Like August, Christmas and New Year’s Eve can be tricky times for finding restaurants that are open in Paris. Luckily, there are a select few that will be open on Christmas Eve (when the French typically celebrate), Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Some may have special menus, while others will stick with their usual. Here are some options:

Left: three images, one of a part of the Eiffel Tower, one of the interior of Jules Verne restaurant, and one of a Michelin star. Right: plates of food on a table at Jules Verne restaurant.
Top: Brasserie Thoumieux. Above: Jules Verne

Jules Verne

What better way to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve than on the top of the Eiffel Tower? But if you want to dine at this one Michelin star restaurant, you better make your reservation quickly before they book up. They have a special Christmas Eve dinner menu, Christmas Day lunch menu, and New Year’s Eve dinner menu.

Left: a slice of poultry tarte at Le Coq & Fils restaurant. Right: a birds eye view of a table of food and drinks at Le Coq & Fils restaurant.
Le Coq & Fils

Le Coq & Fils

What used to be called Le Coq Rico is now Le Coq & Fils, the popular chicken restaurant across the road from the Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre. Special menu items for the holidays include a chapon gaulois (capon), pintade nubienne (guinea fowl), meatloaf, and a tarte de volaille à la truffe.

Left: a roast chicken with gravy being poured on top, with fries, salad, sides and glasses of wine on a table. Right: table settings at Le Coq & Fils restaurant.
Le Coq & Fils

Martin

Martin is a buzzing all-day restaurant in the Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood. Their menus are committed to seasonal cuisine and the best local produce, featuring 100% French dishes with various veggie and vegan options, and spicy cocktails. They have a five-course Christmas Eve menu for 70€ as well as a five-course New Year’s Eve menu for 90€. 

Left: sauce being poured onto a piece of meat on a table in front of a vertical garden wall at Martin restaurant. Right: the interior of Martin restaurant with tables and chairs and bookshelves.
Martin

La Closerie des Lilas

Like Les Deux Magots, which is also open on Christmas Eve, La Closerie des Lilas was a popular haunt for famous writers and artists such as Verlaine, Hemingway, Picasso, and Gide. There is a restaurant, and a more affordable brasserie. Try the filet Hemingway or feast on one of their seafood platters.

Left: the interior of La Closerie des Lilas restaurant, with white table clothes and green chairs. Right: coq au vin in a casserole pot with sauce being poured on top at Le Coq & Fils restaurant.
Left: La Closerie des Lilas. Right: Le Coq & Fils

Brasserie Thoumieux

This former Bouillon Chartier was bought in 1923 by Martial Thoumieux, who made it one of the must-visit addresses of the left bank. During summer this year, this traditional Parisian brasserie in the heart of the quartier des Invalides was revamped, complete with red velvet bench seats and green lamps.

Left: a birds eye view of choucroute at Bofinger restaurant. Right: pâté en croûte with salad, cornichons in a jar, and bread on a table with a glass of red wine at Brasserie Thoumieux.
Left: Bofinger @puxanphoto. Right: Brasserie Thoumieux

Les Délices d’Aphrodite

If you feel like something other than French food, Les Délices d’Aphrodite is a tavern in the Latin Quarter serving up traditional Greek cuisine by the Mavrommatis brothers. There will be tzatziki, hummus, and Greek salad bien sûr, but also spanakopita, moussaka, souvlaki, and some baklava for dessert. 

Right: the exterior of Bofinger restaurant, with red painted lettering on the facade. Right: a waiter serving choucroute onto a customer's plate at Bofinger restaurant.
Bofinger @puxanphoto

Bofinger

Emblematic Parisian brasserie Bofinger claims to serve up the best choucroute in the city. In addition to this winter favorite, other Alsatian specialities include flammenkueche, kougloff façon pain perdu (French toast-style kouglof) and forêt noire (Black Forest cake). You can also get seafood platters, and my personal favorite, soufflé au Grand Marnier.

Left: the interior of Bofinger restaurant with a large oval shaped stained glass window on the roof. Right: French onion soup and a glass of red wine at Bofinger restaurant.
Bofinger @puxanphoto

Dessance

Located in a 17th-century private mansion in the Marais, Dessance is a gastronomic restaurant offering modern healthy food with seasonal vegetables, fruits and herbs, and drink pairings. They have an Irrésistible Végétarien menu and a Hédoniste Terre & Mer menu for Christmas. Not open on New Year’s Eve.

Left: the interior of the restaurant Dessance with wood panelling, plants, tiled floor and black tables and chairs.
Dessance

Related Links

Left: a waiter holding a cocktail at Martin restaurant. Right: a birds eye view of people sitting in the courtyard of Martin restaurant.
Martin

Written by Ali Postma for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Plum Guide and our Marketplace for fabulous vacation rentals in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long or short term, or buy in France? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates or click here. Looking to bring France home to you or to learn online or in person? Check out our marketplace shop and experiences.

WRITTEN BY

Ali Postma

Ali is from Melbourne, Australia, where she studied Art History and Art Curatorship at Monash and The University of Melbourn. She has worked in various art galleries. Passionate about all things arts and culture, she has a particular interest French film, Nordic noir, photography, street art and architecture. Ali has lived in Paris since 2016 and has written extensively on art, food, beauty and more. Her work has in publications including BW Confidential, Oh My Mag, and HIP Paris.

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