What to Eat in Paris: 10 Must-Try Foods & Where to Get Them
Let’s be honest, nobody comes to Paris only for the Eiffel Tower, however charming its sparkling lights are. For how long have you been dreaming of buttery croissant flakes gently cascading into your lap? Or in the immortal words of Carrie Bradshaw, drinking wine before noon?
The problem when deciding what to eat in Paris is that, despite many restaurants looking perfectly charming, there are lots of tourist traps. I was in Paris one summer with someone who suggested that a crepe stand in a particularly touristy area would be unlikely to still be in business if it was bad – but beware mes amis, this is precisely the issue!
Because there are so many tourists in Paris, bad food abounds – there are multiple places where locals would never go, but which still score highly in Google Maps, and to which people still appear to flock. Do not join the flock! Instead, read on for my ultimate guide to what to eat in Paris.
Wherever I travel, I am absolutely obsessed with finding the must-eat things for the region, as well as the best places to get them. Aside from the lockdown years, I’ve been to Paris every year for the last decade (sometimes twice – when the Eurostar calls, you answer).
I stick to a strict diet of at least one croissant per day on these trips, which is a requirement in Paris, and I’m very fussy about where I get them.
1. The Best Croissants in Paris (No Pre-Frozen Horrors Here)
First things first, and probably one of the main reasons you’re in Paris at all, croissants. But beware, not all croissants are created equal.
I distinctly recall, prior to my first trip to Paris a decade ago, telling a colleague how excited I was to eat a croissant in the land from whence it originates (oh, my unending desire to self-actualise by eating things in their native homes).
My hopes were dashed when my colleague told me that all the croissants in Paris are pre-made in factories off-site, brought in frozen, and are not at all special.
How could this be?! Horrors! From that moment, I made it one of my life’s missions to discover and sample all of the best freshly-made croissants in Paris, and what a joy it has been. The lesson: Paris is full of picturesque cafes, but don’t go just anywhere and expect a freshly-baked, buttery delight.
Instead, go here:
- The French Bastards – don’t be put off by the name, you need these light, golden delights in your life. This is my favourite Paris croissant spot, and they now have several shops.
- La Maison d’Isabelle – winner of the best croissant in Paris in 2018, you must try the croissants at this unassuming Left Bank gem. Combine it with a visit to the Notre Dame or Shakespeare and Company, or get picnic supplies at any of the nearby shops – a cheese shop, a deli, a wine shop, and many more are all lined up delightfully to fulfill your Paris picnic fantasies.
- Pain Pain – get a fluffy croissant from this Montmartre spot on your way to the Sacre Coeur.
- Carton – very close to the Gare du Nord, this place has won best croissant in Paris more than once. Perfect for your first Parisian croissant if you’re hopping off the Eurostar in the morning.
- Boulangerie Utopie – light and airy croissants served in an unassuming neighbourhood bakery with a line out the door.
- Mamiche – the croissants here are so delightfully buttery that we came two mornings in a row on a recent girls’ trip to Paris.
- Du Pain et des Idées – does a place called Bread and Ideas not just make you want to don a beret, fall in love with a hipster French baker-philosopher type, and never leave Paris? The croissants are excellent and very buttery, and are worth standing in the queue for.
2. Where to Get Great Coffee in Paris (yes, it exists!)
An interesting thing about Paris is that places with amazing croissants often do not have coffee that is even slightly decent, and great coffee shops, while they often sell sweet treats, tend not to sell croissants. I’m not sure why this is, but as a general rule, don’t get your coffee at your croissant shop. In my experience, good Parisian bakeries are more likely than coffee shops to have long queues, so get your croissant first if you want a hot beverage alongside it.
Historically, Paris isn’t particularly renowned for good coffee. And while coffee in Paris can still be a hit and miss experience, fear not, because here is my list of where to get the good stuff:
- Cafe Kitsuné, various locations – go to the one on the Rue de Rivoli before a stroll around the Tuilleries Gardens, or the one in the Palais Royal before visiting the Colonnes de Buren, a hidden gem for cool Paris photos.
- Days – hot tip, just around the corner from the French Bastards in St Denis, definitely get your coffee here instead.
- Noir – various locations – this lovely coffee shop has popped up all over Paris, and also serves really good cookies.
- The Coffee, various locations – slick and minimalist, with great coffee.
