Restaurants in Paris: 20 addresses, one for each arrondissement

In Paris and the Île-de-France region, there are 14,602 restaurants (according to VisitParisRegion, 09/2026). Choosing one for the evening is hard: near Notre-Dame Cathedral, in Montmartre, and by the Eiffel Tower, you're greeted with menus in five languages and a bill that charges for the view.

We've put together 20 addresses, one for each arrondissement of Paris. Below are price ranges, opening hours, service rules, and five mistakes that make dinner more expensive. You'll get a list that makes it easy to pick a restaurant for your evening.

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Why it's easy to fall into a tourist trap in Paris

💡 In short:

• A good sign: people at neighboring tables are speaking French.
• The best value meal: the set lunch menu (formule du midi) at a bistro.
• Dinner starts around 7:00 PM, and kitchens are closed between lunch and dinner.
• Tap water is served free of charge, and tips remain voluntary (economie.gouv.fr).

© Yann Caradec from Paris, France · CC BY-SAPhoto: Yann Caradec from Paris, France, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Paris is big, and you can have dinner here in very different ways. There are tens of thousands of restaurants, quality varies dramatically, and near the main landmarks the price is driven not by the kitchen but by the view from the window.

The first restaurant in the modern sense opened in Paris in 1765 in the Louvre quarter: guests got individual tables and their own menu instead of a shared dish of the day (according to VisitParisRegion). Since then, the city has grown accustomed to choice. Michelin stars alone mark 137 establishments in Paris and the region (2024 data, list of starred addresses).

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The list is long, but the quality within it varies greatly. Streets near monuments live on foot traffic, residential neighborhoods keep regular guests, and the map usually shows who an establishment works for.

The problem is different: near the Eiffel Tower and in the center of Montmartre, a restaurant often pays for the rent, not the chef's work, so you pay for the address, not the kitchen. Step one street away from the square, and the bill drops at the same level of food.

How to tell a good restaurant from a tourist trap

The check takes two minutes. You do it before you take a table, and it saves you an entire evening.

Look at the guests at neighboring tables

First, glance into the dining room and listen. If you hear French at most tables, that's the most reliable sign: locals return to places that cook consistently. If the room is full of groups with a guide and everyone speaks English, check the menu especially carefully.

Read the menu, not the window display

A short seasonal menu says more about the kitchen than a shiny window display and photos of dishes at the entrance. Look for plat du jour, the dish of the day: it's made today and usually cheaper than the other items. A very long menu with dozens of dishes often means half the prep is simply reheated.

Step one street away from the monument

Addresses right by the Eiffel Tower, on the embankments near Notre-Dame, and in the center of Montmartre are more expensive at every level: there you pay for the view and the foot traffic, not the food. Take one street away from the square. Off to the side, you'll find the same dishes cheaper, and the wait for a table will be shorter.

How much it costs to eat in Paris

The benchmarks below are approximate: prices in Paris depend heavily on the arrondissement, and you'll see the exact amount only on a specific establishment's menu.

Breakfast. A croissant and coffee to go from a bakery is the cheapest option, usually within a few euros. Breakfast at a table in a cafe costs noticeably more, and with eggs and juice at a well-known spot the total easily becomes double digits. At famous Saint-Germain cafes like Café de Flore, you pay extra for the address.

Lunch. The formule du midi at a bistro is the best deal of the day. A set lunch of two or three courses usually costs in the lower double-digit range, and in the evening the same items cost more.

Bistros and brasseries. Dinner at a bistro per person runs a mid double-digit check, at a brasserie usually slightly more. A main course, dessert, and coffee at a brasserie before wine already add up to a noticeable sum.

Gastronomy. A menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant costs several times more than a bistro, and with wine the bill easily becomes three digits. A wine pairing raises the cost of dinner the most.

Drinks. An espresso on a terrace in Saint-Germain costs more than at the counter in a residential neighborhood, and beer and especially cocktails quickly push up the bill. The saving is simple: ask for a carafe of house wine, vin en pichet, instead of a bottle from the list.

Daily budget. If you're counting money, have breakfast at a bakery, lunch on a set menu, and dinner at an inexpensive bistro. A mixed day with coffee, lunch, and dinner costs noticeably more, and an evening at a restaurant with wine easily doubles food expenses. The most expensive part is not the food, but the drinks and desserts you add to the main course.

When Parisians go to dinner and how to pay

Dinner here is late. Classic restaurants open the dining room around 7:00 PM, and the kitchen is closed between lunch and dinner. If you arrive at 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, you'll end up at a place that works for tourists.

