There’s no dining experience that captures the soul of Paris quite like its bistros — warm, convivial, and full of timeless charm. These neighborhood institutions define authentic French dining, where locals and visitors gather for comforting food, well-aged wine, and genuine hospitality. From historic Paris bistros that have fed generations to modern addresses reinterpreting tradition, this guide highlights 15 of the best bistros in Paris (2025) — each a true reflection of the city’s generous, joyful culinary spirit.
Amarante
Steps away from Bastille, Amarante is chef Christophe Philippe’s address dedicated to straightforward French cooking. Cuts rarely seen elsewhere — veal tongue, pig’s trotter, sweetbreads — are given careful treatment: thinly sliced tongue, trotter as a crisp cake, whole roasted sweetbreads with potato purée. Everything is prepared with honesty and simplicity. Desserts keep the same spirit, from perfectly runny Saint-Nectaire to dark São Tomé chocolate mousse.
Les Arlots
Opened in 2016, a few blocks from Gare du Nord by chef Thomas Brachet and sommelier Tristan Renoux, Les Arlots is one of my favourite bistros in Paris. The compact dining room — with its zinc bar, vintage floor tiles, wooden tables, and chalkboard menu — serves hearty, unpretentious classics and a strong selection of natural wines. The saucisse-purée, a herby sausage served with buttery mashed potatoes, is a house signature and available only in the evenings.
L’Assiette
L’Assiette is a quintessentially Parisian bistro with a rich history, helmed by chef David Rathgeber. A protégé of Alain Ducasse, Rathgeber spent years working across the Ducasse universe — from Le Louis XV in Monaco to the Plaza Athénée in Paris and Essex House in New York — before returning to a simpler, more convivial style of cooking. Since 2008, he has made L’Assiette his own, bringing the spirit of a “palace inn” to the Left Bank with generous, comforting bistro dishes
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