Paris is a city made for those who live to eat well. But for first-timers, the sheer volume of dining choices — over 15,000, from traditional bistros and brasseries to fast-food spots and cafés — can quickly become overwhelming. Around the city’s famous landmarks, where tourists flock, mediocre meals lurk behind every corner, ready to test your patience.
Still, even at a so-called tourist trap, you're likely to find a moment of pleasure — a glass of house red, a plate of frites (fries), a glimpse of landmark monuments like the recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral. But if you’ve been here before, or if your palate demands something more refined, we have you covered. Here’s where to eat near Paris’ major landmarks — no compromises, just great food, and often a killer view to match.
Where to Eat Close to the Eiffel Tower (7th arrondissement)
On the left bank, the Eiffel Tower is no doubt the main attraction. It’s in a leafy, residential neighborhood dotted with shops selling Paris merch and traditional brasseries where woven terrace chairs are prime real estate.
For something a bit more sophisticated, the most decorated MICHELIN-Starred chefs have set up shop nearby — even inside the famed tower itself. Le Jules Verne is Frédéric Anton’s Two-Starred restaurant on the second floor of the tower.
It’s a bucket list experience where the service is exceptional and the tasting menu pays homage to France’s finest ingredients. As one Inspector noted, “The cooking is firmly rooted in the classics and skillfully modernized. It’s precisely executed, perfectly seasoned and complemented by bold yet refined sauces.”
Other spots worth bookmarking nearby include L’Ami Jean, a temple of bistronomie (contemporary bistro fare) — honest, elevated dishes like sweetbreads roasted in semisalted butter and pork confit with lentil vinaigrette.
Les Ombres, with unmatched Eiffel Tower views on the rooftop of the Quai Branly Museum, which houses indigenous art of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, has a menu overseen by Alain Ducasse and executed by Chef Alexandre Semperé. It offers tasting menus that are creative, surprising and grounded in French ingredients and occasional global touches — like the skate wing with kombu seaweed, smoked zucchini and a rich vin jaune.
Where to Eat Close to the Louvre Museum (1st arrondissement)
The area surrounding the Louvre Museum in the 1st arrondissement is an ideal jumping-off point for discovering Paris. Within easy walking distance you’ll find the Tuileries Garden, the Palais-Royal Garden, the Comédie Française and, of course, the masterpieces inside the most famous museum in the world, from the Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo to the walls covered in Italian frescoes.Start your culinary journey with a glass of natural wine at Le Garde Robe, a cozy hideaway where the wine list feels like a well-kept secret and the simple plates — think rustic pâté with crunchy cornichons — hit all the right notes without fuss.
For something more refined and heartier, Loulou delivers elegant Italian-inspired fare set in the sunlit courtyard of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Here, you can sip a perfectly chilled glass of white wine while gazing out over the Carrousel du Louvre, with the Eiffel Tower punctuating the Parisian skyline beyond. And in summer, the outdoor terrace is laid out in the actual Tuileries gardens.
Nearby, Brasserie du Louvre, a brainchild of the late Paul Bocuse, champions Lyonnaise classics with a modern twist. The spiced pistachio sausage tucked inside a pillowy bun and the garlicky snails swimming in parsley butter are the kind of indulgences that make you appreciate French comfort food at its best.
And no visit to the neighborhood is complete without a stop at Angelina, where the Belle Époque decor is as sumptuous as the desserts. It’s firmly on the tourist track, but the legendary Mont Blanc — layers of chestnut cream and meringue — and the velvety, rich hot chocolate offer a sweet finish to your Louvre-side culinary tour and are worth braving the crowds for.
Where to Eat Close to Notre-Dame Cathedral (5th arrondissement)
After years of reconstruction following the blaze that nearly destroyed one of Paris’ most cherished landmarks, the Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened its doors in December 2024.Come rain or shine, this remains an area of Paris where the tourist footprint is heavy. Given the density of attractions — Sainte-Chapelle, the Île de la Cité flower market, the serene banks along the Seine, the dizzying shelves of the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, the charm of Île Saint-Louis — it’s unsurprising.
While many of the eateries are both quintessentially Parisian and unmemorable, certain standout restaurants merit braving the bustle for a seat at the table. Paris chefs love AT, the One-Starred restaurant led by Franco-Japanese Chef Atsushi Tanaka. His single tasting menu is conceptual and rooted in the seasons, offering a petit voyage through the natural world.
At a slightly more accessible price point (with a three-course lunch menu for 60 euros), One-Starred Baieta is a love letter to the Mediterranean, with dishes like Bouillabaieta 2.0 — Chef Julia Sedefdjian’s take on bouillabaisse, with octopus, fennel and a revisited rouille sauce.
Where to Eat Close to the Panthéon (5th arrondissement)
In Paris’ Latin Quarter, the city’s oldest, you’ll find an academic atmosphere that buzzes with the energy of students and scholars, dotted with bars, restaurants and historic monuments like the Panthéon. Conceived as a church in the late 18th century (and the tallest building in Paris until the Eiffel Tower popped up), the Panthéon is a secular mausoleum where some of the country’s most prominent figures are laid to rest: Voltaire, Rousseau, Marie Curie, Josephine Baker and more.While Stars don’t abound in this quartier, MICHELIN-vetted options include La Table de Colette, a tasting menu spot from Breton Chef Josselin Marie; Ciasa Mia, a charming Italian restaurant drawing inspiration from the Dolomites; and Otto, a minimalist bistro with a Japanese izakaya concept on Rue Mouffetard, which dates back to medieval times.
Where to Eat Close to the Paris Opéra Garnier (9th arrondissement)
In 1860, Napoleon III ordered the construction of a new opera house in central Paris. The resulting Palais Garnier, designed by the namesake young architect Charles Garnier, was all Napoleon III in style and grandeur, with an exterior painstakingly decorated up to the last column and a fittingly opulent interior design.Today this pocket of the 9th is ideal for shopping — home to the famed department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, plus an endless succession of globally known brands. Your cultural itinerary could include a guided visit through the opera house, a performance in the evening or a concert at nearby L’Olympia, a mythic venue featuring a wide range of performers. Past musicians have included Edith Piaf, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and more recently, Khruangbin and PJ Harvey.
On a sliver of a street a few minutes from Palais Garnier, Harry’s New York Bar is a legendary spot for grabbing a perfectly stirred or shaken cocktail — and a fittingly New York hot dog to go with it.
Inside Chateau Voltaire, Brasserie Emil might be a fashion week favorite, but the food more than holds its own, with refined takes on brasserie classics like veal Milanese with pomodoro sauce and their signature beef tartare.
Visitors to the area can explore Rue Saint Anne, the “little Japan” of Paris, where you can get your fix of ramen, donburi, mochi and other tasty Japanese staples. For a sit-down meal worth booking ahead, reserve one of ten spots at Two-Star Sushi Yoshinaga, a minimalist counter where Chef Tomoyuki Yoshinaga coaxes the finest flavors from the day’s catch, showcasing his unique approach to edomae-style sushi.
Hero Image: Loulou's outdoor terrace laid out in the Tuileries Gardens. © Matthieu Salvaing/Loulou
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