Where to Eat Out in Paris: A Complete Food and Dining Guide

Food connoisseurs should always reserve time for a meal at one of Paris' top gourmet restaurants, world-renowned gastronomic establishments that have earned up to three Michelin stars for exceptional cuisine and service. Star chefs such as Alain Ducasse and Guy Savoy guarantee a gastronomic experience that palates will savor for some time, serving up delicacies such as foie gras ravioli or wild Breton lobster. Learn more about which Paris restaurants have been awarded creme de la creme status, and find out how to make space in your budget for these temples of taste.

Paris has more restaurants per square foot than you can muster. When you're on a budget and can't afford to fork out a fortune for a meal in a high gastronomic establishment, it can be a challenge to sift through Paris' many mediocre kitchens and find a spot where quality and budget are compatible.

Browse this collection of Paris restaurant reviews to find a great place to eat out in Paris, regardless of your budget or desired cuisine.

Other Great Resources:

• Paris by Mouth: Restaurant and Dining Guide
• Paris Restaurant Picks from David Lebovitz

The Parisian culinary scene is a wonderland for committed foodies-- unless you're vegetarian, of course. With meat, the star attraction of France's world-revered cuisine, don't be surprised if your assertion of vegetarianism is met with confusion. Luckily, though, dig a little deeper and you'll discover a limited yet flourishing vegetarian (and dare I say it, vegan) restaurant scene. Don't fret if you can't seem to get past the foie gras and steak-frites section of the menu: these vegetarian and vegan Paris restaurants serve some excellent and appetizing options.

Street food in Paris can be absolutely wonderful-- take the case of the Marais district's famed falafels-- or positively horrid and even hygienically questionable (mayonnaise-laced tuna sandwiches left to sit in unrefrigerated display windows comes to mind). Read more on where to find great, cheap, and even healthy fast food in Paris, and avoid the bad stuff. You may also want to check out our guide to the best crepes and creperies in Paris.

Romantic restaurants in Paris are easy enough to come by, but finding a combination of ambiance and quality may be a challenge. Assuming that you reserve ahead and avoid overly noisy or crowded establishments, dinner for two can be a highly romantic affair in Paris.

You might assume that eating out in restaurants with kids will be a nightmarish experience in Paris! But this needn't be the case. Consult this handy list of tips on how to keep young and picky eaters happy and full during your next trip.

There is nothing more French, or more specifically-- Parisian-- than taking a few moments out of your day to sit with an espresso in one of the city's thousands of cafes. Indoors on a cozy banquette or out on a sunny terrace, drinking and people-watching is one of the most cherished past-times in France. While there are charming and unique spots all over Paris, this list includes some of the classics, including renowned traditional brasseries such as La Closerie des Lilas, where they take the food just as seriously as the coffee and drinks.

While a majority of Paris restaurants shut down for Christmas Eve and day, several remain open, offering Christmas lunch or dinner service. A word of caution, though: you should always try to book ahead at least a month in advance, as spots fill up quickly. I've categorized the restaurants by price and prestige. The majority of these restaurants offer traditional French holiday fare such as oysters and shellfish, foie gras, stuffed goose or pheasant, but I've also listed a few Paris restaurants that remain open for Christmas and offer other specialties.

Most waitstaff at Paris restaurants know basic English, so ordering or paying is rarely a problem if your French is nonexistent. Still, to adhere to the "when in Rome" spirit, why not learn a few useful words and phrases commonly used in restaurants? You'll have a more interesting experience if you can use some of this basic Paris restaurant vocabulary, and may find the staff to be even warmer when they see you're making an effort to wield some French.

For wine lovers, Paris offers no shortage of wine bars where you can both buy or taste wine and pair great vintages with delicious cheese, charcuterie or full meals.

Whether you're craving a good Bento box, bowl of steaming udon or ramen noodles, or a good Japanese omelet followed by green-tea ice cream, we've got the lowdown on the best Japanese eateries and groceries in Paris, all concentrated in the "Little Tokyo" around rue St Anne.

Paris may not be suspected as one of the world's best places to score great falafel, but there are several restaurants here to prove that all wrong. Whether you prefer the Israeli variety, featuring a thick pita filled with falafel balls, crunchy veggies and warm slices of fried eggplant, or the Lebanese or Syrian version with lavash bread and tabbouleh, we've got the lowdown on where to head for the best of these prized Middle Eastern, naturally vegetarian sandwiches.

If you need to hunt down a can of truffles or foie gras to bring back with you on the plane, stake out high-quality produce, cheeses or charcuterie, or find unusual or "exotic" items that are clearly not available at typical supermarkets in the city of light, head to one of these top-rated gourmet Paris food shops.

Many Parisians (especially among the older generations) abstain from buying fresh produce, cheese, meat, and fish from their corner supermarket, and for good reason: traditional Paris food markets count in the dozens, with several open one or more days a week in every neighborhood. Market products are often fresher, more flavorful, and less expensive than supermarket counterparts. It can also be a lot more environmentally friendly since the fresh fruit and produce in particular tends to come from local farms. Find complete directories to temporary farmers' markets in each neighborhood of Paris by reading further.

In addition to dozens of temporary food markets that spring up around the city on select days of the week, Paris counts a number of permanent market streets offering gaggles of fresh, high-quality produce, fish and meat, cheeses and other goodies. These Paris street markets are usually situated on pedestrian-only streets, making them particularly pleasant for a leisurely stroll. Grab a basket or large bag, come with an appetite (you'll want to nibble on baguettes, pastries, fruit or other samples) and get acquainted with these permanent open-air markets, which are highly coveted by Parisians.

Even visitors who aren't terribly food-oriented could not fail to be enthralled by a first encounter with a Paris boulangerie shop window. Despite the recent emergence of Starbucks outlets and "McCafés", Parisian boulangeries-patisseries have managed to withstand globalization and mass production, by continuing to produce quality breads, pastries, and cakes that are eye-catching, sumptuous, and often downright decadent. With one on virtually every corner, you will never go croissant-hungry, but if you're looking for that extra-special baguette or raspberry tart, here's a guide to ten of the best bakeries in Paris.

Paris boasts some of the world's most divine pastries, cakes, and viennoiseriespatisseries in the city here. Take note: the best bakers don't necessarily make the best pastries, and vice-versa!

Being one of the culinary capitals of the world, Paris counts an honorable share of artisan chocolatiers-- cocoa experts who bring genuine artistic flair to their chocolate and concoct the finest in both traditional and eclectic recipes. Dark chocolate is a specialty among French chocolate artisans, as are ganaches: chocolates with rich, creamy centers.

These coveted round biscuits made of almonds, sugar, and egg whites and produced in countless classic and creative flavors have become an emblem of Parisian elegance. Find out where to head for the best macarons in town, including Ladurée and Pierre Hermé.

Paris counts several excellent glaciers (ice cream artisans) who make fresh ice cream and gelato onsite daily, using only a few natural ingredients. Find out where to head for some of the best.