10 of the best cafes and restaurants near Paris’s major attractions
Lunch near Paris’s big draws doesn’t have to be expensive or touristy. A short walk from the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre will reveal a classic bistro, stylish brasserie or locals’ favourite
Love xtannotation”>ss=”textannotation”>the Louvre … and a good lunch. Take a short walk from the big sights and food gems can be discovered.
Photograph: Alamy
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p-cap__inner”>Etextannotation”>n>veryone visiting Paris is likely to end up among the crowds at its most famous sights; the problem that arises, then, is that there is rarely anywhere reasonable to stop for lunch – either price- or quality-wise. To miss out on the chanc5-3215-ca4d-1856-b313d08db5ab” class=”textannotation”>cc4e-08d1-7eb1-d52991b31c0a” class=”textannotation”an>>span>e of a great meal in somewhere such as France is shame, especially as there is invariably a hidden gem just round the corner. So, here is a selection of classic-but-affordable bistros and brasseries, plus surprising health food and vegetarian options, and the chance to sample Asian and North African cooking too.
All places cited are children-friendly, and ready to prepare a small-portion special dish, say pasta or chicken
NOTRE DAME
Le Trumilou
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<p< span=””&span>tannotation”>class=”textannotation”>gt;>For a great lunch deal, cross to the Right Bank of the Seine and discov8997″ class=”textannotation”>5a6-a447-f095-99df2f958f53″ class=”textannotation”>c-8ef2-ee28-=”” span=””>ac252aeaa6d1″ class=”textannotation”>8ec3241fb1b” class=”textannotation”>er Le Trumilou, a quaint bistro of cosy red banquettes, where Corinne and Alain Charvin have been serving genuine terroir cuisine for the last 30 years. The lunch menu features classicson”> such as celeri remoulade, crunchy raw celery root with mayonnaise, veal kidney in a tangy mustard sauce, and the perfect creme caramel. Or two people can share the copious €14 platter of charcuterie. The sunny terrace looks out over the twin towers of Notre Dame cathedral. Alternatively, for just a cold beer served in traditional stone mugs, head from Notre Dame to the ta-link-name=”in body link” class=”u-underline” data-mce-href=”http://www.labrasserie-isl.fr/”>Brasserie de l’Isle Saint-Louis.
•”textannotation”>an&</span>gt; Two-course lunch menu €18. 84 Quai de l’Hotel de Ville, 4th arrondissement, +33 1 42 77 63 98, letrumilou.frÂ
EIFFEL TOWER
Le Sancerre
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Le Sancerre is one of the most authentic wine bars in Paris. It was opened in 1946 by Edmond Mellot, a renowned vigneron who decamped to the French capital to promote sancerre to Parisians, setting in motion a process that would turn it into one of the world’s best-known wines. With its snug interiors decorated with evocative paintings of the Sancerre area, and its vineyards, little has changed over the years. Dishes of the day run from braised guinea fowl to roast pork with cauliflower gratin, plus a selection of the famous Crottin de Chavignol goat cheese.
