Must Try Bistros in Paris
Curated by Hypemaps Team
Part of the fun of visiting Paris is enjoying its many cuisines and restaurants. Stepping into a classic French bistro is a major component to everyday Parisian life. Locals can tell you that bistros are casual and often moderately priced dishes, serving up simple and straight forward options. Often known to be a neighborhood restaurant with a cozy and warm atmosphere, there are some bistros that are a must-try in Paris. Take a look at the list.
Located in Le Marais, Café Charlot is the place to be for late-night dinners and brunch. A common spot for fashion week attendees to stop by in-between shows or to round out their days, the menu is succinct and old school, offering simple dishes like a salmon bagel for brunch and a cheeseburger and fries for dinner. Great for people watching, this is an industry hot spot.
Famous for its welcoming and warm atmosphere, Chez Janou is easily one of the best bistros in Paris. Taking menu tasting notes from southern France, the menu is carefully curated and is fuelled by its family aspect. Owner Jean-François Roux is known to offer free glasses of wine to both staff and customers, always championing his "we are all like one big family" ethos.
Chez Julien takes visitors back in time with its Parisian charm. Sitting on the edge of Le Marais, the historical gem filled with 1900s decor. Bringing brasserie chic to another level, the bistro serves dishes prepared according to the season and takes Chef Helmi Derbal's mastery of the truffle to high levels. Truffle is added on the sliced veal tartare, homemade foie gras, chateaubriand and even grated over a risotto.
A relaxed neighborhood restaurant, this bistro is situated just near the Eiffel Tower. Chef Stéphane Jego brings his bistronomy movement to meat and fish dishes, presenting classic French dishes in front of a classic Parisian monument. The bistro is known for serving up classics that marry tradition and the chef's modern yet hearty inventions.
One of the oldest bistros in Paris, Café de Flore is a non-negotiable must-stop when visiting the French capital. Known for its famous clientele that includes a history of high-profile writers and philosophers and now, modern-day Hollywood aristocrats, the bistro has also been the backdrop scenes in films and series. Serving up bistro classics with an affluent flair, find this bistro in the famous Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood.
A staple in the Le Marais neighborhood, Robert et Louise is as traditional as it comes when experiencing Parisian bistro restaurants. Everything is done the old-fashioned way, from the coziness of the restaurant that sees the chef slice pounds of meat in the open kitchen before throwing them onto the open-flamed grill. The interior is filled with tiled floors and bricked walls. Generous portions are key for a hearty, traditional French meal. One may start with an entrée of snails or pâté before moving onto a meat-focused main that may include a sweet honeyed duck breast or smoky tender sirloin steak.
A Michelin-guide restaurant, Bistrot Paul Bert specializes in "cuisine familiale." Hearty dishes charm everyone from first-time visitors to frequent ones, eager to try their no-frills traditional beef and seafood dishes. From calf sweetbreads to a venison roast, the bistro provides homey options at affordable prices.
Awarded one Michelin Star, Benoit Paris serves refined versions of traditional French bistro dishes. From casseroles to escargots, the Alain Ducasse restaurant is the only bistro in the city to hold a Michelin star. The family-friendly restaurant boasts red velvet details and brass fittings, fitting for an over 100 year old restaurant.
Located in the heart of Paris between Place de la Madeleine and Place de la Concorde, Chez Monsieur features a classic menu fit for a brasserie. Typically Parisian, the restaurant offers a traditional bistro experience with patterned walls and velvet-upholstered wall seats setting the scene to enjoy Burgundy snails with white butter sauce and a casserole veal blanquette dish.
La Bourse et La Vie is a bistor owned by an American chef and still proves to be a big hit amongst Parisians. Classic dishes are given a delicate tweak, giving it the bourgeois bistro experience. Serving up classics like steak frites to a chocolate mousse dessert, La Bourse et la Vie is the place to be for quality ingredients.
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Parcelles
Located on the side streets of Arts et Métiers and the Centre Pompidou, Parcelles is a 1936 bistro that transports you back to retro Paris. With authentic bistro furniture on vintage tiled flooring, the food is homey and traditional serving the likes of sea bass with risotto and pressed pork shank as mains and dark chocolate and caramelized pecan tarts for desert.