- Ten Belles, various locations – the one on the Rue de la Grange aux Belles is a five-minute walk across the Rue de Lancry bridge from Du Pain et des Idees.
- Dreamin Man – delicious coffee served out of a tiny cafe, three minutes away from Boulangerie Utopie.
3. Delicious Crêpes for a Cheap Lunch
If you haven’t had a crêpe yet (pronounced like “crap” but with a chic French roll of the R – but definitely not crap!), you are in for a treat.
These light and thin French pancakes, folded like origami into sophisticated triangle shapes, come with either sweet or savoury fillings and make for a delicious, cheap lunch on the go. Get cheese, ham, or egg if you want a sensible savoury filling, but I love the Nutella ones.
The best consistently good place to get them is Breizh Cafe (there are several of them). There’s also a very unfussy crêpe shop on the Rue de Rivoli called Happy Cafe, which churns out great, well-priced crepes – the location means you can have them in the sun in the Tuilleries Gardens.
Alternatively, take a stroll down the Rue Mouffetard in the Latin Quarter for crêpe heaven – it feels like every second shop is a crêpe shop.
4. Classic French Bistro Dishes
French bistros tend to be smaller and more casual than brasseries or restaurants. They serve traditional French comfort food, such as steak frites (French steak and fries), moules frites (mussels cooked in a white wine sauce, and served with fries), ouefs mayo (hard-boiled eggs with mayonnaise, a delicious starter or side dish), escargots (snails cooked in garlic butter), nicoise salad, omelettes, and French onion soup.
My favourite bistro delight is a Croque Monsieur (a ham and cheese sandwich with bechamel sauce), or a Croque Madame (with the addition of a fried egg on top).
Bistros are all over Paris, and most of them do simple food very well. But if you want a bit of Hemingway and Picasso with your sammich, go to Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots on the Left Bank. On the Right Bank, I like Chez Georges and Bistrot Victoires, which are rustic and unfussy.
One of the best things about Paris cafes and bistros is the amazing variety of really good, very well-priced wine, including Champagne, served by the glass. There is no better place for wine with lunch than Paris.
5. The Best Hot Chocolate in Paris
I recall learning, during French lessons in high school, that French children often have hot chocolate for breakfast. For years thereafter, I was obsessed with trying it. Take note, naysayers, this is not the watery, powdered beverage of your childhood.
French hot chocolate, if you do it right, is as decadent as Paris itself. It is indulgently thick, smooth, and rich – like a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fantasy of actual melted chocolate in a cup.
Here is where to get it:
- Angelina, various locations. This is the OG Paris hot chocolate at the tea room beloved by none other than Coco Chanel. Angelina also offers an iced hot chocolate in the summer, which is also a must-do. The problem with Angelina is that there is always a queue, and you can’t make a reservation. But fear not, the trick is to visit an Angelina which is situated within a tourist hotspot, like the one in the Palace of Versailles or in the Louvre, where the queues tend to move much faster. See the pour below and try not to drool.
- Ladurée, various locations. A beautifully decorated tea room, where it is much easier to get a table than at Angelina. Angelina and Ladurée both have great breakfast and lunch menus too – this is simple food done well, and presented beautifully.
- Cafe de Flore, left bank. Previously a left bank literary personality hangout, sadly a bit of an Instagrammer’s dream these days, but the hot chocolate is worth it.
6. Macarons Worthy of Blair Waldorf
I had a serious macaron fixation in my 20s, and I absolutely could not wait to try them in Paris. But nothing ruins the fantasy like a dry macaron, which breaks into nothingness upon first bite, the crumbly void matched only by its own indistinct flavour. Sadly, a lot of macarons in Paris fall into this category (words of heartbreak, I know).
A fresh macaron is lightly crisp on the outside, but chewy rather than hard, with a soft centre and a clearly discernible flavour. If you have any self-respect, get them from Pierre Hermé or Ladurée. Blair Waldorf put me on to both of these, and they do not disappoint.
7. The Most Gift-Worthy Chocolates in Paris
Shopping for chocolates in Paris, or giving them to someone as a gift, is the epitome of luxury. Although expensive, the chocolates at Alain Ducasse are very much worth it, and the range that they offer is truly impressive. Alternatively, I love Michel Cluizel – I always get a box of the sardine-shaped milk chocolates, adoringly presented in a sardine tin.
