Restaurants in Paris

Le Jules Verne

Alain Ducasse, a man dazzled with Michelin stars, opened a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower in 2007. Under the eye of Ducasse, chef Pascal Feraud serves elegant French food, such as spit-roasted saddle of lamb and confit of shoulder, some 125m (410ft) off the ground. The price may be as steep as the tower, but it’s not bad considering the view.

Guy Savoy

Chef Guy Savoy’s eponymous restaurant is a three Michelin-starred, blow-the-budget kind of deal. Tucked away behind the Arc de Triomphe, diners can either plump for the three-course lunch or 12-course tasting menu, both of which change according to the seasons. Wine pairing is well worth the extra and there’s even a champagne-matching menu for those who prefer bubbly. From the art on the walls to the attentive service, everything about this place is a cut above.

Taillevent

As if two Michelin stars weren’t proof, the moment you are greeted at the doors of Taillevent, you know you are in for a special meal. Inside, the décor is formal but sedate with blonde wood panelling and tasteful pieces of modern art. For three generations, the Vrinat family have ensured guests feel at home with impeccable service and an inviting atmosphere. Spelt risotto with golden seared frogs legs is just an example of what your gastronomic senses are in for.

La Coupole

This elegant Parisian brasserie originally served the market traders at Les Halles before it moved to the suburbs of Paris. The restaurant still offers hearty traditional fare such as oysters, French onion soup with a cheesy crust, steaks and a choice of pork offal dishes (try the hallmark grilled pigs' trotters), all washed down with robust house wine from the owner's own vineyard.

Fish la Boissonnerie

The cosmopolitan vibe of this sensational seafood restaurant isn’t just drawn from its swanky St Germain setting. Fish has garnered a reputation as one of Paris’s finest spots for a leisurely lunch or late night meal, with orange fish soup its signature dish. The dining room is cosy and you eat in close quarters with other diners, but that just makes for a more convivial experience. Booking vital.

Les Apotres de Pigalle

Les Apotres de Pigalle offer tapas style meals or in French "Assiettes a Partager" meaning small shared dishes. Specialising in both South American and European dishes best enjoyed with a friend or two and some beers. Reservations are a must as the restaurant fills up fast thanks to the excellent food and atmosphere.

La Bourse ou la Vie

The art of top-notch steak frites has been disappearing in Paris in recent years under the deluge of ‘healthy' snack bars. This, though, is a carnivore's paradise - a red meat oasis that defies current fashion to serve up no-nonsense food with an equally no-nonsense owner on hand to scare the living daylights out of diners. The sumptuous chips are fried in animal fat and the creamy pepper sauce is sublime in a restaurant that effortlessly evokes the sultry Paris of old.

Café Med

Right at the heart of touristy Paris sits this little budget gem. Getting a table in the tiny single-room restaurant may not be easy, but it is worth the wait. Savour a starter, main and dessert crêpe for a low, set price. The food may not win any Michelin stars, but it’s honest and substantial, and the relaxed dining space is somewhere nice to linger.

Breizh Café

Embrace the cliché and tuck into a crêpe or two at this delicious crêperie in the Quartier Marais. Start savoury, with a buckwheat crêpe served with cheese and mushrooms, and then move on to the sweeter side of life. Taste bananas, chocolate, crunchy sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice all washed down with lashings of cider. Great value, great fun.