A Gourmet Tour of Paris's Best Brunches
L’Entente, for a very British brunch
In the 2nd arrondissement, not far from Paris's Bourse neighbourhood, this 'British brasserie' has all the trappings of an embassy. It serves delicious food inspired by British traditions but made with a host of French produce: a true 'entente cordiale'! During the week, you can tuck into fish & chips with tartare sauce, or venison pie. We must admit to having a soft spot for the weekend brunch though, with its house-made granola, Welsh rarebit with black pudding and trios of pancakes. If you haven't already been won over, the cosy setting and cosmopolitan atmosphere will clinch it.
Benedict eggs/Kathryn Devine @DearEverest / L'Entente
Tadam, for a bistro brunch
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Paris's 13th arrondissement, this intimate restaurant boasts a typical bistro décor, with parquet flooring, Thonet-style chairs and shelves crammed with bottles of wine. True to its commitment to sustainable development, the restaurant carefully sources local and seasonal produce. The Sunday brunch generally consists of gravlax salmon, raw milk cheeses and fine charcuterie; then eggs Benedict or roast chicken; followed by excellent house-made cakes and pastries. A Kusmi tea or coffee from a small-scale producer is the perfect accompaniment. If you're more inclined to go for a glass of wine, you'll be spoiled for choice.
The dining room/Tadam
B.O.U.L.O.M, for a gourmet brunch
The mysterious acronym stands for 'boulangerie où l'on mange' (meaning 'bakery where you eat'). This establishment run by Julien Duboué, a Chef from the Landes area of France, is located behind the Butte Montmartre, perfectly at home in a neighbourhood where good bistros are a dime a dozen. The back room hosts one of the most copious – and delicious – buffets in the capital. On weekends, the all-you-can-eat brunch appeals to everyone, and even the most discerning foodies won't be disappointed: oysters, seafood, terrines and pâtés en croûte, creamy risottos, roast meat (including top-notch poultry and duck breast from the Southwest), cheese platters and, of course, an array of indulgent desserts. Plus, they have a fine selection of wines to accompany your food.
The dining room/Boulom
Pavyllon, for a MICHELIN-starred brunch
With its open kitchen, bronze-coloured counter, oak panelling on the walls and enamelled tiles, Yannick Alléno's MICHELIN-Starred restaurant is a chic take on the French bistro. The legendary Chef also has the good grace to serve Sunday brunch. After house-made pastries and freshly squeezed juice, the menu includes: salmon on a warm blini with aniseed and fleur de sel; classic omelette with lardo di Colonnata and mushrooms; lobster hot dog; and chicken with lovage mayonnaise. It's hard to resist finishing with the Liège waffles with cream.
Dish from the Pavillon/SimonDetraz
Grand Powers, for a hotel brunch
Established in 1920 in Paris's prestigious Golden Triangle – the area between the Champs-Élysées, Avenue George V and Avenue Montaigne – this hotel has succeeded in building a bridge between the Paris captured in postcards and the Paris of today. The hotel's restaurant, Café 52, lays on a wonderfully satisfying brunch: after a glass of champagne, head for the seafood buffet (oysters, prawns, whelks and smoked salmon), before tucking into eggs accompanied by a choice of herbs, cheese or ham. Then get ready for the Scandinavian smørrebrød or the plat du jour. A word of advice: save some room for the old-fashioned brioche perdue or the pancakes with maple syrup.
Brunch of Grand Powers Paris
Le Dalí, Hôtel Meurice, for brunch with Cédric Grolet
To enter Le Meurice is to dive into the history of Paris's first luxury hotel, which has been overlooking the Jardin des Tuileries since 1835. Overseen by Alain Ducasse and his Executive Chef Amaury Bouhours, the restaurant has gourmets the world over fantasising about its cuisine, which revolves around twists on the classics of French gastronomy. As an alternative way to enjoy the incomparable atmosphere of this establishment, book yourself in for brunch. Pastries, charcuterie and house-made terrines precede a selection of dishes from the Two Star kitchen, which are followed by an assortment of mature cheeses. Finally, there are the desserts by Pastry Chef Cédric Grolet: mango Pavlova or the petal-shaped Saint Honoré cake.Dish from Restaurant Le Dalí/Géraldine Martens
Plaza Athénée, for a brunch fit for a king
There's nothing like treating yourself to brunch in an illustrious hotel that embodies both glitz and a laid-back attitude. At the Plaza Athénée, the legendary establishment where Chef Jean Imbert now works his magic, breakfast and brunch are not to be sniffed at. As well as pastries and fresh fruit, you can tuck into an open sandwich with Pyrenean trout, fresh artichokes and parmesan, or a burrata with vegetables, before choosing either leg of lamb – for an authentic Sunday meal – or eggs Benedict with truffles and lobster. Round it all off with the exquisite house-made pâtisseries.
Brunch starters artichoke / Plaza Athénée
Brach, for a brunch without borders
This trendy hotel, decorated by visionary designer Philippe Starck, caters to all occasions: a romantic night, lunch with the family, cocktails with friends at the bar or on the rooftop terrace, and a generous Sunday brunch. Move from counter to counter to treat yourself to a brunch that encompasses a range of cuisines, although it does have a marked Mediterranean bent: Italian fare, Greek mezze, Lebanese delights, seafood platters, house-made pastries and, of course, eggs prepared every which way. A convivial and indulgent culinary journey.
Brunch of the Brach/Hemblem
Address book:
Tadam,14 rue du Jura, Paris, 75013
B.O.U.L.O.M.,181 rue Ordener, 75018 Paris
Pavyllon, 8 avenue Dutuit, Paris, 75008
L'Entente, 13 rue Monsigny, 75002 Paris
Brach, 1-7 rue Jean Richepin, Paris
Grand Powers, 2 Rue François 1er, 75008 Paris
Restaurant Le Dalí, 228 rue de Rivoli, Paris, 75001
Plaza Athénée, 25 avenue Montaigne, Paris, France
Hero Image: Kathryn Devine @DearEverest/L'Entente