• Dish of the day €14, salad €9.50. 22 Avenue Rapp, 7th arr, +33 1 45 51 75 91, no website
POMPIDOU CENTRE
L’Ambassade d’Auvergne
The Pompidou Centre celebrates its 40th birthday this year, so cn“>rowds are likely to be even bigger than usual; but just two minutes’ walk away is a peac<span>=””>=”textannotation”> id=”urn:enhancement-80nhancement-27386952-bfad-0836-65b6-9c358c111dbf” class=”textannotation”>e09f4189-e98b-470b-2s=”textannotation”>634-4cb28f053eb4″ class=”textannotation”>nt-01c78515-c=” span=””>903-a5f9-d0b3-bdad04067a55″ class=”textannotation”>b98fc0-62a8-a2a6-db77-134c47fd2354″ class=”textannotation”>eful spot for a delicious lunch of the distinctive cuisine of France’s Auvergne region. From the outside, the “Embassy of Auvergne†looks auaspan>tion”>annotation”>stere, b002e5″ class=”textannotation”>299a3afe” class=”textannotation”>ut push open the door and a rustic wooden-beamed auberge3b54-f5d9b4fd1b42″ class=”textannotation”> is revealed. Auvergne cooking is seriously hearty, so be prepared<span id=”urn:enhancement-d43243b9-4aa1-ace9-1ffd-9ed346e-952a-a23c-d0f9
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Although Paris is far from a paradise for vegetarians, let alone vegans, there are a lot more alternatives today to the classic <e< span=””>m>boeuf bourguignon. Visitors coming out of the Louvre need to walk a while to find some reasonable places for lunch, but in the buzzing Rue Coquillière, just behind Les Halles shopping centre, is a tiny hole-in-the-wall counter serving a dazzling array of detox lunchboxes-ac0f-5fd0-2119-90680fb05c9e” class=”textannotation”> 5-9f67-5520f847e750″ class=”textannotation”>661-fc6e-c3f9-99db48f5a39f” class=”textannotation”>thatspan>pan> are all organ<s< span=””>pan id=”urn:enhancement-089d0460-1181-50ab-9650-0b1a87b</s<>495d7″ class=”textannotatirn:enhancement-538cc65c-95f4-86ab-433e-a8d3567a0c99″ class=”</span>textannotation”>c-9e5d-7ba98e2ace31=””>on”>ic and gluten-free.2a-f7d9-5f30-dcb039c=”” span=””>ee7a3″ class=”textannotation”>190f293-4ec5-1cfe-7b17-f7c7c14n”>9ce373597</span>d” class=”textannotation”>2d260″ class=”textannotation”> There is</e<>>span> usually a choice of vegetarian, vegan and raw dishes, as well as daily specials of saffron chicken with parsley pesto, carrot and white bean salad. The menu always features a freshly-made soup, along with tempting home-baked cakes and pastries. There are a couple of tiny stools and a wobbly table to eat outside the Guinguette, but this is perfect for a takeaway picnic with the tranquil Palais Royal gardens two minutes away.
• Lunchbox or dish of the day €9. 34 Rue Coquillière, 1st arr, .com/” data-link-name=”in body link” data-mce-href=”http://laguinguettedangele.com/”>laguinguettedangele.com
GRAND PALAIS
L’Estel
class=”textannotation“>ullet”>• Dish of the day €15. 13 Rue Clément Marot, 8th arr, +33 1 47 23 43 33, =”u-underline” href=”http://lestel.fr/en” data-link-name=”in body link” data-mce-href=”http://lestel.fr/en”>lestel.fr
PLACE DES VOSGES</h2>
Bar du Marché
The Place des Vosges can claim to be the most beautiful square in Paris, but for lunch it is worth walking<-5b55-9600-d92223e88396″ class=”textannotation”>span id=”urn:enhancement-c9e29170-94a2-69d6-e01b-e5ef7b864e40″ class=”textannotation”> 10 minutes across two blocks to the Boulevard Richard Lenoir. The Bar du Marché stands out with its bright red facade, while the food market that sprawls along the boulevard evercement-e593a3a3-b796-f8dc-5b11-89201b926c94″ class=”textannotation”>y Thursday and Sunday morning is not to be missed. Thereement-b88d9011-539f-c8a0-ce55-19685a56e940″ class=”textannotation”> are always a host of colourful characters milling around the zinc counter, where one of the owners, Hakim, holds court while serving organic natural wines and Belgian beers.“textannotation”> In the kitchen, his partners, Nathalie and Xavier, prepare savoury plats du jour inspired by the market: succulent paprika-grilled octopus, creamy blanquette de veau, alongside freshly-shucked oysters and Basque pintxos.