• Service is included in the price under French law, and a waiter cannot demand tips (French rule on service).
• Tips are voluntary. Rounding the bill up is appropriate if the service was attentive.
• Ask for free water. A carafe of tap water (une carafe d'eau) must be served by the restaurant at no extra charge if you're dining in (economie.gouv.fr).
• Don't seat yourself. Wait to be shown to a table.

In practice, this means: the bill is already complete, and there's no need to rush with tips. Look at the service, not the habit. If you pay by card, the terminal often offers to choose a tip percentage: you can press the button, but there's no obligation.

Five mistakes that make dinner in Paris more expensive

• Arriving at 6:00 PM. At this time kitchens are still closed, so the only places open are those that work on tourist flow.
• Going on Friday or Saturday without a reservation. In the Marais, Saint-Germain, the 11th arrondissement, and Montmartre, good tables are booked in advance, and by evening you'll be left with only pass-through spots.
• Choosing a menu with pictures in five languages. A colorful board at the entrance rarely means a good kitchen; more often it stands where a guest comes only once.
• Looking only at the average rating. A place with a good score near a monument may cook worse than a modest bistro in a residential neighborhood: read the text of reviews, not the number.
• Paying for the view. A table with a panorama of the rooftops doesn't guarantee food quality, and often half the bill is exactly the view from the window.

Which Paris neighborhoods are pleasant for dinner

© Andrew H · CC BYPhoto: Andrew H, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

If you want a noisy evening with bars, choose Bastille or the Marais: restaurants there stand almost side by side, and the choice is huge. For a quiet dinner, Saint-Germain is a better fit, where the cuisine is traditional and the dining rooms are small. Montmartre is most beautiful late in the evening, when tourist groups have already left, and Canal Saint-Martin is good for modern cuisine and a young crowd.

How to choose a restaurant to your taste

If you already know what you want to eat today, the list narrows down to a few addresses.

The neighborhoods' cuisines also point you in the right direction: the 13th arrondissement is strong on Vietnamese food, the 9th on Italian, and the 16th on fish. With these hints, you can narrow your search to two or three addresses before you even leave the hotel.

Below are 20 addresses, one for each arrondissement. The list covers different cuisines: classics, seafood, Vietnamese and Savoyard food, pizza and gastronomy. Check the locations on the map and book a table in advance.

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1. Le Tout-Paris

A restaurant between the Louvre and the Seine with a terrace above the rooftops of Paris. The menu features seasonal dishes: turbot with lemon butter, tenderloin with a classic sauce. A good way to end the day after the museum.

• Location: 1st arrondissement.
• The catch: top-tier prices.

2. Frenchie

Modern cuisine with seasonal ingredients: lamb with herbs, homemade pasta. The dining room is small and lively, more urban than touristy.

© Kossy@FINEDAYS · CC BYPhoto: Kossy@FINEDAYS, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), Flickr

• Location: 2nd arrondissement.
• The catch: you need to book a table in advance.

3. Les Enfants Rouges

It sits next to the oldest market in Paris, Marché des Enfants Rouges. Historic atmosphere and modern cuisine: duck confit, fish with seasonal vegetables. A calm but not plain dining room.

• Who it's for: a quiet dinner in the Marais without the crowds.

4. Au Bourguignon du Marais

Classic French cuisine: beef bourguignon, onion soup, duck confit. A typical bistro dining room: warm, lively, no fuss.

• Location: 4th arrondissement, the Marais.
• The catch: noisy at peak hours.

5. Les Papilles

A small restaurant in the Latin Quarter with a menu that changes every day. They usually serve a fixed three-course lunch: veal in cream sauce, homemade dessert. The dining room is quiet.

• The catch: set menu only, you can't order individual dishes.

6. Polidor

Wooden tables, old mirrors and classics like steak with fries and ratatouille. Here you'll feel old Paris.

© Celette · CC BY-SAPhoto: Celette, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Location: 6th arrondissement, Saint-Germain.
• Who it's for: getting to know a traditional Parisian bistro.

7. Le Petit Cler

A solid bistro in the 7th arrondissement. The Eiffel Tower area is packed with tourist restaurants, so double-check the menu here.

• The catch: the neighboring streets live entirely off tourists.

8. Le Bistro Marbeuf

An elegant brasserie near the Champs-Élysées. The menu features seafood, steak and classic desserts: crème brûlée, tart. The interior is stylish and slightly nostalgic.

• The catch: prices in the Champs-Élysées area are above the city average.

9. Peppe Pizzeria

Neapolitan pizza with a puffy crust, burrata and fresh tomatoes. The dining room is young and lively.

• Location: 9th arrondissement.
• Not for: a quiet romantic dinner.

