5 Restaurants to Try on Your Next Paris Trip

Last Updated:

6/14/2023

Paris is buzzing with visitors and locals savoring the fine weather, convivial atmosphere and an amazing crop of new restaurants. We’ve rounded up some new additions to the Parisian dining scene for you to sample on your next visit. And don’t forget to check out our other picks, including our favorite places for street food, Asian food, and our upcoming guide to budget eats. But for now, whether you’re looking to splurge on the finest Michelin-starred cuisine, or savor the hottest new addresses, here are 5 restaurants to try on your next trip to Paris (plus one very eagerly anticipated opening!).

La Chambre Bleu

Maison Delano’s gastronomic restaurant is led by Spaniard Dani Garcia – whose empire of restaurants has included a dozen restaurants around the world from New York, to London and Madrid. It is situated in a magnificent 18th century mansion. The namesake painting by Pablo Picasso is the inspiration, with both the artist and chef hailing from Malaga.

The French-Andalusian menu includes seafood delicacies and Spanish influences. Gourmands everywhere will delight in a wide array of offerings, including oysters, lobster, sardines, Iberian ham, paellas, octopus, and a dedicated section featuring tuna dishes such as tartars and croquettes. There is an extensive wine list, and the cocktails draw inspiration from Picasso’s blue period.

Astrance

A popular place over the last two decades for its haute cuisine and as one of the favorite restaurants of discerning foodies, Astrance has made a comeback after a three-year closure. Pascal Barbot leads the kitchen at the newly re-opened restaurant. Situated in a different location in the French capital, it still bears the same name that became synonymous with contemporary French cuisine and fine dining.

In its heyday Astrance received 3 Michelin stars and placed #18 on San Pelligrino’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. This is the perfect setting for delicious food for a special occasion, with prices to match (for its set menus, dinner is 285€ without wine, while the lunch menu is 125€).

Left: Astrance's caramelized fish filet dish in miso sauce; Right: Astrance's jasmin eggnog served in 2 opened eggshells. — Astrance Paris: Légine caramélisée au miso / Lait de poule au jasmin, photos by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion

The menu still features contemporary French cooking with exciting additions such as shellfish dishes like chili-infused citrus clam and langoustine with peanut paste. Depending on the season, diners can also relish in offerings like foie gras marinated in verjuice, mushroom millefeuille, poached lobster, and more. A delightful addition to the team is the in-house pastry chef, Elise Guiroy, who tantalizes patrons with treats like lemongrass and chili ice cream, pear tart on shortbread, and chestnut honey madeleines.

Dragon

One Parisian bistro we return to time and again is Cyril Lignac’s Le Chardenoux in the 11th arrondissement. We’ve spent hours with friends and family, chatting over a great meal in the beautiful dining room. We also spent the pandemic cooking along with Lignac on his program Tous en Cuisine. Needless to say we were excited at the prospect of a new restaurant from the celebrity chef, in Paris’ 6th arrondissement, in the heart of Saint Germain des Prés.

Asian cuisine and small plates take center stage at this address, showcasing delectable dishes like gyozas, tataki, tartare, dumplings, and bao burgers. The dramatic setting makes it a perfect place for a romantic dinner. It’s also great if you want something a little lighter than the usual, rich classic French dishes. The restaurant’s interior design collaborator is Jacques Garcia – known for the sumptuous interiors at Maison Proust and Hotel Costes. The fashionable interior makes it a perfect restaurant for a girl’s night out or date night.

Left: A painting of a woman hangs inside Dragon Paris; Right: The sleek black wooden bar table in Dragon Paris with black bar stools. — Dragon par Cyril Lignac, photos by Yann Deret

Gordon Ramsay au Trianon, Versailles

Originally hailing from Italy, the young chef Gabriele Ravasio honed his skills at Nobu in London and traversed South America in search of culinary adventures. However, his encounter with classic French food came when he joined Gordon Ramsay’s team at Trianon, working alongside Frédéric Larquemin. Now in charge of the kitchen, Ravasio collaborates with pastry chef Eddie Benghanem. His culinary offering seamlessly merges French and Japanese influences, incorporating exotic ingredients such as plantains, black garlic, caviar, daikon radish, and karashi.

Left: Au Trianon Gordon Ramsay's mallard dish with quetsche and squash; Right: Au Trianon's sobacha with mushrooms and caramel plate. — photos courtesy of Gordon Ramsay Au Trianon

Local ingredients, like venison from the Compiègne forests or lentils from the region are also to be found. There is an emphasis on healthy eating, preparing dishes without cream or butter and utilizing low-temperature cooking techniques that define Ravasio’s culinary style.

ONOR

Located just a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe and Parc Monceau, besides the outstanding food, there is another good reason to visit this restaurant. Thierry Marx’s latest project provides a platform for young talents to shine. The celebrity chef, known for a number of renowned establishments including Sur Mesure at the Mandarin Oriental, has partnered with Cuisines Mode d’Emploi for this project, where good food and the greater good combine.

Chef Thierry Marx dressed in a blue winter jacket and beige scarf visits a greenhouse growing produce in Yvelines. — Chef Thierry Marx, photo by Département des Yvelines

The organization offers free cooking lessons and programs in culinary arts for people in need of employment. Participants receive a State-recognized diploma. The project is close to Marx’s heart as he dropped out of school when he was 14. The restaurant is made up of 20% of graduates from the program.

As one has come to expect from Marx, a dazzling dining experience awaits. Marking a return to his signature molecular gastronomy, you’ll find signature dishes like soy risotto, onion soup, ravioli, and charcoal-grilled beef. The dinner menu is pricey but the lunch menu still allows you the chance to sample exceptional food at (relatively) more reasonable prices, while supporting a great initiative.

And coming soon…..Golden Poppy

Dominique Crenn, who revolutionized gastronomy in California and earned three Michelin stars in the process, will now head the kitchen at Golden Poppy. Her return to France after a long time abroad will be hosted in Hotel La Fantaisie in the 9th arrondissement. Californian pescatarian cuisine with a French touch is on offer, with tantalizing dishes such as whole fish, baos, ceviches, sardine empanadas, and fusion tacos. The setting is designed by Martin Brudnizki. And don’t forget to visit the stunning rooftop bar and hotel’s gardens.