8. The Secret Spot for the Best Burger in Paris
I’m almost loath to mention this place, because it has definitely dropped in popularity in the last decade as more Instagrammable places make the “must do” Paris restaurant lists. Given how impossible it used to be to get a table, and the fact that the burgers are still life-changingly good, this is a great thing.
Prior to my first-ever trip to Paris, I read that Penelope Cruz had picked Ferdi as her favourite burger in the world. Lo and behold, when I looked it up, it was a remarkably affordable restaurant. This place is a few roads down from the Ritz, but remains casual, quirky, and well-priced.
You can only make reservations for Ferdi via text message (and since there are under 20 seats in the restaurant, you must make a reservation). Apart from the burgers, try the mac and cheese and the churros.
The reason I keep coming back (apart from the burger) is that, despite being loved by celebrities, Ferdi is remarkably unpretentious.
The first time we went, my (now) husband noticed a “fixer” on behalf of a high-profile guest come into the restaurant, trying to get a table without a reservation, and even sliding some money over to the staff members.
To Ferdi’s credit, the high-profiler was rebuffed, along with the cash. Obviously, I missed the entire event, as I was deep in my cheeseburger.
9. Italian Food
I know, I know, how dare I feature Italian food on this list? But trust me, when the craving strikes, Paris features some of the best Italian food outside of Italy. Here’s where to have it:
- Anywhere in the Big Mamma group. One of my friends lived in Paris for a few years, and told me that she never went out to eat apart from at these restaurants. The food is consistently good and well-priced, they have great vibes and interiors, and exciting cocktails. Also, the staff are always friendly, which is an unusual delight in Paris. The only downside is that the tables are difficult to get, and must be booked in advance. Combine Pink Mamma in Pigalle with a trip to the Moulin Rouge for a fabulous night out.
- Daroco. Serving pasta and fluffy Neopolitan pizzas, the one in the Galerie Vivienne is cosy and lovely when Paris is rainy.
10. All Things Truffle
I had no idea that Paris was a truffle lover’s paradise until, on our first trip to Paris, we stumbled upon the one and only Maison de la Truffe in Madeleine. This is an absolute haven for any truffle product, and there is a restaurant as well.
There is truffle everything on the restaurant menu, and it is absolutely fabulous. Also, it was featured in Emily in Paris as a hangout where Emily bumps into Brigitte Macron, so you know it’s chic. Even if you only pop into the shop, I always get a bottle of truffle oil to take home.
Apart from that, truffle treats about in Paris. Get truffle pasta at any restaurant in the Big Mamma group, or have a truffle pizza with views of the Eiffel Tower at Lou Lou.
Bonus: Paris Restaurants with Très Chic Views and Vibes
Lastly, a few places in Paris that hit the high mark of being Paris chic, having excellent views, and being worth the visit for the vibe.
Note: all of the places below have dress codes, which you should check online. You don’t need to go all out, but a lot of the time, you will not be allowed to enter if you’re wearing sweatpants or gym shoes, even if you have a reservation.
- Cafe Marly – Lonely Planet is right that you should come here mainly for the views. There is nothing wrong with the food, but what really stands out is the view of the Louvre pyramid. A booking here for breakfast, before the hordes descend, makes a trip to Paris very special.
- Girafe – We came here for our first lunch on a girls’ trip to Paris, and it did not disappoint. The food was excellent, the cocktails were fun and inventive, and the stunning views of the Eiffel Tower on a sunny day made the experience even better. The menu is quite expensive (and note that each person must order a main course), but it is certainly worth it.
- Lou Lou – Much loved Lou Lou is another spot for fabulous food with an even more fabulous view – I can think of few things more glamorous than a truffle pizza enjoyed in full view of the Eiffel Tower.
- Perruche – Not hidden, but certainly a gem. This place is on the beautiful roof terrace of the Printemps Haussmann department store, and makes delicious Provencal food with stunning views of the city. It stays open late, so it is a great option for Friday night dinner straight off the Eurostar.
Paris Dining Etiquette
A word to the wise: Parisian waiters have a reputation for unmatched snobbery. I’ve come to see this as part of the charm of Paris (and it is a lot better since Covid IMHO), but it can be slightly stressful at first.
Ease your passage by learning a few French words and dressing nicely, which is a form of politeness in Paris. And strangely, I find that smiling sometimes makes it worse – try to look ever so slightly bored, despite your utter delight at finally being in the City of Lights.
Bon appétit, mes amis.