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    Where to Eat in Paris on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

    by Lily Heise

    Of all French holidays, Christmas is celebrated with heightened gastronomic pomp. This is when the finest French delicacies are honored, from the finest-grade oysters to rich foie gras, truffled heritage hens to special reserve champagne. These extravagant meals are generally served for le réveillon de Noël, Christmas Eve dinner, however, some restaurants will also be offering festival feasts on Christmas day, mostly at lunch. The following Paris restaurants will be open on December 24th and/or the 25th.

    The opulent interior of the restaurant Le Train Bleu in Paris, featuring painted frescos and gold chandeliers (left). A bird's eye view of the rum baba dessert from the restaurant Fouquet's in Paris (right).

    Top: Alina Grubnyak / Maison Blanche. Above: Le Train Bleu / Fouquet’s

    Open December 24th Only

    Fouquet’s

    A white dish with seared salmon on top of salad (left). A table covered with a white tablecloth with wine classes, white serviettes and red chairs with a menu for the restaurant Foquet's in Paris.

    Fouquet’s

    Recently restored, this famous institution of the Champs-Élysées will be serving a festive meal on December 24th. A gastronomic four-course menu including king crab, foie gras, capon fillet poached in a champagne-infused bouillon, and Fouquet’s special Christmas dessert (180€/person, including a glass of champagne. More information and reservations here).

    Le Train Bleu

    The opulent interior of the restaurant Le Train Bleu in Paris, tables covered in white tablecloths with white serviettes and wine glasses, blue upholstered seats, the walls have painted frescoes and carved gold detailing.

    Le Train Bleu

    The beautiful Belle Époque restaurant in the Gare de Lyon provides an enchanting setting to celebrate Christmas Eve. This year’s menu will feature duck and lobster foie gras, suprême of chicken with black truffle, roasted potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes, and a citrus and white chocolate bûche de Noël (€145.00/person excluding drinks).

    The opulent interior of the restaurant Le Train Bleu in Paris, featuring painted frescos and gold chandeliers (left). A table setting at Le Train Bleu, a white tablecloth with white napkin, cutlery, wine glasses and a white plate with blue and gold detailing and the logo of the restaurant in the middle (right).

    Le Train Bleu

    Lucas Carton

    Surround yourself in Art Nouveau glamor at this one-Michelin-star restaurant in Place de la Madeleine. Talented chef Julien Dumas and his team will be preparing a refined six-course holiday menu with scallop carpaccio, lobster with squid and truffles, capon stuffed with white truffles, and two desserts. The 312€ meal will start with a glass of Champagne Louise Pommery 2004 and you can add a wine pairing for an additional 80€ (reservations here).

    La Maison Blanche

    The outdoor terrace of the restaurant La Maison Blanche in Paris, with white tables and chairs, a wooden patio with an art installation of red poppies, and a view of the Eiffel Tower against a blue sky.

    La Maison Blanche

    This stylish restaurant with views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine will be serving its own six-course Christmas Eve feast. The highlights of this are duck foie gras with Macau artichokes, Normandy scallops with wild mushrooms and roasted hazelnuts, suprême of chicken, and Christmas log cake (195€ with a glass of champagne).

    Le Gabriel   

    A plate of food from the restaurant Le Gabriel in Paris (left). The opulent interior of Le Gabriel, tables with white tablecloths, napkins and wine glasses, black and white Art Deco style chairs, in a room with gold walls and wood panelled roof in Art Deco style (right).

    Le Gabriel

    The restaurant of the posh La Reserve hotel will be pulling out all the stops for their opulent festive menu. The eight-course tasting menu will be divided up into themes: truffles, Macau artichokes, “Baie de Seine” scallops, steamed sea bass, “Cour d’Armoise” hen, vacherin with truffles, and passion fruit soufflé with vanilla. It is priced at 500€, excluding drinks. 

    Open December 24th and 25th

    Bouillon Julien

    The art nouveau interior of Bouillon Julien restaurant in Paris. Pale green walls with a large mirror in the middle, chandeliers, maroon bench seat and chairs with tables with white table cloths and wine glasses.

    Bouillon Julien

    This alluring Art Nouveau establishment off the Grand Boulevards is presenting a very reasonably priced Christmas menu of à la carte options. On the menu will be a wide selection of the likes of pumpkin soup, pâté en croûte with chestnuts, and roasted Scottish salmon. These will be available for dinner on the 24th and lunch and dinner on the 25th  Full menu and reservations here.

    La Coupole

    The exterior of La Coupole restaurant in Paris. A neon sign saying La Coupole, a white terrace shade, people standing in the terrace and an old fashioned black car parked out the front.

