… a lovingly curated selection of the essentials you need for living in the City of Lights – prepared by people in the know.
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.
Metro: Porte de St Cloud
Known for its crispy Peking Duck served over several courses, the Palais du Bonheur serves up typical grilled and steamed Chinese dishes — all for a reasonable price, with a welcoming smile! Our faves: Peking duck of course, salt and pepper shrimp, ma po tofu, braised eggplant and hot and sour soup!
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: 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!
If you’re passing through Giverny, Le Jardin des Plumes is a boutique hotel featuring Art Deco and contemporary furnishings as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant. Less than an hour from Paris, this is the ideal place to relax in any season. With a very welcoming, young team at the reception, you’ll feel like a special guest every time.
Metro: La Muette (Line 9)
An elegant Chinese restaurant hidden on a small street near the busy rue de Passy. We love their crispy Peking duck lunch (98€ for 2 people), which features a yummy variety of dim sum, half a crispy duck per person, served 3 ways, rice, and dessert. And, unlike most other restaurants, there’s no need to order the duck in advance!
Metro: Iéna (line 9)
The first Chinese restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star in France, this is the place to splurge on special occasions when you want to treat yourself to fine, Cantonese cuisine in a refined, elegant setting. Chef’s recommendations include: BBQ Iberian pork with honey, sautéed sole filet with XO sauce and Lobster prepared any one of eight ways. Thinking of their Peking Duck has us drooling, and we love their dim sum lunch, with two set menus for 52€ or 72€. Savor. Every. Morsel.
Metro: Abbesses (line 12)
This cozy restaurant in Montmartre serves up refined, traditional Peking-style healthy cuisine in a friendly and zen atmosphere. Emphasis is on mostly steamed dishes prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients, no MSG, and less oil. Try their Mijoté de Poulet à la Marmite (Chicken served in a Tibetan stone pot) and Dao, assorted vegetables in five colors.
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.
Metro: Opéra (lines 3, 7 and 8)
Craving Peking duck? This quintessential dish (order in advance) is served here over three courses: starting with the duck skin you wrap with a plum sauce in thin rice pancakes, then as a main course sautéed with vegetables, and finally as a delicious soup. It also has a decent dim sum (Chinese dumplings and hors d’oeuvres) menu, available for lunch and dinner.
Metro: Nation (lines 1, 2, 6 and 9)
Authentic Northern Chinese cuisine in a brasserie-type atmosphere. Avoid the Thai-influenced dishes on the copious menu and go for the more authentic specialities such as eggplants sautéed in soy sauce, Squirrel Mandarin Fish (poisson écureuil), and shredded Peking-style pork served with little pancakes.
Metro: Mabillon (line 10), Saint-Michel (line 4)
A slight departure from your typical Chinese canteen-style restaurant. This cozy, zen, teahouse with 12 tables serves up healthy, traditional Cantonese cuisine, including vegetarian, tofu-based dishes to accompany the star of the house: dozens of varieties of fragrant teas (white, green, yellow and blue). Lunch Only.
Metro: Cluny-La Sorbonne (line 10), Saint-Michel (line 4)
Sometimes you just crave a good bowl of Chinese noodles. Mirama is the place to go for the best shrimp wonton noodle soup, roasted duck and BBQ pork in the heart of Paris, just steps away from Notre Dame Cathedral. Open daily till 10:30 pm.
Metro: Porte de Choisy (line 7 and T3)
One of the oldest Chinese canteens in Paris, this family-style restaurant continues to be popular with locals. You come here for quick service and a vast array of soups, dim sum delicacies, BBQ duck and rice plates at a good value. It’s big, noisy and often crowded, but very kid-friendly and perfect for weekend brunch en famille.
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.
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: 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: Odéon (lines 4 & 10)
Located in the same gorgeous passageway as La Jacobine, Un Dimanche à Paris (A Sunday in Paris) is well-known for its luxury hot chocolate. Chocoholics will love its concept store dedicated entirely to chocolate! The concept includes; a boutique, a chocolate bar, a restaurant, a chocolate salon, a chocolate lounge AND cooking and baking classes.
You can pop in anytime between 3pm and 6pm to grab a hot chocolate and warm up in their cosy and delightful tearoom. Their luxury hot chocolate includes a dash of cream and is flavored with vanilla and cinnamon. It’s a little on the pricey side but it’s definitely worth it.
Read The Hot Chocolate Challenge for other great spots to satisfy your chocolate craving.
Metro: Odéon (lines 4 & 10)
La Jacobine is a tiny cafe tucked away in the Passage des Arts. Their Aztec hot chocolate is absolutely to-die-for – it’s unbelievably smooth, not too rich and just sweet enough! You can order it plain, with whipped cream, or with a ball of vanilla ice cream.
Read The Hot Chocolate Challenge for other great spots to satisfy your chocolate cravings.
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: Wagram (line 3)
A true family-run restaurant, loved by the locals and off the beaten path in the 17th arrondissement. Here you will find authentic southwestern French dishes such as foie gras, or duck and bean cassoulet.
On top of the typical fare and relaxed atmosphere, you will love their boutique at the entrance of the restaurant for something, including bottles of fine Armagnac, to take-away.
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