Dining in the French capital never gets old. The city’s stalwart bistros, brasseries, patisseries, boulangeries, and temples of haute cuisine serve an endless feast. This is possible, in part, thanks to the government, which acts as a landlord to protect small businesses, encourages mixité sociale (diversity), and celebrates culinary culture, including an annual award for best baguette. But it’s also made possible by loyal and protective customers who return again and again to enjoy their favorite meals.
While visitors may view the capital’s timeless dining scene as frozen in amber, Parisian restaurants are never truly static. The city’s creative spirit — this is the home of New Wave film and risk-taking fashion arbiters — constantly inspires restaurateurs to break out of venerable French molds. Chefs in popular neighborhoods like Belleville pile mussels with chipotle beurre blanc and slather croque-madames with prawn mousse. International fine dining chefs slide Mexican, Korean, Lebanese, and other flavors into rarified French gastronomy. Drag artists combine traditional cabaret with modern, esoteric performance and dirty martinis at queer bars.
This mix of old and new is what enthralls visitors generation after generation. There’s always something unexpected to taste and somewhere familiar to revisit in what is arguably the most enduring food city on the planet.
Le Starter Pack
Before you board Air France or set foot near the Champs-Élysées for the first time, study up on these basics, from the spiraling city layout to the dos and don’ts of dîner
The Essential Paris Restaurants
24 Perfect Hours of Food
Mastering French Restaurant Etiquette
As the bouquinistes set up their wares along the Seine and kids trundle off to school, start your day with the building blocks of a happy morning: carbs, sugar, butter, and caffeine.
Le Matin
Café au Lait, Your Way
Fresh Bread From a Boulangerie Is Nonnegotiable
Be Sure to Hit a Patisserie for... Well, Patisserie
La crème de la crème
Best. Day. Ever.
Just call us Emily Post in Paris
The best bakeries for prized loaves
Where to revel in croissants and éclairs
We’ll always have. . .
Century-old cafes, modern craft roasters, and more spots to wake up
How to Eat Well in Every Arrondissement
The snail shell city plan, explained (escargot included)
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