My favourite places in Paris
If you’re curious about how I spend an ideal day in The City of Lights, head over to my new project Khoollect and read Rachel Khoo’s 24 hours in Paris. There’s also a great Khoollect guide to Paris that we’re continuously adding to. If you’re looking for some suggestions on restaurants, picnic spots, or markets to visit while you’re in Paris, here’s a quick rundown on some of my favourites:
Restaurants
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Verjus Wine Bar, 47 Rue Montpensier
Head to Verjus for an excellent selection of small plates, such as morsels of buttermilk fried chicken and celery root dumplings.
Spring, 6 Rue Bailleul
Executing a five-step tasting menu from a totally open kitchen, American chef Daniel Rose and his team offer an inventive and thoughtful dining experience just a stone’s through from the Louvre.
The Beef Club, 58 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau
The Beef Club is modelled on an Anglophone steak house and serves up Longhorn beef sourced from Yorkshire by Ginger Pig.
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Frenchie, 5-6 Rue du Nil
Ex-head chef of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, Greg Marchand’s table is one of the hardest to get access to in the city. It boasts a fresh and innovative market menu and casual, but fun atmosphere.
Frenchie Bar a Vins, 5-6 Rue du Nil
Following the success of Frenchie restaurant comes the equally sought after spot at the no-reservations wine bar.
Blend, 44 Rue d’Argout
Blend burgers are the talk of the town, based on a special blend by boucher boheme, Yves-Marie le Bourdonnec.
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Breizh Café, 109 Rue Vieille du Temple
Home to Paris’s finest crepes, Breizh cafe uses top quality ingredients to create a range of highly original buckwheat savoury galettes.
Candelaria, 52 Rue de Saintonge
Tacos, tostados and huevos rancheros are among the Mexican offerings at this busy eat-in, take out and cocktail bar in the Haut Marais.
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L’Avant Comptoir, 9 Carrefour de l’Odéon
This little wine bar must be up there with my little Paris kitchen as one of Paris’s tiniest cooking establishments.
Le Comptoir 9, Carrefour de l’Odéon
Often hailed as the father of the bistronomique movement in Paris, Yves Camdeborde’s modern take on the bistrot makes the most of the nose-to-tail philosophy and at the weekend offers good bistrot fare at reasonable prices.
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La Fontaine de Mars, 129 Rue Saint-Dominique
This traditional Parisian bistrot is known for its hearty French fare.
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Le Verre Volé, 67 Rue de Lancry
The perfect cave á manger, with natural wines and a short market menu, this fun wine bar is a Canal Saint Martin favourite.
Bob’s Juice Bar, 15 Rue Lucien Sampaix
When I need a break from French food I like to pop by Bob’s for a juice and a healthy salad from this New York style eatery.
Youpi et Voilà, 8 Rue Vicq d’Azir
A colourful modern bistrot by self taught chef Patrice Gelbart.
Albion, 80 rue Faubourg Poissionière
An expat team who met at Saint Germain’s Boissonerie opened this oenologically-orientated bistrot in a trendy part of town.
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Clown Bar, 114 Rue Amelot
An absolute gem. Amazing dishes, served beautifully.
Septime, 80 Rue de Charonne
One of my favourite places to eat in Paris for its colourful, artistically executed set menu.
Le Servan, 32 Rue Saint-Maur
This is a great place to go for a well-priced, tasty lunch. At 23€ for three courses (excluding wine), you can’t go wrong!
Le Bistrot Paul Bert, 18 Rue Paul Bert
Perhaps one of Paris’ worst kept secrets, this neighbourhood bistrot dishes up all the French classics in a quintessentially Parisian setting.
Aux Deux Amis, 45 Rue Oberkampf
This quirky ex-Tabac attracts hipsters and locals alike who cram into the tiny space to swig natural wines and share plates of French ‘tapas’ in a fun and unpretentious setting.
Le Chateaubriand, 129 Avenue Parmentier
A neo-bistrot with a cutting edge no-choice five course dinner menu; Inaki Aizpitarte has been hailed as one of Paris’ coolest chefs since Le Chateaubriand opened in 2008.
Le Dauphin, 131 Avenue Parmentier
Inaki Aizpitarte’s trendy tapas bar designed by Rem Koolhaas opened to an onslaught of adoration from chefs and critics and offers an eclectic mix of high-end sharing plates.
