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 rooted in tradition yet executed with the precision of a grand chef.
Attabler
Finally, a truly convivial bistro in the 16th. Opened in late 2023 by chef Maxime Le Meur — who first made his name with the restaurant Gemellus — Attabler quickly established itself thanks to its deliciously simple cooking and warm atmosphere. The purée-saucisse is already spoken of as one of the best in Paris, though the whole menu delivers on flavour and generosity. Out front, sommelier Sébastien Perrier, formerly at the legendary Apicius, sets the tone with a sharp wine list and effortless hospitality. This is the kind of neighbourhood restaurant where you feel instantly at home and want to return again and again.
Le Baratin
Hidden in Belleville, Le Baratin is a cult Parisian address beloved by chefs and devoted regulars. Argentine-born Raquel Carena has been at the stove since 1987, cooking with a style that is at once rustic and precise — whether it’s veal sweetbreads in lemon butter or a simple John Dory paired with seasonal vegetables. Her husband, Philippe Pinoteau, runs the dining room and oversees a wine list rich in natural finds and unexpected treasures. More than three decades on, the place remains a benchmark for those who prize authenticity over appearances.
Le Bon Georges
Located in the 9th arrondissement, Le Bon Georges is a classic Parisian bistro built around seasonal produce and a daily chalkboard menu. Dishes range from simple comfort classics to more elaborate signatures like lièvre à la royale or the Oreiller de la Belle Aurore, all prepared with care and fine ingredients. The wine cellar is extensive and personal, often inspiring guests to choose their bottle before the food, with the team offering thoughtful guidance.
Café des Ministères
Just steps from the Palais Bourbon, Café des Ministères has, since 2018, been run by Jean and Roxane Sévègnes, who together have restored it as one of the best traditional French restaurants in Paris. Unapologetically classic, it celebrates the repertoire with generous dishes such as chou farci façon Reine, saucisse de Morteau, and the celebrated vol-au-vent Grande Tradition with sweetbreads, poultry, spinach, and truffled jus. Jean, who trained with Alain Ducasse and Hélène Darroze, brings fine-dining precision to bistro cooking, while Roxane, with experience at the Peninsula and Spring, oversees the room. In 2023, Sévègnes was named Champion of France for stuffed cabbage — a fitting accolade for a chef devoted to timeless cuisine served with warmth and conviction.
La Ferme du Pré
Housed in a charming Norman-style farmhouse and a former dairy restored by Gaston Lenôtre ( just in front of his three-Michelin-starred Le Pré Catelan in the Bois de Boulogne), La Ferme du Pré is Chef Frédéric Anton’s new country-style bistro offering generous, terroir-driven French cuisine in a warm, familial atmosphere. The space blends rustic charm with refined details and opens onto a peaceful garden terrace surrounded by greenery. The short menu features French classics such as terrine de campagne, boudin noir, hearty boeuf bourguignon, and ris de veau with Paris mushrooms.
Le Griffonnier
Located opposite the Ministry of the Interior in the 8th arrondissement, Le Griffonnier is a traditional bistro. The menu features classics such as steak frites, céleri rémoulade, and its œufs mayonnaise — named World Champion by ASOM. The wine list is reliable, the atmosphere timeless, and the address is open for lunch only, except on Thursdays when dinner is also served.
Juveniles
Opened in 1987, Juveniles is an intimate and charming Parisian bistro with a strong focus on wine. For decades, it has championed off-the-beaten-track bottles — from Andalusian sherries and Rhône reds to Beaujolais, Provence, and beyond — always chosen for their value and food pairings. The cooking still honours Parisian bistro classics like foie gras and terrine, while chef Romain Roudeau brings a seasonal, farm-driven touch that keeps the food unfussy yet refined. Today, the bistro is run by Margaux, daughter of the founder, together with Romain, ensuring Juveniles remains as convivial and relevant as ever.
Parcelles
Located in the Marais, Parcelles is a bistro focused on wine, with a seasonal menu of refined takes on French classics such as parsleyed pork head terrine or veal sweetbreads with hazelnut butter. The wine list runs to around 1,000 references, making it as much a destination for oenophiles as for lovers of modern bistro cooking.
Le Petit Lutetia
A true Rive Gauche institution, Le Petit Lutetia is the kind of brasserie where Paris still feels like Paris. The gilded frescoes and old-world décor have remained intact for decades, while the room buzzes with a fashionable Left Bank crowd. The cooking is generous and precise — French classics prepared with care. The beef tartare with frites is a must, best enjoyed at one of the lively tables where conversations flow as easily as the wine.
Le Severo
Old-school at its best, Le Severo has been a Parisian institution since 1987. Run for more than 25 years by former Les Nivernaises butcher William Bernet and his business partner Gaël Marie-Magdeleine, it showcases decades of butchery expertise. In the tiny kitchen, just big enough for one person, longtime chef Johnny Béguin keeps the spirit intact, sending out perfectly executed classics: hand-cut tartare, côte de bœuf, tête de veau, and more. Exceptional meat, sourced from trusted farmers and aged in-house for up to 80 days, remains the heart of the menu, paired with a thoughtful wine list. Severo’s reputation has even crossed continents, with a sister restaurant in Meguro, Tokyo.
Bistrot des Tournelles
Opened just a few years ago near Bastille, Bistrot des Tournelles already feels like a timeless Parisian institution. Within its century-old décor, chef Geoffroy Langella—Ferrandi-trained and the son of Neapolitan butchers—serves impeccably executed bistro staples: oeuf mayo, steak au poivre, and a decadent, buttery croque monsieur. The well-curated wine list is a highlight, and in true convivial spirit, the restaurant opens only for dinner, with walk-ins welcome at the bar.
Vantre
Opened in 2016 in Paris’s 11th arrondissement, Vantre is a modern neo-bistro co-founded by Marco Pelletier, the former head sommelier of Le Bristol, and now led in the kitchen by chef Satria Vue. Known for its precise, seasonal cuisine and one of the city’s most remarkable wine cellars — with more than 3,000 labels and around 18,000 bottles — it has become a favourite among chefs, collectors, and wine enthusiasts. Set in a long-standing bistro space near République, Vantre offers refined yet approachable cooking and an excellent value weekday lunch menu. True to Parisian tradition, it remains closed on weekends.
