which of them is the oldest? La Tour d’Argent – the legendary restaurant, opened its hospitable doors to visitors in the distant sixteenth century.

Already in those days this place was considered a very popular, what had been confirmed by the fact of love for it from the side of the King Henry IV. The monarch often visited the restaurant for a purpose to taste the delicious pates or quails meat.

In addition to the excellent cuisine the restaurant La Tour d’Argent offers the wonderful views of Cite Island with its famous cathedral of Notre Dame.

The restaurant can not be called cheap, but it must be admitted that its visit is worthy of it. The particular delight of the guests is a rich wine list of La Tour d’Argent, where every connoisseur of this noble drink will find a wine to satisfy desires.

Address of the restaurant La Tour d’Argent: 15-17, quai de la Tournelle, 75005

Metro: Jussieu

Since 1932 Paris restaurant La Maison de la Truffe is a real world standard for everything associated with truffles. What is very important, for chefs here the truffle is not an ordinary mushroom, it’s like paint for an artist who creates his masterpiece on a white canvas (in our case – on a plate). During many decades this family-owned restaurant has been founding standards which are followed by many restaurants all over the world.

At La Maison de la Truffe you’ll enjoy fine dishes from the chief cooked of the best sorts of these precious mushrooms: Burgundy Truffle (Tuber Uncinatum), White Truffle from Alba (Tuber Magnatum Pico), Black Truffle (Tuber Melanosporum), Summer Truffle (Tuber Aestivum), Winter Truffle (Tuber Brumale). Since its foundation the restaurant cooperates with leading truffles producers and suppliers and this is the best advertising.

The brand-name dishes at La Maison de la Truffe are true works of art by talented masters, the unique recipes, inimitable mixes of tastes, colors and textures.

Visiting the restaurant, you get an unforgettable pleasure from delicious dishes as well as nice and cozy interior of the rooms where, of course, you’ll see many images of the main character of our story – the truffle.

Also we have to say that the restaurant has a very good location at 19 Place de la Madeleine, so after dinner you can have a pleasant walk up to Champs-Elysees, Boulevard Haussmann or the Tuileries gardens.

The second restaurant La Maison de la Truffe in Paris was opened in 2009 and is situated at 14 Rue Marbeuf in the triangle formed by Champs-Elysees, Avenue Montaigne and Avenue George V.

To reserve a table, visit the official site of the restaurants www.maison-de-la-truffe.com.

Have a nice time and enjoy an excellent cuisine!

If you love the sea and seafood in addition, so Paris restaurant Divellec – this is the place you should visit. Being in this restaurant, you’ll feel yourself like on a board of luxurious and elegant yachts.

Divellec is located in the heart of Paris, in the part of the city where there is a large concentration of government agencies and foreign embassies.

The owner of the restaurant is famous restaurateur Jacques Le Divellec offers his visitors a wide selection of gifts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The main features of Le Divellec are skillfully cooked oysters, lobsters, clams and lobsters, and the most biased gourmets come to try them here. The chef here is so professional that every dish is really unique and exquisite in its flavor profile.

Like any self-respecting French restaurant, Divellec offers excellent selection of white and red wines from the best vineyards of the country, which ideally suited to the dishes.

Address of the restaurant Divellec: 18 Rue Fabert, 75007 Paris, France.

You’re in the French capital and you are a big fan of Asian food? Then you don’t have a right to pass by a new Paris restaurant the Miss Ko on Avenue George V, named in honour of a sexual and fatal lady – the symbol of all mysterious and deadly dangerous Yakuza girls.

The restaurant Miss Ko offers its guests wonderful dishes of Asian cuisine, however, the main feature is an amazing and colorful interior. You could ask why we give such a description? It’s very simple: the designer of the restaurant interior is famous and incomparable Philippe Starck.

During the meal at the Miss Ko you will become neighbours of original fairy characters who create the unique fantastic world, whose guest you are.

Absolutely everything here is saturated with a spirit of the fairy reality, from the walls of the restaurant up to a fork or a menu list.

It’s simply impossible to describe all the beauty of the Paris Miss Ko. Go there and evaluate the genius talent of Philippe Starck yourself as well as outstanding skills of cooks! Only remember that at any popular restaurant in Paris you should book a table in advance.

Bon appetit! And have pleasant impressions!

Modern Paris is interesting for thousands of tourists from around the world not only with its architectural heritage, but also that nowadays there are representatives of dozens of nationalities here. And all of them bring to the life of the city something special, truly unique.

A large variety we can see and among restaurants, presented in Paris. One of the most striking and original Parisian restaurants is Toro, whose visit allows us to plunge into the unique and vibrant atmosphere of the Iberian Peninsula, where historically intertwined cultures of Spanish and Portuguese people.

Toro restaurant’s interior is made in the typical for the region orange-brown color. Entering the restaurant you can’t pass the bull’s head, speaking frankly about love of Iberians to the Corrida.

Cuisine, offered to visitors of the restaurant Toro, fully corresponds to the traditional culinary preferences of the inhabitants of Spain and Portugal. It serves the excellent meat dishes, which, coupled with great wines, presents the great feeling.

The average cost of a dinner with an appetizer for one person is around 40 Euro.

The restaurant Toro is located at 74 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau. This is the 1st arrondissement of Paris in the center of the city.