Au Passage, 1bis Passage de Saint-Sebastien
Part of the new breed of neo-bistrots offering natural wines, sharing plates featuring excellent ingredients and a laid-back atmosphere.
Le Grain de Riz, 49 Rue Godefroy Cavaignac
This tiny Vietnamese restaurant serves genuinely delicious Vietnamese food with a warm, friendly smile.
Chez Aline, 85 Rue de la Roquette
Chez Aline is a fabulous little lunch place where Delphine Zalpetti (ex Le Verre Volé) cooks up fresh simple dishes. It is a great place to head for a mid-week lunch.
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Le Bal Café, 6 Impasse de la Défense
An Anglo-inspired eatery offering great coffee, an exemplary kedgeree and an ideal terrace for an aperitif.
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Le Baratin, 3 Rue Jouye-Rouve
Off a little side street in Paris’ second Chinatown Belleville, you’ll find this restaurant serving simple, tasty French food and a great selection of wines.
Que du Bon, 22 Rue Plateau
A casual neighbourhood bistrot with a daily changing market menu at great prices.
Ô Divin 35, rue des Annelets
A lovely spot for dinner. It originally started life as a wine bar, so you can expect a good selection – and the cheeses are a must too!
Shops
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Mora, 13 Rue Montmartre
This store is a must for any budding chef. A little pricey, but all the products sold in the store are of great quality.
E.Dehillerin, 20 Rue Coquillière
Head to E.Dehillerin for everything you might want in the way of kitchenware; it’s difficult to leave without and armful of copper pans, patisserie moulds and random knick knacks.
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G.Detou 58, Rue Tiquetonne
A treasure trove of ingredients with everything you can imagine from foie gras to 10kg bags of chocolate buttons.
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Papier Tigre, 5 Rue des Filles du Calvaire
An absolute treat for stationery lovers. I’m a big fan of the perfumed pouches and candles too.
Merci, 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais
A beautiful shop in an equally beautiful building. I particularly love their range of napkins – perfect for adding a bit of class to dinner time.
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Grom, 81 Rue de Seine
The only French outpost for the Turin-born gelateria, Grom is one of the city’s best ice cream shops.
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Bonton, 122 rue du Bac
This is the place to go for the chic kids’ party wares and clothes!
Brasserie Aux PTT, 54 Rue Cler
The charming oyster man from episode five of Little Paris Kitchen sells his oysters from his stand opposite this bar.
Marie-Anne Cantin, 12 Rue Champ de Mars
Fromage aficionado Marie-Anne Cantin is a renowned cheese seller and refiner.
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La Chambre des Confitures, 9 Rue des Martyrs
A gorgeous little boutique on a very foodie street, stocking a fabulous selection of extensive collection of jams, chutneys, confits and spreads for slathering on your baguette.
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Cristalleries Schweitzer, 84 Quai Jemmapes
Beautiful handmade crystal glass aplenty, including lots of quirky items that make for perfect gifts.
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La Cocotte, 5 Rue Paul Bert
A quirky little store selling cute aprons, tea towels and other kitchen items.
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Ma Cave en Ville, 105 Rue de Belleville
Everyone needs a trusted wine seller, and this is mine! A great selection of wine featuring a number of hard-to-find organic and natural wines.
Cafés/Bars
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Le Télescope, 5 Rue Villedo
This cafe is part of the new wave of excellent coffee shops transforming the Parisian cafe scene.
O-Chateau, 68 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The brainchild of sommelier and social commentator Olivier Magny, O-Chateau is a classy wine bar.
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Le Mary Celeste, 1 Rue Commines
A great spot for delectable cocktails before or after dinner (or any time!). There’s also a fab selection of small plates if you’re in need of sustenance.
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Le Caféothèque, 52 Rue de l’Hôtel de ville
One of the key players in the transformation of Parisian coffee culture, Le Caféothèque serves exceptional coffee and sells beans to go.
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Da Rosa, 62 Rue de Seine
Hand sliced iberico can be nibbled over a glass of wine with some Italian olives on this excellent terrace for people watching.
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Coutume Café, 7 Rue de Babylone
Siphon coffee and Patisserie des Reves pastries are all on the menu at this chic little coffee shop with an Anglo-American feel.
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Le Baron Rouge, 1 Rue Théophile Roussel
A bustling cheap and cheerful wine bar that is perfect for a post-Aligre market carafe of wine and a plate of shucked-to-order oysters.
