Paris restaurant guide

The food: Premium beef sits alongside seafood, small plates, and richer comfort dishes. Check the current menu if someone in your party does not eat meat.

Insider tip: Ask for the Salle 1900 beneath the glass roof, and confirm which room your reservation covers.

Solicite: A table in Salle 1900 for two; we’re celebrating [occasion].

Not ideal if: You want a simple neighborhood bistro or a low-key bill.

The food: French and international favorites suit a leisurely meal, with cocktails as much a part of the evening as dinner.

Insider tip: Contact the restaurant directly about reservations. Ask for the courtyard in suitable weather or a quieter indoor table if conversation comes first.

Solicite: A courtyard table for two, if available, for [date].

Not ideal if: You want a hushed room or a long tasting menu.

The food: Classic French dishes suit a traditional dinner. Consult the current menu and any entertainment schedule before choosing your date.

Insider tip: Ask which dining room your table will be in. If live music matters, confirm the program for your evening.

Solicite: A table in the main dining room for [party size], celebrating [occasion].

Not ideal if: You prefer a simple, contemporary setting.

The food: Grilled meat, fish, and sharing dishes suit a sociable meal. Check the current menu for your party’s preferences.

Insider tip: The garden and indoor salons offer different experiences. Request the setting you prefer and confirm the weather alternative.

Solicite: A garden table for [party size], weather permitting, celebrating [occasion].

Not ideal if: Quiet conversation is your first priority on a busy evening.

The food: Modern French tasting menus are central to the experience. Discuss dietary needs before booking and allow time to enjoy each course.

Insider tip: Check the current service days, menu format, and dress requirements directly with the restaurant; leave your next appointment for another day.

Solicite: A table for two for [occasion]; please advise on the menu and expected dining time.

Not ideal if: You need a quick dinner or want to arrive very late.

The food: Seasonal French tasting menus invite you to settle in. Ask about the current vegetarian menu and any dietary requirements before reserving.

Insider tip: Request a garden-facing table and confirm the service days and dress requirements for your date.

Solicite: A garden-facing table for two, if available, for our [occasion].

Not ideal if: You want cocktails, loud music, and a late-night crowd.

The food: French brasserie cooking gives the table a broad choice, including seafood and familiar classics. Check the menu before booking with children or dietary needs.

Insider tip: Confirm terrace availability and any music program for your date rather than assuming the daytime and evening atmosphere will be the same.

Solicite: A terrace table for [party size], if available, for [lunch/dinner].

Not ideal if: You want an intimate room with very little background activity.

The food: Peruvian and Japanese influences meet in raw preparations and sharing dishes. Ask about spice levels and options for anyone avoiding raw fish.

Insider tip: Check the evening’s music, dress expectations, and seating choices directly with the restaurant.

Solicite: A dinner table for [party size]; we’d enjoy a lively setting.

Not ideal if: You want a quiet family meal or an early night.

The food: Seafood leads the menu, from raw preparations to cooked fish. Review the alternatives before booking if someone in your party avoids fish or shellfish.

Insider tip: Tell the restaurant whether you prefer the dining room or terrace, then ask it to confirm what your reservation includes.

Solicite: A terrace table for [party size], if available, for [occasion].

Not ideal if: Your party needs a broad choice of meat-free or seafood-free dishes.

The food: Cantonese cooking, dim sum, and dishes for sharing make the meal a conversation around the table. Ask which specialties require advance ordering.

Insider tip: Discuss your party size, dietary needs, and preferred dishes when booking so the restaurant can advise on the menu.

Solicite: A table for [party size]; we’d like to share several Cantonese dishes.

Not ideal if: You are choosing primarily for an Eiffel Tower view.

The food: Japanese cooking with French influences includes raw seafood, sushi, and cooked dishes. Check the menu for vegetarian choices and any dietary needs.

Insider tip: Ask whether your booking covers the dining room or seasonal rooftop; they are different settings.

Solicite: A dining-room table for two for [occasion], with time for a drink before dinner.

Not ideal if: You want a traditional French meal.

The food: Seasonal French tasting menus reward an unhurried evening. Confirm the current menu, price, and dietary arrangements directly with the restaurant.

Insider tip: Leave plenty of time between your afternoon plans and dinner, and ask about the expected meal length before booking anything afterward.

Solicite: A table for two for [occasion]; please advise on the tasting menus.

Not ideal if: You want an informal dinner with flexible, quick pacing.

The food: Mediterranean and North African influences run through sharing plates, vegetables, fish, and meat. Let the restaurant guide portions for your group.

Insider tip: For an easier conversation, request an earlier seating and a table away from the busiest part of the open kitchen.

Solicite: A table for [party size], early evening, where we can talk comfortably.

Not ideal if: You are looking for a formal, hushed dining room.

The food: Provençal and Mediterranean dishes include vegetables, seafood, and sharing plates. Check the current menu for your family’s preferences.