10. Brasserie Bellanger

A modern brasserie with the classics: entrecôte, fish of the day. A calm dining room in the 10th arrondissement, convenient after a walk along the Canal Saint-Martin.

• Who it's for: lunch after a stroll along Canal Saint-Martin.

11. Le Chalet Savoyard

A Savoyard restaurant: raclette, cheese fondue, potatoes, ham, and pickles. The cheese is melted right at your table.

• When: especially good in fall and winter.
• Who it's for: a long evening with friends or family.

12. L'Ébauchoir

A bistro with an original menu: fried fish with vegetables, meat with a delicate sauce. The dining room is quiet and local, with almost no tourists.

• Location: 12th arrondissement.
• Who it's for: if you're looking for a restaurant where Parisians actually eat.

13. Chào Bà

Vietnamese food in the 18th arrondissement, on Boulevard de Clichy: pho, crispy spring rolls, rice noodle bowls. The cooking is light and spicy, and prices are moderate.

• Not for: classic French cuisine.

14. Le Cornichon

A small modern bistro with seasonal cooking and a curated wine list: veal in cream sauce, fish of the day. A calm dining room, more locals than tourists.

• The catch: the dining room is small, so book ahead.

15. Neige d'Été

French-Japanese cuisine executed with great precision: beautifully composed sets of fish and vegetables. The dining room is quiet, bright, and deliberately minimalist.

• Not for: a loud group.
• Who it's for: a special evening.

16. Le Stella

A brasserie focused on seafood: oysters, lobster, fish platters, and classic desserts. The interior is elegant, with no nod to minimalist trends.

• Location: 16th arrondissement.
• Who it's for: a seafood dinner in the western part of Paris.

17. Le Wagon Bleu

A restaurant set in a historic Orient Express carriage. It serves Corsican cuisine: spicy sausages, cheese, hearty meat dishes.

• Who it's for: if you want an unusual evening and Corsican food.

18. Edmond

A bistro in Montmartre, away from the crowds at Sacré-Cœur. Modern French cooking in a calm dining room.

• The catch: book a table for the evening.
• Who it's for: if you value quality over a view.

19. Le Passage à Niveau

A restaurant with a garden in the 19th arrondissement. The cooking is simple French: seasonal vegetables, classic main courses. You won't find central Paris here, but you will find local character.

• The catch: it's not central, so you have to travel to get there.

20. Le Baratin

A simple, honest restaurant loved by locals. The menu features braised meat and classics with a new twist. The interior is modest, the atmosphere lively.

© mu foo · CC BYPhoto: mu foo, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), Flickr

• Location: 20th arrondissement.
• Who it's for: if you want to see the real Paris.

Five neighborhoods and 20 addresses give you a choice for every evening of your trip. Now let's sort out the questions that most often come up before a first dinner.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does dinner cost at a restaurant in Paris?

At a bistro, dinner per person usually runs to a mid double-digit check, at a brasserie it's a bit more, and near monuments and in Saint-Germain it's higher still. Check the menu posted at the entrance for exact prices. The cheapest option is the prix fixe lunch during the day: it's noticeably cheaper than dinner.

Do you need to leave a tip at a Paris restaurant?

No, tipping is voluntary. Service is already included in the price by law, and the waiter cannot demand it (tipping rules). If the service was attentive, you can round the bill up. You don't have to leave a fixed percentage.

What time do people eat dinner in Paris?

Classic restaurants start serving around 7:00 pm. Kitchens close between lunch and dinner, so at 5:00 pm you'll only find places aimed at tourists. Book a table for 7:30 pm or later if you want to see Parisians in the dining room rather than tour groups.

Can you drink tap water at a restaurant?

Yes. Ask for une carafe d'eau, a pitcher of tap water. Paris restaurants are required to serve it free of charge if you're eating in (DGCCRF rules). A bottle of water from the menu costs money, so order one only if you want it.

How do you avoid a tourist trap in Paris?

Look at the menu and the dining room. A short menu with a dish of the day and French being spoken at the neighboring tables says more than the window display. Walk one street away from the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, or the quays near Notre-Dame. Prices are lower there, and the wait is shorter.

In short: what's worth booking

Paris rewards those who plan dinner in advance. If you have one evening and want a view of the city, go for Le Tout-Paris. If you want the classics, choose Polidor or Au Bourguignon du Marais. Le Baratin and L'Ébauchoir deliver an honest, affordable dinner. For fish and oysters, Le Stella fits the bill, and for an unusual evening, Le Wagon Bleu.

Book your table in advance, and for weekends, as early as possible. For food tours and tastings around Paris, check GetYourGuide.