Paris
Septime
French restaurant · 11th Arrondissement
Probably the hardest reservation to get in Paris, although Clamato, their second restaurant right next door, has a no reservations policy and serves small plates of seafood all day long.
Mokonuts
Restaurant · 11th Arrondissement
Only open for lunch on weekdays, so make sure you call ahead to book a table. Husband-and-wife team Omar and Moko will delight you with labneh and other Lebanese-inspired savory dishes, as well as the best chocolate chip cookies in Paris.
Racines
Bistro · 2nd Arrondissement
One of the best Italian restaurants in Paris (along with Vivant), in a small alleyway, with a fantastic vibe and the most wonderful chef.
Le Grand Bain
French restaurant · 20th Arrondissement
From the chef who perfected ‘Au Passage’, a hotspot for small plates in Belleville — although the leg of lamb is perfect for large groups. They also have great (and affordable) natural wine, as well as a bakery next door, Le Petit Grain.
Du Pain et des Idées
Bakery · 10th Arrondissement
An old school boulangerie by the Canal Saint Martin, famous for its pistachio escargot.
Miznon Canal
Restaurant · 10th Arrondissement
Right by Du Pain et des Idées is Miznon, where you should order the burnt cauliflower, a pita sandwich, and pretty much anything else on the menu.
Le Servan
Bistro · 11th Arrondissement
A beautiful bistro where Tatiana Levha, who used to work at L’Arpège with Alain Passard, delights us with Asian-inspired traditional French bistro dishes. Her second outpost, Double Dragon, is fiery and much less Parisian.
La Bourse et La Vie
Bistro · 2nd Arrondissement
Daniel Rose’s (Le Coucou NYC) restaurant, with gougères and pot-au-feu: one of the super Parisian meals compulsory on a first trip to Paris. Le Baratin and le Bistrot Paul Bert are excellent alternatives on the East Side.
Le Châteaubriand
French restaurant · 11th Arrondissement
Le Chateaubriand is a polarizing restaurant, but it has defined bistronomie in France and inspired chefs worldwide.
Arpège
French haute cuisine restaurant · Invalides
If you only have one Michelin-starred meal in France, it should be this one. Alain Passard is an unrivaled maestro who plays around with the most beautiful vegetables in Paris.
La Buvette
Wine bar · 11th Arrondissement
The perfect “cave à manger”, with selected wines and small plates to nibble on — love the bergamot beans. Go there around 6pm for a glass of wine before heading to dinner. Don’t mix it up with Jody Williams’ Buvette which is in Pigalle!
Septime La Cave
Wine bar · 11th Arrondissement
Septime’s friendly wine bar, aka the perfect spot to wait for a table at Clamato while sipping orange wine. You can also buy wine to go!
Café du coin
Restaurant · 11th Arrondissement
It’s called café, but serves excellent wines and small plates.
Cravan
Cocktail bar · d'Auteuil
A newer bar on a different side of town, perfect after playing tourists all day.
Avant Comptoir de la Terre
Bar · La Monnaie
A fantastic spot right next to Le Comptoir and you can nibble saucisson and cheese with a great glass of wine. You’ll be standing and it will probably be packed, though.
Frenchie Bar A Vins
Wine Bar · Bonne-Nouvelle
Another “cave à manger” and this one is by chef Gregory Marchand, aka the perfect spot if you couldn’t get a reservation at Frenchie.
Boot Café
Cafe · 3rd Arrondissement
It’s tiny, it’s not even French, but it’s one of the cutest coffee shops in Paris. The team also has CAM, a crazy but fantastic Asian-inspired bistro.
Shakespeare and Company
Book store · Sorbonne
One of the best bookshops in Paris now has its own little café, on a charming “place” like you’d see in movies, right by Notre-Dame.
Musée d'Orsay
Art museum · Saint-Thomas d'Aquin
The lesser known museum set in an old railway station, overlooking the Seine. Another excellent museum is Le Musée Picasso.
Luxembourg Gardens
Garden · l'Odeon
Le Luco is a garden where West Bank locals go for a stroll or a picnic, so stop by Pierre Hermé’s first shop and enjoy a Mogador macaron by the fountain.
Le Marais
3rd Arrondissement
One of the most touristy neighborhoods in Paris, and for a reason. Lock up your bike and spend a couple of hours getting lost in the cobblestone streets.
Seine
River · Evry
Picnic by the Seine. On the Ile de la Cité you’ll find a few shops to get wine, bread and cheese and then walk down a few steps to eat right on the river bank.