Paris,
where I'd eat

Paris's oldest Japanese (1958); nabe hotpot & sushi; set menus €21–65

Casual sushi/ramen lunch, Rue Sainte-Anne

No-bookings market counter, Japanese-inflected seafood

Saint-Germain cocktail institution; cocktails ~€14

Buci corner; terrace, evening drinks

"Bistro de la mer"; oysters, octopus; lunch formula €25/29

Christophe Adam café; champG Palmer

Chic Japanese; Matignon branch off the Champs; set lunch €40/45

Café with vinyl/jazz; sando €10–16, breakfast to cocktails

Top fav — Assaf Granit's modern Ashkenazi in the Grand Mazarin hotel; gorgeous late cocktail bar, upscale; champG Taittinger

Bakery; Grand Prix baguette, superb croissants

Upscale Cantonese/Shanghainese; set €21.50 lunch / €34 dinner

New (2025) old-school brasserie; ~80 wines

Fresh hand-rolled temaki; no wine list

Home of the viral "crookie"; champG Maison David

Assaf Granit's Levantine "ceremony", Rue Saint-Sauveur — fully vegetarian, no fish/meat

Cheap ramen/gyoza; no bookings, beer/sake only, expect a queue

Soba specialist; prix-fixe €65

Handmade udon, Palais-Royal (wrote "kinutoriya"); no bookings

Neighbourhood sushi-ya, Rungis fish

Japanese izakaya, natural wines

Cyril Lignac; sushi/maki; cheapest white Chablis €46

2 stars; ≤10 seats omakase; pairing €75/110

1 star, 8-seat omakase; lunch €150

1 star, 9-seat omakase

1 star, edomae counter; lunch from €65

Japanese fine dining (Onii-San group); ~€100+ pp

Levha sisters; French with Asian touches; natural wine

1 star, Grébaut; benchmark modern; lunch €85

Septime's no-bookings seafood/oyster bar

French technique, Japanese ingredients

Meat & wine bistro (wrote "Le Bon George"); Grand Award list, bottles from ~€30

Cyril Lignac's Saint-Germain bistro; wines mostly >€100

Natural-wine neo-bistro (French); à la carte €55–95

Bistronomie near Le Bon Marché; tasting €56

Eel-focused bistronomie; dinner tasting €89

Apartment-styled Marais rooms; bottles ~€25–35

Facing the Louvre; Scandi influence; menu-carte €39, champG Drappier €80

Neighbourhood bistronomie; lunch €31/36

World-cuisine "tapassiettes"; natural wine only

Regional bistro nr République; lunch €23/27

Neo-bistro; natural wine

Neighbourhood bistro; dinner set €50

Cheap bistronomic; eve tapas, natural wine

Honest seasonal cooking; lunch €21

Seafood tapas, natural wine; lunch €18/21

Seafood small plates, Belleville; lunch €18/22

Bistro (Reynaud, sold end-2025); cheapest bottle ~€28

Franco-Japanese tasting menu; 9-course €120

Piège's 1-star classic Halles bistro; lunch menu €48

Archetypal Paris bistro; bottles from ~€36, champG €48; phone-only

Bib Gourmand sibling; natural wines; lunch €26

Old-school since 1964, Rue du Mail; prices on blackboard

Provençal; 80+ pastis; champG Roederer

Institution since 1880; €19.90 lunch formule

Lyonnais bouchon since 1890; set lunch €34

Soufflés institution (savoury €22–29)

Red-check Saint-Germain bistro, Rue Christine; Burgundy from €39.50

Seine terrace, quai des Célestins

Tiny; 200+ natural wines, cheapest red Gamay €28; book ahead

Wine bistro, Cherche-Midi; lunch €29/35, chalkboard

Historic-monument wine bar/bistro; daily menu

Sommelier-run Marais wine bistro; glasses ~€7

Natural wine + pizzette €6–8; eve wine bar

Camdeborde standing tapas counter; mostly by glass €4–9

Tartines & charcuterie, Croix-Rouge; cash only, glass ~€7

Iconic Saint-Germain café; full list published

Literary landmark; champG Veuve Clicquot

Wine bar since 1954; Poilâne casse-croûtes

Le Quellec, 2 stars; dinner €290–365

1-star seafood; lunch €55–69

Belle Époque, Gare de Lyon; set €54–120

Left Bank classic, Quai Voltaire; full list published

Restored 19th-c. institution; 800-ref list, rarely <€100

Seafood; Eiffel-view terrace; champG by glass

Palais de Tokyo; Seine/Eiffel terrace; champG Moët

Montparnasse brasserie & piano bar; lunch €47

Historic caviar house (1927), Madeleine; ~€100+ pp

Rooftop of the Opéra Garnier; live music

Giovanni Passerini, fresh pasta (Wed–Sat); lunch €34/42

Simone Tondo osteria, Passage des Panoramas; lunch €38

Pierre Gagnaire's Italian; avg ~€65

Tiny organic Italian, ~15 seats; lunch €38/45

Fresh-pasta trattoria since 1978

Tuscan chef, Ménilmontant; tasting €28–74

Trattoria + concept store; only prosecco/Franciacorta

Italian/pizza, ex-Gaultier atelier

Riviera Italian; terrace over the Tuileries

Palais de Tokyo trattoria, Eiffel views; champG PJ Grand Brut

Cheap Belleville Chinese; BYO €5 corkage

Thai/Lao institution since 1985; natural reds from €32

Korean street food; bibimbap, fried chicken; wine by glass

Assaf Granit, 1 star, counter; bottles €32–280

Moroccan; 100% natural wines

Berber-Moroccan; good value, set menus ~€14.50

Argentinian grill, Malbec; wine by glass, tango nights

Californian cantina; set lunch €40/dinner €50

Latin-American cantina; cheap bottles €12–21

French with Asian touches; sesame-seared tuna

Casual oysters & seafood; no reservations

Aged beef, tartare; natural wine ~€10/glass

450-seat classic bouillon; very cheap, continuous service

Ever-busy, noon–midnight; Limoux crémant €32

Eggs Benedict specialist, Marais

Bistro/brewpub, weekend brunch €27

Shakshuka, pancakes, acclaimed coffee; brunch ~€28

Tearoom/patisserie since 1927; Ruinart by glass

Restaurant-club; dinner + cocktails, late; premium list

Women-run bakery; babka €9.50, croissants

Lunch-only café-bistro; natural wine €26–60, books ahead

Mokonuts' walk-in sister; rotating chefs, ~€30–50 pp

All-day bistro; house Beaujolais, open 7 days

Rotating chef-in-residence; glasses €8–12, no reservations