Paris: Classic French Restaurants (€/€€)

Perhaps the singular most frequent question I get asked having lived in Paris since 2016 is "do you have any recommendations for a great French restaurant?". The answer is Yes! This guide includes: 🇫🇷 20 Classic French brasseries and bistrots I've been to and loved, sorted from least to most expensive with price estimates per person. 🇫🇷 2 Corner Cafes that I truly adore (sometimes 'corner cafes' will also be brasseries or bistrots, but to me, corner cafes have their own special vibe). 🇫🇷 3 Corner Cafes that are specifically for great people-watching. 🇫🇷 5 Restaurants specializing in traditional dishes like crêpes, planches, flammekueche, French-style tapas, and more. [NEW: Nov 2024] 🇫🇷 13 Restaurants known for their views of the Eiffel Tower and city skyline. This guide does not include: French fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants. BONUS: If you purchase this guide and don't speak French, I'm happy to call and make one reservation for you. You also get: ✍️ My personal notes for each recommendation 📍 An interactive map of all recommendations 🔓 Access to all future updates (I add to it as a find great restaurants) 🎞️ Linked videos (where applicable) that bring recommendations and advice to life 💙 If you loved these suggestions, I would really appreciate it if you shared this guide with a friend, left a great review, or contributed a tip.

Read less

Updated ago

Bistrots & Brasseries

First of all, what's the difference between these classic French establishments?

Both are great for classic, traditional French food!

Watch on TikTok

In general ("en gros"):

- Brasseries will be bigger, more casual restaurants. Think of every French street corner adorned with cute wicker chairs. Brasseries will have bigger menus and relatively consistent options wherever you go. Because of their prime locations, the price is usually a tad elevated and quality can be mediocre, though there are also GREAT brasseries out there. Brasseries usually stay open longer and have continuous service ("service contenu"), i.e. they open in the morning and stay open between lunch and dinner, and then normally close around midnight or 1 AM. Reservations are not generally required.

- Bistrots are smaller, more intimate restaurants. These will usually be tucked away on a side street and have a quieter ambiance. The menu will be compact and varied by bistrot, but generally you can expect 2-4 options for each course (appetizer "entre", main "plat", and dessert). Prices are usually mid-range or higher and the food should be fantastic. Bistrots will have strict lunch and dinner hours (i.e. 12-2:30 PM and 7:30-10 PM, for example), and many times they will require reservations - though not every place will accept them.

Cheaper

<40 EUR total for two people (food + drinks).

Buy to unlock full guide

Access all the local insights and recommendations from @hilaryinparis when you purchase this guide.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hilary Matson | @hilaryinparis

Available for hire

Hello et bonjour ! I'm (another) American in Paris. I've lived in France since 2016 and I loooove sharing my Paris & France recs in hopes I can help others love this city and country as much as I do. I'm quite confident I've seen more of France than most French people, so no matter what you're looking for, I've (probably) done it! ✅ What I'm a great fit for: Mature travelers, couples, solo travelers, and families who enjoy soaking in authentic experiences, great food and wine, off-the-beaten-track gems, classic sites, and sustainable travel. 🌱 What's sustainable travel about? Traveling in a way that is kind to the environment, respectful of local culture, & supportive of the local economy. My trip-planning services are always through a sustainable lens. ❌ What I'm not a great fit for: Travelers focused on bars/clubbing or high-end shopping. ➡️ Follow me on TikTok, Instagram & Pinterest @hilaryinparis for Paris & France recommendations, tips, personal stories, and more. 🌍 PS: I'm on Thatch because I genuinely love sharing France with folks. My day job is running Yugen Earthside, a booking platform for responsible package trips primarily catering to groups of mature American travelers. My company's website is linked below.

Read less

What's included

Digital Map

Fully interactive, digital map for finding places nearby

47 places

47 hand-picked places with notes from the creator

1 extra guide

Access to additional guides curated by the creator.

1 link

1 link from the creator to go even deeper with more info

DESTINATION(S) COVERED

Paris, France

FOCUSES AND THEMES

Foodie

Format

Map

Maps are simple lists of places often grouped by themes, categories or geos.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What is Thatch?

Thatch is an online marketplace that provides instant access to thousands of vetted local experts and premium travel guides - making it the easiest and most affordable way to take high quality trips with less stress. For travel creators (tastemakers, travel advisors, influencers and local experts) Thatch makes it easy to curate, publish, and sell digital travel guides, itineraries and personalized planning services.

What if I’m not satisfied with my purchase?

How do I access my purchased guides?

Can I access my guide offline?

How often are guides updated?

Can I request a personalized guide or itinerary?

Can I sell my own travel guides and itineraries?

Save for Later