Le Chardenoux

"You could skip visiting Versailles or a performance at the Opéra Garnier and still get your fill of over-the-top aristocratic decor by having lunch or dinner at Le Chardenoux. The hundred-year-old marble bar is just one of the remarkable relics inside this restaurant in the city's gourmand quartier, Village Faidherbe. There’s also the hand-painted leaf motif ceiling, etched glass windows, and ornate crown moldings. The fish-focused menu changes seasonally, but regular standouts include the crunchy crab galette with avocado and curry, and the citrus salmon crispy rice topped with chipotle. Service is surprisingly attentive and almost downright friendly, and while the vanilla mille-feuille will be tempting, if you’re there during the day, consider a detour across the street to the chef’s bakery or the chocolate shop." - sara lieberman, lindsey tramuta

"This newly restored Belle Epoque-era dining room in a trendy corner of the 11th arrondissement attracts well-heeled locals who know they're also about to throw down for a memorable meal. Prior to celebrity chef Cyril Lignac taking over the restaurant in 2014, it was predominantly seafood-focused; nowadays, the cocktail bar itself is so inviting that you could easily come for a cocktail and not even eat. That said, there's poké, crispy sushi, and meats like satay-marinated chicken and a very good hamburger (the bun alone is worth the calories); highlights are the mussels gratin and the avocado-covered crab served atop a crusty cracker. Don't skip dessert, because Monsieur Lignac is known for his pastries; while some may say his Baba au Rhum is the best in Paris, he also knows how to keep things simple, like with a bowl of naturally sweet strawberries topped with meringue crumbles and vanilla cream." - Lindsey Tramuta, Sara Lieberman

"On every trip to Paris, I make a detour to this 116-year-old French bistro on a quiet street in the Marais for a three-course prix fixe with salt-crusted sea bass, lobster ravioli, or supple lamb confit. The menu comes with a choice of extraordinary desserts, such as the baba rhum with whipped cream. A favorite of my Parisian friends who drop by for lunch or early dinner, the cozy dining room sits on a corner square of restaurants owned by celebrity chef Cyril Lignac, including a bakery-cafe and a chocolaterie. The restaurant is also an architectural destination for its gorgeous marble and pewter bar and the sage and gold frescoed ceilings. The bar is perfect for a cocktail respite between museums and shopping, where you’ll encounter a few adventurous tourists sipping martinis and enjoying the American-style burger or steak frites." - ByThe Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors

"This handsome Parisian bistro is steeped in history and has a certain Art Nouveau cachet. Its rum baba is also a classic; baked in a kugelhof mould, the cake is supple, airy and not too saturated." - The MICHELIN Guide

"This handsome Parisian bistro is steeped in history and has a certain Art Nouveau cachet. Its rum baba is a classic; baked in a kugelhof mould, the cake is supple, airy, and not too saturated. It is topped with a generous dollop of light, vanilla-flavored whipped cream. A bottle of rum is discreetly left on the table for guests to douse their baba with as they wish." - The MICHELIN Guide