New places to eat around Paris' Gare du Nord railway station.

Gare du Nord and its environs are in the midst of an exciting transformation and for the 200 million travellers it serves annually, it’s not a moment too soon.

Renovations of railway station neighborhoods are catching on among the French- never ones to be outdone by the British. After London’s St. Pancras station a few years back, Parisians are fast getting up to speed– transforming Gare du Nord and the neighboring area in time for the 2024 Olympics.

An ambitious 8-year plan will see the station and surrounding neighborhood rejuvenated with new shops, restaurants, and art installations in and around the station, as well as a pedestrianized walkway linking Gare du Nord to Gare de l’Est.

While still a work in progress, the area is already more than a mere transit point to shuffle hurriedly away from, with a number of places and things worth visiting. Here are a few favorites:

Paris' Gare du Nord station has a new restaurant, L'Etoile du Nord by three-starred chef Thierry Marx.

L’Étoile du Nord

Thierry Marx’s excellent brasserie offers a modern take on French cuisine in casual surroundings. The food here lives up to the chef’s superstar reputation (he holds two Michelin stars as executive chef at the Mandarin Oriental Paris). The menu offers an array of light and fresh options, French comfort food, and even Marx’s individual take on fish and chips. The prix fixe menus offer good value considering the outstanding quality of the cooking.

You'll find art in Paris even at Gare du Nord station, where artist Leandro Erlich created a crooked house, like an iceberg sinking, which aims to highlight the problems of global warming.

Maison Fond

Commissioned by the City of Paris as part of the Nuit Blanche in 2015, this sculpture by Leandro Erlich is located in the forecourt of the station. It represents a melting Parisian building and aims to educate on the effects of global warming, and its legacy for future generations.

Angel Bear

Also on the forecourt of Gare du Nord is another sculpture, Angel Bear, which also addresses environmental concerns. Artist Richard Texier’s sculpture represents a bright red mythical animal representing the urgency and threat of global warming.

A great place to eat French food in Paris is brasserie Terminus Nord with its terrace, across the road from Gare du Nord.

The Terminus Nord brasserie in Paris for classic French food across the road from Gare du Nord has an art deco feel.

Terminus Nord

On a street littered with seedy brasseries, Terminus Nord stands out from the crowd. Part of the FLO Groupe, Terminus Nord epitomizes the traditional Parisian brasserie with its grand, elegant art deco interior, a mix of friendly and gruff waiters, and tried and true classic French dishes.

Inside the beautiful traditional brasserie Terminus Nord in Paris which serves classic French food, comes with quilted buttoned banquettes, brass fixtures and art on the walls.The menu leans heavily towards seafood. Also served are choucroute, plenty of meat dishes to satisfy the carnivore in you, and typical French desserts including îles flottantes, crème brûlée, millefeuille, and the classic profiteroles.

An authentic French brasserie in Paris, Terminus Nord has white clothed tables and art hanging on the walls.

For vegetarian food in Paris, a favorite restaurant close to Gare du Nord is Saravanaa Bhavan.

Saravnaa Bhavan

This renowned South Indian chain offers some of the best vegetarian food to be found in the city.

It specializes in dishes made from ground rice or lentils, such as dosas (indian crepes stuffed with potato and onion), idly (a white savory rice and lentil patty), and vada (deep fried savory lentil donuts). Their thalis are particularly delicious. Dishes are reasonably priced and served in a bustling informal setting.

A vegetarian Thali meal at favorite Indian restaurant in Paris, Saravanaa Bhavan, near Gare du Nord station.

St Vincent de Paul

Though well off the tourist trail, the Eglise Saint Vincent de Paul is worth a visit. Built between 1824-1844, it is one of the largest churches in Paris. The church was designed by Jacques Hittorff, the same architect who designed Gare du Nord. An oasis amidst the activity of the surrounding area, its magnificent façade is matched (or even surpassed) in beauty by its breathtaking interior.

Marché St Quentin

Designed by Rabourdin, Marche St Quentin is amongst the city’s oldest covered markets. You’ll find all the usual fare here – including fresh fish, butchers, fruits and veggies, flowers, charcuterie, wine, beer and more. What stands apart is the choice of ethnic vendors, including Italian, Portuguese, Brazilian, and Lebanese goods. The market is open Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30 am- 8 pm (some shops closed during lunch) and Sundays 8:30 am -1 pm.

A great place to shop for organic food close to Gare du Nord in Paris is Coeur Nature.

Coeur de Nature 

This excellent organic shop offers a wide and wonderful selection of fruits and vegetables, vegan items, meat, poultry, frozen goods, pantry items, hygiene products and various household goods. The shop is eco-friendly, with many items packaged in glass versus plastic, as well as a wide selection of loose bulk goods, and dispensers for oils and detergents.

For breakfast near Gare du Nord station in Paris, stop in at L'Eclair de Génie.

L’Éclair de Génie

Christophe Adam trained at Fauchon before devoting himself to éclairs full time. He has successfully re-invented the iconic French treat. Customers can choose flavors ranging from the traditional chocolate to Lemon Yuzu. Along with his eclectic, visually stunning éclairs there are salads, sandwiches and other take away options to liven up your commute.

The breakfast menus at a L'Eclair de Génie at Gare du Nord station in Paris.

Étoile du Nord 18 Rue de Dunkerque, Paris 75010 +33 1 40 36 54 36

Terminus Nord 23 Rue de Dunkerque, Paris 75010  +33 1 42 85 05 15

Saravnaa Bhavan 170 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris 75010 +33 899 27 35 05

St Vincent de Paul 5 Rue de Belzunce, Paris 75010 +33 1 48 78 47 47

Marché St Quentin 85bis Boulevard de Magenta, Paris 75010 +33 1 48 85 93 30

Coeur de Nature  44 Rue de Dunkerque, 75009 Paris, France +33 1 69 88 44 73

L’Éclair de Génie 18 Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris

Related links 

  • One writer shares her early experiences as an expat in Paris.
  • Read about multicultural La Chapelle, just a stone’s throw from Gare du Nord.
  • Property buyers are flocking to the increasingly chic 10th arrondissement. Find out more here.

Written by the HiP Paris Blog. All photos by Ali Postma. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

WRITTEN BY

HiP Paris

HiP Paris is a lifestyle website about everything Paris and beyond. We enlighten and entertain our community, and share tips and recommendations. We believe in respect for French culture, timeless luxury, being comfortable in your skin, and the simple beauty of French life. Started in 2008, HIP Paris has evolved into a hub for expats and Francophiles. We have been featured in the New York Times, Business Insider, Bloomberg, Buzzfeed, Eater, Bon Appetit, Refinery29 and many other publications.

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