“In France, we love food and we enjoy food; food is pleasure.” - Mireille Guiliano
During our European vacation, food was something that was very important for us to experience during our stay. We definitely wanted to eat at some amazing places. Before our trip we reviewed several places to dine in Paris, which made our restaurant experiences so fantastic.
Our waiters and waitresses were all so kind, and made it their duty to help us through any questions with the menu. Also, many restaurants had English versions of their menu - which was super helpful! Everything we ordered always came out hot and fresh.
Below, I’m sharing where, and what we enjoyed at each place our group visited in Paris, France!
O'Chateau
Remember our amazing Champagne tour? Well, our tour guide was from O’Chateau! This spot is rated as one of the best wine bars in Paris, and they have a equally wonderful restaurant. After, our all day tour to Champagne, my best friend Alisha, recommended we dine at O’Chateau upon our return. Per the usual, my bestie made an excellent choice, and our meal was really amazing! The menu is quite small - but they have great options, and the Croque Monsieur entree was my absolute favorite during our stay in France.
Croque Monsieur
Black Angus + Roasted Potatoes
Mastino
This quaint little restaurant is in the Montmartre neighborhood, and down the street from where we stayed in Paris. I loved the vibe of this restaurant, and how you can watch the chef make pizzas from scratch. Also, if you are travelling with kids - this place was a super popular spot for families. Their wine list was really good, and there were amazing options - especially their house selection.
Pro Tip: Ask about the house wine selection, many restaurants have smaller local producers that have greats wines!
Watching the chef make fresh pizza
The dining area
The best margherita pizza ever
Angelina
The legendary Angelina Paris was such a treat to visit and dine in. Our four person group did have to wait 30-45 minutes in line to get in, but it was totally worth it. This spot is very very popular - it is well known for its desserts and warm beverages, such as teas, hot chocolate, and coffee, but their extensive food menu was so so good! Every dish was yummy from G’s burger, my salad, our friend’s chicken risotto, and breakfast croissant - the wait was worth it for sure.
Pro Tip: Visit during off peak times, traditional meal time slots are when the restaurants are crowded the most! Also, the larger your group - the longer the wait.
The entrance into Angelina
A cup of cappuccino
Smoked salmon caesar salad with avocado, grapefruit, ripe vine tomatoes, crositni, with garlic and herb spread
Burger with tomato, cheese and pickled red onions
The best skinny little french fries
A cup of the iconic Angelina hot chocolate to go - L 'African
Laudrée
This spot was always packed with guests wanting to try their delicious macarons! We loved their pastries, and their exterior and decor was beautiful. You’ll be able to find this boutique pastry shop in many locations throughout Paris - even the Louvre!
Pro Tip: This popular chain has amazing desserts, but make it your duty and visit some of the local bakeries around Paris to give them a try!
The entrance to Laudrée inside the Louvre
Chocolate + Raspberry Macarons
La Maison de l'Aubrac
This little spot stole my heart, and was probably one of my favorite meals in Paris. Their pan seared scallop entree was so delicious, and the caviar on top was the perfect addition to the dish. l'Aubrac specializes in dry aged steaks, and was one of the few spots that practiced the technique with their beef. The restaurant was nice and quaint. Also, our server was so kind in helping us make the perfect wine pairing with our meal as well.
Pro Tip: Ask the server the recommended wine pairing with your dish - you’ll be surprised and happy with their selection.
The entrance to La Maison de l'Aubrac
The bar
Dry aged steaks on display
Dry aged steak entree, with roasted garlic, and housemade sauce
Pan seared scallops, lime, caviar, in a bath of creamy beurre blanc sauce
Boulangerie
This neighborhood bakery was so cute, and they were pumping out fresh pastries and bread all day long. Their freshly baked croissants were the best and I may or may not have had a few during our stay in Montmartre.
Pro Tip: Smaller bakeries typically only take credit cards when you purchase a minimum of anywhere between 5-10 euros. It was really essential for us to have some euros on us when visiting the local shops/bakeries.
The cutest little pastry shop near our hotel
All of the baguettes one could desire
The cutest and yummiest pastries
Pink Mamma
Upon my arrival to Paris, Pink Mamma came highly recommended. Our group lucked up and got a table right away at the peak dinner time slot. The hostess was super kind, and seated us almost immediately. Needless to say this restaurant is super popular - a multi-level, three story restaurant, and every seat was filled in the dining and bar areas.
The vibe was eclectic and unique, our server was the sweetest. This restaurant was incredibly packed, we did have to wait quite a bit for service. Through a few hiccups with entree issues, our server worked through getting a member in our group a new dish pretty quickly. Aside, from the entree issue, the real star was the dessert - everyone loved their gelato!
Pro Tip: Book reservations to popular restaurants ahead of time, otherwise be prepared to wait or get turned away at the door.
The chef’s kitchen
The prettiest dining room setup
Pink Mamma’s Margherita Pizza + Basil
Cookie + Brownie Gelato Sundae
The cutest napkins at each place setting
Cinco Jotas
The Galleries Lafayette is legendary, and the Home & Gourmet shop is so cool. There is an entire floor dedicated to the most diverse market. You’ll find pastries, desserts, ham, spices, pizza - you name it, they have it. My best friend and I dined at Cinco Jotas, a spot that specializes in carving ham, and also serves up seafood. I went with their calamari - it was so delicious, and the house made tartar sauce was so good.
The coolest restaurant setup at Galeries Lafayette
Calamari Rings + House Made Tartar Sauce
Ristorante al Caratello
Our first night in Paris, our hotel highly recommended this restaurant, and made reservations for us. Ristorante al Caratello was a quick walk from our hotel, and was so convenient. This spot is literally so small, and they crammed in as many tables as they possibly could in their establishment. Caratello was bursting at the seams with diners, and as soon as we got our food we saw why - it was amazing. Our server was so sweet, and walked us through their menu. Also, they provided great wine recommendations to pair with our dinner. It was really nice being an authentic French restaurant, and was the perfect place to start our week long Paris trip.
Pro Tip: Ask your hotel ambassador what the best local restaurants are in your neighborhood!
The entrance to Ristorante al Caratello
Steak + Pasta dish
Chicken Milanese + Fries
Rouge Bis
Rouge Bis was literally the coolest bar in our neighborhood - and it is right across the street from the iconic Moulin Rouge.. Our group made multiple visits to this bar during our stay. Also, our bartender and the entire staff were nothing short of amazing. The bar selection was great, and they had everything from champagne to beer. Also, the music was so good, and the bartender even played songs/artists that we loved and wanted to hear. This place was so much fun, and their staff truly made us feel right at home - major props to the manager/bartender who made our nights so much fun.
The entrance to Rouge Bis - right across the street from Moulin Rouge
The bar setup
Peppermint shots on the house from our bartender
NYE at Rouge Bis
I hope you enjoyed my recap of all the places we dined and drank during our stay in Paris!
XO, Analise