    La Coupole

    Celebrate Christmas in style at this grand Art Deco brasserie in Montparnasse. The three-course menu has a choice of duck foie gras with Gewurztraminer, scallops, or six oysters followed by monkfish medallions in a champagne sauce with heirloom vegetables or capon stuffed with Limousin chestnuts, and a dessert of traditional Christmas log (75€/person excluding drinks).

    Looking out the window from the inside of the restaurant to the terrace outside, where there are pale yellow bench seats, tables with white table cloths, and plates of food and glasses of wine on top. The words 'Service Continu' are on the window (left). A plate with roast veal and potato gratin with the name of the restaurant, La Coupole, on the plate (right).

    La Coupole

    Champeaux 

    World-famous French chef Alain Ducasse’s more laid back outpost at Les Halles will be preparing a special holiday menu. It will be available for Christmas Eve dinner at 65€ and Christmas Day lunch at 54€ (excluding beverages).

    Chez Jenny

    The exterior of the restaurant Chez Jenny in Paris at night time, with a large white neon sign saying Chez Jenny and streaks of light in front from a passing car.

    Chez Jenny

    This historic Alsatian brasserie in Place de la République will be a great cozy and festive option for the holidays. The three-course menu of typical traditional French Christmas dishes will include a coupe of champagne and cost 59€ (see full menu here). 

    Le Violon d’Ingres

    The exterior of the restaurant Le Violon d'Ingres in Paris with people sitting at tables and wine fridges (left). A bird's eye view of a grey plate with cutlery on either side, with a wellington, salad and sauce in the middle (right).

    Le Violon D’Ingres

    Christan Constant’s gastronomic restaurant will be offering two separate menus for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch (at 220€ and 150€ respective, without drinks). The refined meals will tempt you with scallops, roasted blue lobster, foie gras and beef rossini, brie de Meaux with truffles, and more. Discover the menu and reserve here.

    A large rectangular black plate with a leg of lamb cooked in pastry next to an artichoke, garlic and herbs (left). A plate with a version of the dessert La Dame Blanche, cylinders of chocolate with a white interior, spots of chocolate mousse, chocolate powder and a hand is pouring chocolate sauce over the top from a white jug (right).

    Le Violon D’Ingres

    Cléo 

    A white plate with roast pigeon, wheat risotto, turnip and chestnut, with cutlery on either side and a glass of red wine in the background, some bread, and an assortment of decorative squash.

    Cléo

    The chic restaurant of the five-star Hotel Narcisse, found near Les Invalides, will have a special festive menu as well. A seven-course dinner will be served on the 24th and a pared-down version on the 25th at lunch. Discover the complete menu and reserve here.

    A bird's eye view of three white plates of food with cutlery on a white background. A loaf of bread, a pot of green beans, a pot of roast potatoes and carrots, and a piece of ham, with a glass of red wine (left). A chef's hand garnishing a plate of food with some small green herbs (right).

    Cléo

    Addresses

    Fouquet’s – 99 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008

    Le Train Bleu – Gare de Lyon, Place Louis-Armand, 75012

    Lucas Carton – 9 Place de la Madeleine, 75008

    La Maison Blanche – 15 Avenue Montaigne, 75008

    Le Gabriel – La Reserve Hotel, 42 Avenue Gabriel, 75008

    Bouillon Julien – 16 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010

    La Coupole – 102 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75014

    Champeaux – 12 Passage de la Canopée, 75001

    Chez Jenny – 39 Boulevard du Temple, 75003

    Le Violon d’Ingres – 135 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007

    Cléo – Hotel Narcisse, 19 Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg, 75007

    A dish of oysters served on ice with lemon in the middle, a hand is taking an oyster. A plate with the name of the restaurant, La Coupole, on it and a glass of white wine (left). A dish with the dessert Ile Flottante and the name of the restaurant, La Coupole, on it with a glass of white wine (right).

    La Coupole

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    Written by Lily Heise for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Haven In for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long-term or buy in France or Italy? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates.

    Written By

    Lily Heise

    Lily Heise has been living in Paris for more than 10 years. When she's not getting into romantic mischief, she writes on dating, travel, and culture. Her writing has been featured in Frommer’s Guides, the Huffington Post, Conde Nast Traveler, City Secrets, DK Eyewitness Guides, and other local and international publications. She is the author of Je T'Aime, Me Neither, and Je T'Aime... Maybe? lively novelized memoirs on her romantic misadventures, and continues to share dating tips, stories and travel features on her blog www.jetaimemeneither.com. View Lily Heise's Website

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