France is not only the native land of magnificent wine and cognac brands, fashion and musketeers, along with the several other European countries a large quantity of grades of cheese which number is not less than the number of asterisks on flags of all states of the world are cultivated here.

So, only having their own unique name in the country is more than four hundred grades. And how many rural farms in all France make French cheese without name, has anyone considered?

For the majority of inhabitants of France this product from sour milk is not an ordinary element of the menu, this is true art, science and tradition in one notion, it is even possible to tell that cheese here is a religion. Each of the French provinces has presented to the world many culinary traditions millions of people all over the world enjoy today.

Paris, as it is necessary to a capital city, is the present centre of the French cookery where an interested person has possibility to get acquainted with the gastronomic production representing all regions of the country. So, Paris is not only an administrative capital of the country, it also culinary capital of France. It is in Paris where one of the most magnificent delicacies – magic and well-known liquid cheese by the name of Brie appeared.

Speaking about this cheese it is necessary to notice at once that its compounding is one of the oldest in the country, and it is considered to be a primogenitor of such well-known grade of cheese as camembert. Nobody can tell for certain when Brie has been made for the first time, but its first documentary mention is dated the middle of the eighth century – time of reign of King Charles the Great.

The informal title of “the king of cheeses” Brie has received in 1815 during negotiations about the further destiny of France after its defeat in the battle at Waterloo. During heavy debate the negotiators have casually started dispute on whose cheese is better. And the big tasting consequence was the victory of the French cheese over such strong contenders as Gouda (Netherlands), Stilton (Great Britain) and Parmesan (Italy).

In 1980 Brie has received a mark by which the best wines of the world are usually awarded, – АОС which is deciphered as “primordially controllable name”. There are three kinds of this great cheese: Brie de Coulomiers, Brie de Meaux and Brie de Melun. So three small towns near Paris are called in which these grades are made. Present Brie can be made strictly on the confirmed compounding exclusive in Melun, Meaux and Coulomiers.

Brie has magnificent flavoring scale, especially when it reaches room temperature, and remarkably approaches to white and red wine.

This is a small dainty restaurant, opened in 1880 and preserved in its decor elements of the old mosaics and ceramics created by the father of a famous French poet Leon Paul Fargo, who loved to spend time here regularly.

Comfortable tables of the restaurant remember many great personalities such as Camus, Saint-Exupery and Hemingway. By the way, the American writer had created his undying literary masterpiece “Farewell to Arms” here.

Brasserie Lipp was considered a long time the best literary salon in Paris, and its then owner Marcellin Lipp had get the Legion of Honor in the middle of the last century.

Today the restaurant offers its guests to enjoy excellent beer and other beverages, as well as delicious snacks from several menus, including vegetarian.

Address of the Brasserie Lipp: 151 Boulevard Saint-Germain.

Nowadays jazz, perhaps, is not so popular but you will never regret if you come one Thursday to the cafe Laurent at the Hôtel d’Aubusson for “Jazz Evenings”. High-quality live music and good red wine – this is all you need for a great evening in a good company.

The café at the Hôtel d’Aubusson was opened in 1944 and became one of the first cafes in Saint-Germain, which is now the center of cafes, bars and restaurants.

At first it was the cabaret “Taboo”, opened because the iconic cafe “Bar vert” had not enough dancing space. The Bar vert was the first American cafe in Paris open 24h. The Taboo’s owner Bernard Lucas was very educated. He was told to be an extraordinary man, who owned an old library and a collection of classical music. The cafe very quickly became a meeting place for thinkers and philosophers. The most famous client of the Taboo was Jean-Paul Sartre.

In 1946 the cabaret was closed by the police. But some time before that event, in the same 1946, Juliette Gréco (a postwar French singer who became a symbol of French intellectuals after World War II) discovered the Taboo. Juliette began her rehearsals at the Taboo and persuaded the new owners to reopen the cafe. At the same time a famous French writer Boris Vian, the author of the recently acclaimed novel “Froth on the Daydream”, became a haunter of the Taboo.

One year later, in 1947, the cafe returned to the previous owner Bernard Lucas. After that, as Boris Vian said, the cafe had the best time of “… organized madness. The atmosphere in 1947 could not be kept for a long time neither repeated by other cafes.” The cafe became a closed club. You must have some relationship to bohemian circles to become its member.

Among the clients were the future world-renowned publisher Gaston Gallimard, couples Jean-Paul Sartre – Simone de Beauvoir, Yves Montand – Simone Signoret. The cafe in times mentioned above became a legend. However, the cafe was too noisy, so the inhabitants insisted on the cafe to be closed at midnight. But this prohibition only provoked cabaret clients. The cafe held elections “Miss Taboo”, the striptease appeared with a large number of visitors not related to the club, what contradicted principles of a private club. Bohemians left the Taboo.

After a meteoric rise and fall the Taboo became a jazz club, however, it changed its style. The cafe still continued to attract lots of music addicts for some time. However, soon it was replaced with a regular restaurant. Now in the Taboo you can enjoy only innovative avant-garde works.

Nowadays, it is decided to restore jazz traditions of this cafe and to give it a fresh name. Today everyone may come on Thursday to the cafe Laurent and enjoy the enchanting live music in a warm family-like atmosphere. The cafe preserves its best traditions.