St-Germain & Les Invalides
The success of Serge Mathieu's tiny cave gourmande (gourmet wine cellar), La Crèmerie, prompted the opening of this chic rustic space serving the earthy…
Must-see restaurants in France
La Rochelle
Named after the multi-hull proa (prao in French) sailboat typical to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, this hipster bistro takes great pride in the products…
Camargue
Attached to the excellent Ô Pica Pica restaurant, this informal little cabane (hut) specialises, unsurprisingly, in coquillages (shellfish): oysters,…
Lille
The queues at Papà Raffaele are as legendary as its pizzas (it doesn't take reservations), so come early or late to this post-industrial space with…
St-Germain & Les Invalides
The parasol-shaded interior courtyard, awash with plants and heated in winter, is the epitome of elegance at glitzy Ralph's, tucked behind the Ralph…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
Tucked down the rear right-hand side of covered market Marché des Enfants Rouges, this sizzling-hot comptoir (counter) has bamboo stools where you can…
Colmar
Squirrelled away in the canal-laced heart of Petite Venise, this half-timbered restaurant is enticingly rustic, with low beams, stone walls and checked…
Auvergne
Chef Emmanuel Bosset infuses French classics with playful influences (and plenty of wine and liqueur): squid with rabbit and chorizo, spring rolls with…
Paris
Unusual and rare artisan products sourced from all over France decide the day's menu at Michelin-starred Table, styled like a contemporary table d'hôte,…
Rouen
Delicious lamian – homemade noodles pulled by hand – has brought city-wide fame to this humble Chinese eatery. Watch the Hong Kong-born chefs in action…
St-Germain & Les Invalides
Run by the same team as neighbouring neobistro Semilla, this buzzing no-reservation wine bar serves creative small plates (smoked artichoke with hazelnut…
Uzès
At this Michelin-starred restaurant inside La Maison d'Uzès, Chef Christophe Ducros works his magic with seasonal sun-ripened local produce such as…
Paris
Families flock to this island bistro, which features a rustic cockerel theme celebrating the French national symbol and chef Steven Rouquier in the…
Lille
Charred aromas waft from this former barber shop (hence the name, the Smoking Barber), which now houses a ground-floor butcher and upstairs restaurant…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
With its old signage, it might look like just another 'restaurant Chinois' (Chinese restaurant) on the fringe of multicultural Belleville, but look again…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Mint-green wrought-iron chairs and tables line the pavement outside the 'plant slaughterhouse' (it occupies a former butcher shop), while the light,…
Bordeaux
St-Michel's legendary bakery has been in the biz for over a century. House specialities include moist bread loaves studded with dried fruit, escargots …
Montmartre & Northern Paris
With its polished concrete floors, raw stone walls and ginger-hued banquette seating, this contemporary neighbourhood cafe-restaurant is a brilliant space…
Paris
Opened in 1730 by Nicolas Stohrer, the Polish pastry chef of queen consort Marie Leszczyńska (wife of Louis XV), this place offers house-made specialities…
Languedoc-Roussillon
Gilles Goujon’s wonderfully relaxed Auberge du Vieux Puits is tucked away in the hilltop village of Fontjoncouse, between Narbonne and Perpignan. Goujon’s…
Côte d’Opale
'Bistronomique' cuisine and contempoary design make this chic spot stand out. Dishes on the daily changing menu (no à la carte) might include smoked…
Calvados
Across from the fish market, Les Vapeurs has been going strong in Trouville since 1927. The huge menu is a showcase for seafood platters, oysters (from …
Épernay
Sidling up to Épernay’s theatre, Le Théâtre raises a curtain on a delightfully old-school brasserie with splashes of high-ceilinged art-nouveau charm. The…
Bonifacio
At this cute wood-beamed hole-in-the-wall, just up from the tourist office, gregarious owner Jean-Marie whips up no-nonsense Corsican classics, from veal…
Paris
Launched by multi-Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse, 'floating restaurant' Ducasse sur Seine sails through the city past icons such as the Louvre at…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
It's hard to argue with the battered, fried goodness at this ideally located fish-and-chip shop near Canal St-Martin. Nothing is frozen here: it's all…
Strasbourg
Tucked away in a Petite France courtyard, this cheerful restaurant is vibrantly graced with the comical paintings of local artists Elisa and Marie-Hélène…
St-Germain & Les Invalides
Footsteps from the Musée d'Orsay, behind a dark-green façade framing original glass window panes, teensy Cuppa is a fabulous find for all-organic…
Savoie
Claudine's 'farmhouse' is heady with the scent of Alpine cheese – much of it produced at the local Ferme de l'Adroit – and Savoyard sausage flavoured with…
Paris
Consistently hailed as one of Paris' best (and most atmospheric) bistros, 'the Plate' is the culinary powerhouse of chef David Rathgeber, from Auvergne…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
History infuses Anahi, a 1920s butcher that became an '80s fashion-magnet steakhouse and is now overseen by rare meat importer and restaurateur Riccardo…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
With vintage ceiling fans, potted plants, a wonderful glass rotunda and spectacular rooftop terrace, this bright brasserie-style cafe provides a welcome…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
Salted caramels, gourmet Bourdier butter, artisan jams, organic blé noir (buckwheat flour) and cider are among the Breton treats in store at this upmarket…
Ajaccio
With its modern French cuisine and elegant setting, it’s no wonder A Nepita keeps winning plaudits and loyal followers. While it makes a nice change from…
Paris
Since 1942, this exceedingly elegant Triangle d'Or restaurant has hosted style icons (including Audrey Hepburn) and is still a superlative choice for a…
St-Germain & Les Invalides
An advance online booking is essential at this glorious 'bistro nature', showcase for the earthy but refined cuisine of chef François Gagnaire who ran a…
Caen
In the same building as the Musée des Beaux-Arts within the Château de Caen, this stylish place serves up delicious, traditional French cuisine –…
St-Germain & Les Invalides
For traditional French cooking look no further than this 1930s-styled neighbourhood bistro with signature lace curtains, checked tablecloths and – best of…
Alsace
Behind an ornate 18th-century façade lies this traditionally elegant bistro, where parquet floors, wooden beams and a Kachelofen (tiled oven) create a…
Bordeaux
Bordeaux winemaker Bernard Magrez is the creative clout behind this luxurious, five-star hotel restaurant, overseen by twin Michelin-starred chef Pierre…