Insider tip: Confirm the entrance and access instructions, particularly after store hours, and ask what happens to terrace reservations in poor weather.

Solicite: A terrace table for [party size], if available, for [lunch/dinner].

Not ideal if: A quiet indoor room matters more than rooftop atmosphere.

The food: Cantonese dishes and sharing specialties let you build the meal around your party. Ask about advance orders and current menu choices.

Insider tip: If you would enjoy live music, ask the restaurant whether it is scheduled on your date before reserving.

Solicite: A table for [party size] for [occasion]; is live music planned that evening?

Not ideal if: You want a small, understated neighborhood restaurant.

The food: Pan-Asian cooking with a Japanese emphasis includes raw seafood and richer sharing dishes. Check the current menu for vegetarian options.

Insider tip: For a group, ask about private dining, capacity, and minimum spending. Confirm terrace arrangements separately.

Solicite: A table for [party size] for [occasion]; please explain the indoor and terrace options.

Not ideal if: Quiet conversation is essential throughout the evening.

The food: Italian cooking centers on seasonal produce, pasta, fish, and meat. Ask the team to explain the current à la carte and tasting-menu choices.

Insider tip: Request the setting you prefer and ask whether garden-side or terrace seating is offered on your date.

Solicite: A table for two for [occasion], garden-side if available.

Not ideal if: You want a quick, casual bowl of pasta.

The food: Seasonal French menus include fish, meat, and vegetable dishes. Check the current set menus and any supplements before booking.

Insider tip: Use the restaurant’s dedicated entrance at 27 Quai Jacques Chirac and confirm arrival instructions before your visit.

Solicite: A table for [party size] for [occasion]; please confirm the restaurant entrance.

Not ideal if: You want a small neighborhood room with no landmark premium.

The food: French and international dishes provide a familiar choice for a group. Check the current menu and serving times if you are dining around a performance.

Insider tip: Tell the restaurant your curtain time or arrival after the show, and confirm which service will work.

Solicite: A table for [party size] at [time]; we’re attending a performance at [time].

Not ideal if: You need a silent room or a meal with very tight timing.

The food: Italian and Mediterranean cooking puts pasta, seasonal vegetables, fish, and dishes to share at the center of the table.

Insider tip: Ask the restaurant which menu and seating work best for your group, particularly if children will join you.

Solicite: A table for [party size] for [occasion]; we’d like to share several dishes.

Not ideal if: You want a simple neighborhood trattoria.

The food: French tasting menus and longstanding signature dishes are central to the meal. Confirm current menus, dietary needs, and dining time before booking.

Insider tip: For a group, ask about a private salon, its seating, and booking terms. For two, discuss the room and table you would prefer.

Solicite: A table for two for [occasion], or details of a private salon for [guest count].

Not ideal if: You want a short meal or a lively bar atmosphere.

The food: French and international favorites suit a sociable dinner, with cocktails part of the appeal. Check the current menu and service times.

Insider tip: Restaurant and club arrangements can differ. Confirm the music program, entry conditions, and any separate reservation before planning the rest of the night.

Solicite: A dinner table for [party size]; please explain the options for drinks afterward.

Not ideal if: You want a quiet family dinner or guaranteed club admission with your table.

The food: Classic French cooking and dishes served at the table are part of the appeal. Ask which specialties are available on your date.

Insider tip: If you are catching a train, give the restaurant your departure time. Otherwise, leave enough time to enjoy the room.

Solicite: A table in the main dining room for [party size], for [occasion].

Not ideal if: You want an intimate, low-lit room away from a busy station.

The food: Seasonal French tasting menus carry the meal. Ask about the current menu choices, prices, and dietary arrangements before booking.

Insider tip: Request garden-facing seating, and ask whether terrace dining is offered for your date and weather conditions.

Solicite: A garden-facing table for two for [occasion], if available.

Not ideal if: You want an informal meal with no set-menu commitment.

The food: Classical French cooking and seasonal menus suit an unhurried lunch or dinner. Confirm the current choices and prices directly.

Insider tip: Arrange your return transport as well as your arrival, and confirm whether the terrace will be open on your date.

Solicite: A terrace table for two, weather permitting, for [occasion].

Not ideal if: You want to walk straight from dinner into central Paris nightlife.

The food: The restaurant serves an exclusively plant-based menu. Ask about the current lunch and dinner formats and discuss any allergies before booking.

Insider tip: Choose this for an interest in the food itself, and check the current menu price and meal length before committing.

Solicite: A table for two for [lunch/dinner]; please advise on the plant-based menu.

Not ideal if: Your party wants a conventional menu with meat and fish options.

The food: French tasting menus focus on seasonal ingredients. Confirm the current menu, dietary options, and prices with the restaurant.

Insider tip: Check the current dress requirements and arrange transport home before settling in for dinner.

Solicite: A table for two for [occasion]; please confirm the dress requirements and dining time.

Not ideal if: You want a spontaneous, short meal in central Paris.