Bistrot Paul Bert
Bistro · Sainte-Marguerite
18 Rue Paul Bert, 75011 Paris, France
Highlights
Classic Parisian bistro with steak au poivre, fries & soufflé.
Classic Parisian bistro with steak au poivre, fries & soufflé.
"A sought‑after classic bistro known for its reputation among locals and tourists; reservations are in high demand and accepted only by phone, so planning ahead is essential for securing a table." - Lane Nieset Lane Nieset Lane Nieset is a travel writer from Miami who has lived in France for the past decade. From Paris, she covers a mix of lifestyle, wine, food, and design for publications including Food & Wine, Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"The façade of this pleasant bistro promises "cuisine familiale". Translate this as: feuilleté of calf sweetbreads with mushrooms, and roast venison with cranberries and celeriac purée. Generous, tasty dishes are prepared without frills. You will be asking for more but be sure to save some room for the rum baba!" - Michelin Inspector
"Verdict: The steak au poivre is the most photographed dish of any Paris bistro, but there’s a reason. Also worth booking for the quality of the fish and seafood alone. Le Bistrot Paul Bert deserves the attention it gets. As bistros go, it meets all the prerequisites, from the chalkboard menu and mosaic tile floors to the pleasant but not overly joyful servers and good old-fashioned zinc bar. And when you imagine a French bistro meal, you’re definitely envisioning the dishes Bistrot Paul Bert serves, like the house signature steak au poivre, swimming in enough black peppercorn sauce to feed the entire table, sautéed scallops and whole catches brought in daily from Brittany, and even cervelle de veau, calf’s brains. Sure, not everything is a hit—for one, the soufflés are more flavorful elsewhere—and it’s notoriously difficult to reach anyone on the phone to make a reservation, the only way to book a table. But this classic Paris experience is worth any effort." - lindsey tramuta
"Everyone from your dog walker to Ina Garten (to Ina Garten’s dog walker) has proclaimed Bistrot Paul Bert the city’s best. And it’s not hard to see why. This place in the 11th ticks all the classic bistro boxes. Service is efficient and resolutely Francophone, no matter how many Americans occupy the wooden tables. There are tiled floors and a wraparound bar. The complimentary gougères are creamy puffs of cheesy bliss, and the steak au poivre is downright luxurious, blanketed in a black peppercorn-rich sauce that’ll clear your sinuses. Yes, some dishes miss the mark, like the overcooked egg-mayo or bland chocolate soufflé. And, yes, the truffle-studded everything and branded sweatshirts feel like a money grab. But look past them. This place is an institution for a reason—there’s just no need to give up your firstborn for a reservation." - emily monaco
"A famed Parisian bistro whose appearance as a pop-up in Brooklyn exemplified the new ease with which celebrated international restaurants travel to stage special dinners, creating destination-worthy events without requiring long-haul travel." - ByEmily Wilson
