… a lovingly curated selection of the essentials you need for living in the City of Lights – prepared by people in the know.
Metro: Concorde or Tuileries (line 1)
For over a century, Angelina’s has built a reputation as a place of sophistication and indulgence. Its renowned African hot chocolate is so thick that you almost feel like you’re digging into a bowl of soup. It’s made from three types of African chocolate from Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast and is made especially for Angelina’s. It is a beautiful place where the likes of Proust and Coco Chanel frequented. While you’re there, be sure to try the Mont Blanc, Angelina’s trademark pastry since 1903!
Read The Hot Chocolate Challenge for other great spots to satisfy your chocolate craving.
Other Angelina locations on website.
Metro: Franklin Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9)
Fiery-hot Northern Chinese food, smack in central Paris. Serves mainly Pekingese and Sichuanese regional specialities including soups, dumplings, seafood (marmite of spicy prawns) and poultry (try the crispy spicy chicken and their scrumptious Peking duck), meat dishes like Shanghainese lion’s head, water-cooked beef, and braised pork with vermicelli noodles. Casual atmosphere. Conveniently located near the Champs Elysées.
17 Rue des Écoles, 75005 Paris, France
An authentic American diner serving breakfast all day, juicy hamburgers, homemade chile con carne, bagels, and much more!
READ MORE IN OUR “Top 15 Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris” article!
Metro: Pont de Levallois Bécon (line 3)
Located on a tiny island 5 minutes by car from Étoile in Paris, this spacious loft style brasserie is housed in a 19th-century building with a dinosaur skeleton suspended above the entire dining room. They also offer a weekend brunch menu with freshly squeezed juices, mini viennosseries such as “feuilletée au Nutella” for chocolate lovers, an appetizing selection of antipasti and Italian desserts.
Read about this and more weekend brunch spots in our weekend brunch roundup!
METRO: Cardinal LeMoine (Line 10) or Place Monge (line 7)
The perfect bistro for any occasion! Simple, fresh and homemade, what more do we need to say !
Metro: Opéra (lines 3, 7 & 8)
Just a few meters away from the beautiful Opéra Garnier, the Grand Hotel serves a delicious hot chocolate in its adjoining restaurant and bar, Café de la Paix. You can ask for the chocolate to be fort en goût (very strong) or touché delicate (delicate touch) depending on your preference. Hot chocolate is served all day and even late into the evening, so it’s perfect for that late night craving. It’s another pricey venue but the place itself is stunning and the hot chocolate is wonderful.
Read The Hot Chocolate Challenge for other great spots to satisfy your chocolate craving.
Metro: Pigalle (line 2), St-Georges (line 12)
Café Marlette is an adorable, quirky place where you can find homemade BIO food, gluten free cakes and delicious coffee. They also do incredible BIO breakfasts, brunches and lunches as well as snacks for l’heure du goûter
Read full review here of gluten-free bakeries in Paris by INSPIRELLE contributor Chloe Martin.
Metro: Filles du Calvaire (line 8)
A small Mexican restaurant in the third arrondissement where the lack of space (and maybe the strength of the frozen margaritas) means that you naturally get to know your neighbor. There is even a small speakeasy hidden at the back of the restaurant behind a white, unmarked door.
We adore this charming, chalet-style restaurant and event space on its own island in the Bois de Boulogne in the West end of Paris. The voyage there itself is unique – you can row, yes we said row, your way across the lake. Or, you can park and then take a ferry from the public parking area (free for restaurant goers, 1,50€ round-trip for island hoppers). On fine days, you can pack a picnic and find a spot of grass to spread out. Or, you can book a brunch at their elegant restaurant.
For more brunch recommendations, read our article: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris”!
Metro: Parmentier (line 3), Oberkampf (lines 5 and 9)
Another hip and must-visit gluten free bakery in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Their pastries are to die for and you just have to try their famous rectangular bread!
Read full review here of gluten-free bakeries in Paris by INSPIRELLE contributor Chloe Martin.
Metro: Porte de Choisy (line 7 and T3)
An authentic Chinese “dim sum” restaurant that’ll transport you back to the big banquet halls of Hong Kong, with pushcarts that circulate the dining tables offering dozens of dainty, traditional bite-sized delicacies for you to choose from. Try steamed, fried or stuffed. Rely on old favorites like: steamed shrimp dumplings (Har Gao), steamed pork brioches (cha siu bao), stuffed raviolis and sticky rice in lotus leaves. It’s noisy and crowded, but definitely kid-friendly!
For more brunch recommendations, read our article: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris”!
7 Rue Gustave Courbet, 75116 Paris, France
46 Rue de Sablonville, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Once known as the original American diner in Paris, Coffee Parisien now boasts 3 restaurants, with talk of a fourth opening! Count on American staples like eggs benedict, bagels with cream cheese and lox or French toast with grapefruit. For a French touch, enjoy a big cup of café au lait.
FIND MORE brunch recommendations in our: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris” article!
Metro: St. Augustin (line 9), Miromesnil (line 9 and 13)
Crom’Exquis is a gourmet restaurant in the 8th arrondissement, which serves up traditional French food, using the finest produce, including its own garden products such as pea shoots, red shiso and cress. On Saturday evenings, we highly recommend you join the chef, Pierre Meneau, at his table d’hôte (host’s table) where he indulges his creativity. Only three tables are available, so book ahead! Read our review of Crom’Exquis here!
Metro: Arts et Métiers (lines 3 and 11)
It’s not often that you walk into a restaurant that looks like you’re in a shabby chic, Parisian apartment; but when you do, you’re in for a real treat. Here, you’ll find guests drinking, dining and flirting in the bedroom, living room, dining room or boudoir, making themselves quite literally “at home”. There’s even a Ping-Pong table and a smoking room hidden behind a mirrored wardrobe… très chic.
Metro: Corentin Cariou (line 7)
A large, banquet hall-style restaurant offering a wide range of traditional Chinese dishes, from classic seafood and meat courses to gastronomic specialities like abalone and sea cucumber, as well as some Thai and Japanese dishes.
28 Rue Vignon, 75009 Paris, France
The first bakery in Paris to offer traditional French pastries 100% Gluten-free. Run by husband and wife team François and Marie, the bakery is warm and inviting and their pastries will have you coming back for more.
Read full review here of gluten-free bakeries in Paris by INSPIRELLE contributor Chloe Martin.
Metro: Jacques Bonsergent (line 5)
Holybelly is owned and operated by Sarah Mouchot and Nico Alary, who together create a new menu every month – a mix of classic French and Western comfort food, based on what products are in season. Their staple: Sunday breakfast.
Metro: St-Georges (line 12), Pigalle (line 2 and 12)
When INSPIRELLE recommends breakfast at Hotel l’Amour or “Hotel Love”, it should be a late romantic breakfast for two. In fact, why not get away for a weekend with your partner and reserve one of the intimate hotel bedchambers?
FIND MORE brunch recommendations in our: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris” article
Make your own salads at Jour’s numerous locations in Paris including 8 shops in the 8th arrondisement (see all locations on their website). You can also order online for delivery.
Metro: Rue Saint-Maur (line 3) Saint-Ambroise (line 9)
This wine bar is known for it’s ‘just like at home atmosphere’.