Where to Eat in Paris: the Best Spots
From the bouillons to the Marais falafel, passing through the crepes: the gastronomic route through Paris with the places you go back to again and again.
There’s a myth doing the rounds that says eating in Paris is expensive. It’s a lie, and the proof is made by millions of Parisians every day in the bouillons, the boulangeries, the markets and the local crêperies. What happens is that Paris rewards those who know where they’re going. If you’re coming for the whole city, the route is in our Paris travel guide. This guide is that thing: the foodie route by neighbourhood that we’d do again, with the spots half of the Internet recommends and, above all, the ones local people actually use.
A quick note on Parisian cooking: snails, onion soup, boeuf bourguignon, duck confit and crème brûlée are the classics you have to try; bouillons (working-class historic dining rooms) are the best gateway; and yes, the Marais falafel is as much a part of Paris as the Eiffel Tower. If you haven’t tried any of it, the best part of the trip is still ahead of you.
Le Marais area: the neighbourhood that eats all by itself
L’As du Fallafel — the queue that’s worth it
On Rue des Rosiers, in the heart of the Jewish quarter, is the most famous food stand in the Marais… and rightly so. Order the falafel spécial (with aubergine, hummus, cabbage and tahini sauce, around EUR 8-9), grab your pita, cross two streets and eat it sitting in Place des Vosges: one of the best picnic lunches in the city. The queue can be daunting at first sight, but it moves fast. Warning to save you disappointment: it closes on Saturdays, and if you don’t want to wait, go to Chez Hanna, 20 metres away, which many locals prefer.
Marché des Enfants Rouges — eating at a market (since 1615)
The oldest covered market in Paris is a perfect plan for a stress-free lunch: Moroccan, Japanese, Italian, Lebanese stalls… you pick two or three, share a table with strangers and try a bit of everything for little money. Good prices, local market atmosphere and shared tables where you end up chatting to anyone about anything while having something tasty.
Breizh Café — real Breton galettes
If you want to try real crêpes (or better, the savoury buckwheat galettes), Breizh Café is the temple. The batter, the cheese, the Bordier butter… star-quality food at crêperie prices. Warning: the place is tiny and it fills up, so book if you can. For dessert, the sweet crêpe with salted-butter caramel is an obligation you can’t skip.
Grands Boulevards area: bouillons, the great cheap legend of Paris
Bouillon Chartier (Grands Boulevards)
We already told you about it in the Paris travel guide and we’ll say it again: the Bouillon Chartier is the Parisian experience par excellence. Historic dining room since 1896, waiters in waistcoats who write your order on the tablecloth, and classic French cooking (onion soup, snails, boeuf bourguignon, duck…) from just a few euros. The queue is famous but moves quickly and, to top it off, it’s open every day with no booking needed: it’s the fail-safe cheap dinner of the city.
Bouillon Pigalle — the modern brother (perfect after Montmartre)
Same philosophy as Chartier but with 21st-century decor: Bouillon Pigalle, next to the Moulin Rouge and a stone’s throw from Montmartre, serves traditional French food from around EUR 5-6 a dish. It’s the ideal spot to come down from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and end the day without breaking the bank. Eat early or late, but don’t skip the crème brûlée.
The sweet chapter: crêpes, waffles and cravings
La Crème de Paris — the crêpe craving, always sorted
For the sweet chapter we keep recommending La Crème de Paris: stylish crêpes and waffles all over town, perfect for the treat on the way back from a monument. Sure, it’s a chain, but one of the good ones, with central locations and portions that justify the walk. The chocolate waffles… I’ll say no more.
Du Pain et Des Idées — pure, traditional bakery
We can’t leave Paris without trying its most iconic symbol: the croissant. For that we went for Du Pain et Des Idées. One of the most classic bakeries in the Marais, where the croissant is fermented for 30-36 hours. And you can tell: crisp, flaky layers on the outside, a tender crumb inside and a real butter aroma.
Tips for eating in Paris without breaking the bank
- The midday “formule” is the trick. Almost every restaurant offers a set menu on weekdays (starter + main + dessert for around EUR 15-20). It’s the same food that costs twice as much in the evening.
- The jambon-beurre from the boulangerie. The baguette with butter and ham from a local bakery is, along with the croissant, the best value for money in the city. If the morning queue is full of French people, you’re on the right track.
- Tap water is free. Ask for “une carafe d’eau” and forget about paying for bottles.
- Coffee at the counter costs half the price of sitting on the terrace. And if you don’t want to leave a tip, no problem: service is included.
- Move two streets away from the monument. The restaurants facing the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or the Champs-Élysées pay rents that you end up paying for. Be wary of the menu in six languages: look for the queue where French is being spoken.
How to find your table with Trively
And the usual confession: this doesn’t go on paper. We carry Trively with the trip’s food list saved by neighbourhood, open at the exact moment we were about to eat and with no more “so what’s here?” arguments. Look, the bridge was getting cold and the falafel was still warm.
Eating in Paris is a subject you pass with flying colours if you know where. Save this guide, invite your group along and let everyone pick their own bouillon. Bon appétit!
Prices and opening hours change often: check the official websites before you go.