Le Siffleur de Ballons, 34 Rue de Cîteaux
A great spot for wine, cheese and charcuterie – a heavenly combination.
75019
Café Cherie, 44 Boulevard de la Villette
This is great for a fresh mint tea during the day or to chill out over a glass of wine in the evening.
Rosa Bonheur, 2 allée de la Cascade
In the park Buttes Chaumont this bar-come-cafe is a chilled out place with outdoor picnic benches.
Bakeries/Pâtisseries
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Angelina, 226 Rue de Rivoli
So it is a little touristy, but this Parisian institution serves some of the thickest and most delicious hot chocolate in town.
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Jacques Genin, 133 Rue de Turenne
Head to Jacques Genin’s salon for a degustation of his delicate chocolates or try one of his assembled-to-order millefeuilles – some of the best in town.
Popelini, 29 Rue Debelleyme
Since Popelini opened its doors, it has become known as one of the best places to go for a choux pastry fix.
Pain de Sucre, 14 Rue Rambuteau
Part of the new breed of boutique patisseries in Paris, Pain de Sucre sells macarons and elaborate reinvented classic pastries.
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Pierre Hermé, 72,Rue Bonaparte
Arguably one of Paris’ most important patissiers, Pierre Hermé is famous for reinventing the macaron with his quirky sweet and savoury pairings.
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Patisserie des Reves, 93 Rue du Bac
Everything created by Philippe Conticini is so beautifully presented that it nearly looks like a jewel shop. Try Le Paris Brest.
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Du Pain et Des Idées, 34 Rue Yves Toudic
‘Le Pain des Amis’, a rustic sourdough with an epic smoky crust, is the brainchild of baker Christophe Vasseur, who supplies the city’s leading restaurants.
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Le Blé Sucré, 7 Rue Antoine Vollon
At this neighbourhood boulangerie discover beautiful breads, exemplary cannelé, and a range of pretty patisserie.
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Boulangerie Gontran Cherrier, 22 Rue Caulaincourt
Gontran Cherrier is not only charming but he bakes fantastically innovative bread, like his squidgy squid ink buns.
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Veronique Mauclerc 83, Rue de Crimee
This local boulangerie headed by Veronique Mauclerc offers a variety of breads studded with nuts and raisins as well as a good selection of organic breads.
Picnic spots
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Place des Vosges
When it comes to picturesque picnic spots, the perfectly symmetrical Place des Vosges offers a quiet getaway from the Marais crowds. Grad a world famous falafel wrap from the rue des Rosiers and enjoy by the fountains.
Ile Saint Louis
So it’s not always easy to get a spot here in the height of summer, but if you manage to you can while away the afternoon with views onto the Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame and the Seine.
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Champ de Mars
In the shadow of one of the city’s most iconic structures, join the hoards of other picnickers for an unbeatable view of the Eiffel Tower.
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Canal St Martin
When Spring finally arrives and the leaves are back on the trees, the Canal St Martin comes into its own with a fun crowd of drinkers spilling out from the bars onto the cobbled canal banks.
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Buttes-Chaumont
Not purely due to its proximity to my flat, but the Buttes Chaumont is one of my favourite picnic places in Paris. One of the few unmanicured parks in the city, this is one of the most charming parks to jog, picnic and play.
Markets
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Marche des Enfants Rouges, 39 Rue de Bretagne
This enclosed market in the trendy haut Marais is said to be one of the oldest in Paris.
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Marche d’Aligre, Place Aligre
Open all week long except Mondays, the Marche d’Aligre is one of Paris’s most bustling markets.
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Marche Place du President Wilson
Head to this open air market on Wednesday or Saturday and you’ll find the famous Joel Thiebault and his beautiful heritage root vegetables grown just a few miles from Paris.
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Marché Saint Pierre
Paris’s largest textile market is packed full of beautifully designed fabrics. And it’s handily located at the bottom of the stairs leading to the Sacré Coeur, perfect for browsing after a visit to the city’s highest landmark.
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Boulevard de la Villette
My local market which I hop down to on a Wednesday morning to stock up on delicious farm eggs and cheeses.
If you want to read more about my favourite Parisian places, head over to Khoollect and read Rachel Khoo’s 24 hours in Paris. You’ll get the ins and outs of how I spend a day in one of my favourite cities in the world.