llet”>• Main dish €14, tapas €6. 16 Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 11 arr, +33 1 77 18 02 19, =”in body link” class=”u-underline” data-mce-href=”https://www.facebook.com/Bar-du-March%C3%A9-137703866292348″>on Facebook
ARC DE TRIOMPHE
Restaurant Graindorge
Restaurants lining the Grandes Avenues off the Arc de Triom<s< span=””>pan id=”urn:<spa< span=””>n id=”urn:enhancement-930bff60-d84f-d46f-ef9a-02006bac6002″ class=”textannotation”>enhan</spa<>cement-eba2a1be-9a59-502b-2554-d7219914e912″ clas=”” span=”” urn:enhancement-33f52012-=””n>>ff24-cc29-c428-93f40fd0074f” class=”textannotation”>101-6d19-630b-e1fc-aea296f1d9a9″ class=”textannotation”>s=”textannotation”>phe tend to be either pricey – serving businessmen on expenses – or aimed at tourists, so it is a surprise to discover the elegant Restaurant Graindorge. The chef-owner, Bernard Broux, has been cooking there for 25 years, with a loyal clientele filling his 1930s art-deco dining room each lunchtime, drawn by the reasonably-priced gourmet menu. Broux spe<spa< span=””>n id=”urn:enhancement-7d248060-481d-0f7c-fc00-8b0cbbb5e9f5″ class=”textaa068bd3425d” class=”textannotation”>id=”urn:enhancement-a56c0c5e-f645-69a5-3cff-7378a63ba2e8″ class=”textannotation”>nnotation”>cia>lises in distinctive Flemish cuisine, rarely found in Paris, including the unpronounceable Potjevleesch, a terrine of veal, pork, chickss=”textannotation”>en and=”urn:-48cb7c7a-670e-a20a-9faa-1fa977b6661d” class=”textannotation”>enhancement-36a561d1-8a14-ea60-c937-96b5cbfb96e6″ class=”textannotation”> rabbit in aspic. For the main dish don’t miss the waterzooi, a Flemish take on bouillabaisse, a stew of cod, bream, mussels and shrimps cooked with leeks, carrots and potatoes.
• Two-course lunch menu €28, three courses €32. 15 Rue de l’Arc de Triomphe, 17th arr, +33 1 47 54 00 28, le-graindorge.fr</spa<></s<>
PLACE DE LA BASTILLE
Quatre Amis
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There are plenty of places to eat in the neighbourhoo<span790-1818-5cba-05dc3fde240f” class=”textannotation”>e44f4f7b-e65d-75b1-0fc4-69933c49322d” class=”textannotation”> id=”urn:enhancement-44a423ef-3b23-649a-f143-42f0ead01268″ class=”textannotation”>d surrounding Place de la Bastille. But forec-553935d61442″ class=”textannotation”> something different, follow the narrow Rue de Charenton at the side of the Opera House. Getting good Chinese food in Paris is not easy, but “Four Friends†has scored a big hit with this authentic no-frills Szechuan diner. Specialities include a spicy fish casserole, tofu with minced pork and crispy sesame-fried squid. A year ago, Végé’Saveurs opened up next door offering purely vegetarian Chinese dishes, while for those looking for French cuisine, 10 minutes down the road is the colourful Aligre food and flea market with a host of popular bistros.
• Lunch menu main dish, such as Szechuan pork plus grilled raviolis, €10. 29 Rue de Charenton, 12th arr, +33 9 82 28 09 17, on Facebook</span
MUSÉE D’ORSAY
Café Constant
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Rue Saint-Dominique runs at the back of the Musée d’Orsay, one of the longest and most colourful streets in Paris, with delicatessens and salons de thé, bars and bistros. Carry on for a quarter of an hour till you near the end at the Eiffel Tower, where the romantic Café Constant – with its wooden beams and old zinc bar – sits on the corner. This was the first opening by stellar chef Christian Constant, when he abandoned his gastronomic restaurant and Michelin stars to offer diners affordable gastronomy – a pioneer of what the French call bistronomie. Using seasonal, locally sourced produce, and traditional recipes with a gourmet twist, diners can choose between an old fashioned daube of beef cheeks braised with carrots or shepherd’s pie with duck confit, homemade profiteroles smothered in hot chocolate or an unforgettable baba au rhum.
• Two-course lunch menu €17. 139 Rue Saint-Dominique, 7th arr, +33 1 47 53 73 34, maisonconstant.com/cafe-constant
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