Best Restaurants near Paris Tourist Attractions

Sometimes, restaurants located near popular tourist attractions (museums, cathedrals, parks, theaters) seem to tend to be expensive, unremarkable, and infrastructural.

They know you’re hungry after standing in line for hours to see the Mona Lisa smile, or before the curtain call at the Opéra Bastille, so they offer you a “fixed price” menu and a well-located terrace. But the gastronomy of Paris (or any city, actually) can and should be a major attraction. There’s no need to sacrifice taste or budget for convenience.

Here are some of our favorite spots to look for in the City of Light.

Near the Eiffel Tower: Francistra

If you’re visiting the city’s Iron Maiden, let’s be honest, who isn’t? — But if you want more than just crepes on a cart, and you can’t enjoy a multi-course meal at Jules Verne, head to this floating restaurant at the foot of the famous monument that opened in the summer of 2021. Flat barges on the Seine, you may be confused by people waiting for a cruise. But walk past them and you’ll find the owners of the newly opened bistro cocktail bar, which features indoor and outdoor tables to enjoy all year round. (That’s drinking and eating.) Whether you’re here for seasonal sunset snacks like homemade tarama and breaded Camembert, or more hearty classics like scallops or brisket, the glittering views of the Eiffel Tower are included. There is also a wine cellar located under the river that can be privatized for groups to have dinner in wine.

Near the Champs-Elysées: Le Mermoz

You might be tempted to just duck into the “five” because that’s what you know; Or wait in line at Laudrée, because that’s what you’re reading. But after viewing or climbing the Arc de Triomphe, those who wander a side street at the eastern end of the avenue will be rewarded with a meal prepared by American chef Thomas Graham. During the day, there is a more traditional entrees-platter-dessert à la carte menu, while in the evenings, there are shared small plates ranging from €9 to €21, such as pillow-style pasta with sweet potatoes and chicken casserole with noise. Plum. While Graham changes the menu depending on the season, if there’s a menu, don’t miss his deconstructed, not at all classic onion soup featuring trout roe and almond slices. The wines are mostly natural or biodynamic, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the walls are hung with peculiar illustrations of French life.

Near Montmartre and Sacre Coeur: Café de Luce

The restaurant on this hill is well known among the locals and has grown over the years. The northern part of this wooded area has a lot to offer, and it was actually woodland before it became the home of artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Auguste Renoir and Henri de Toulouse Lautrec. The hills and labyrinth of cobblestone streets are not only suitable for getting lost in old Paris, but chefs like Amandine Chaignot, who studied under Jean-François Piège and Eric Frechon, cook haute couture café and bistro cuisine from morning to night – for travelers who can’t follow the city’s strict rules for lunches (12 noon to 2:30 pm for lunch and 7 pm to 10:30 pm for dinner), is the ideal choice. Whether you head there first to try the croissant sandwich (which quickly became legendary) or try something more hearty like beef tartare or a minced burger with a bowl of fries later in the day, you won’t leave hungry.

Near the Louvre: Ha Noi 1988

The scent of cardamom and cloves is common on the streets of Paris, but the best Vietnamese restaurants are usually not located in the heart of the Île de la Cité, just off the Pont Neuf and just a stone’s throw from the Louvre. That said, they didn’t realize it until the opening of this two-storey restaurant with bamboo lamps and flower birdcages. Here, young chef Huy (born 1988) focuses on the cuisine of his native northern Vietnam, with all ingredients homemade, including the yeast of his signature whole-grain beef quail egg steamed buns. Most Vietnamese classics are also on the menu – from piping hot spicy beef pho to plates of bò bún, served with the crispest nem and dipped in their own chili sauce. Or even better? The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and is open continuously on weekends. Reservations are not required, but are recommended.

Near Opéra Bastille and the Marais: Brasserie Rosie

The southern part of the Marais is close to the river, and it’s more densely populated with chic boutiques and parks like Place des Vosges than really striking sit-down dining venues. So when Brasserie Rosie opened its doors on the busy rue Faubourg Saint-Antoine near Place de la Bastille, those of us who live in the neighborhood were very satisfied. For Paris, the space is surprisingly large, with several different seating areas: a dining car-style private room and counter seating at the front, a more open dining room at the back, and two private rooms upstairs with large tables for groups with old-fashioned wedding photos hanging on whimsical wallpapers. While the menu itself is standard bistro fare – changing meats according to the season – the execution and presentation are anything but the case. Rosie prides itself on using seasonal ingredients from local suppliers. The cocktail menu is also wonderful, with drinks such as “chai pineapple kush” on napkins cleverly listed with phone numbers and “you’re cute, call me” notes. (Sadly, the call didn’t go through!)