Paris has always been a hot destination in luxury travel, but this year I’ve been booking it more than usual. Maybe it’s because travelers want to visit Paris before the Olympics in 2024, and I can’t blame them – the city is going to be almost impossible to visit while the Olympic games are happening.

Clients always ask me what are the “must go” places while in Paris, and though the Paris food scene is constantly growing and evolving, there are a few holy grail restaurants that never disappoint. I had the pleasure of dining at all of these establishments a few months ago, and I will give you my honest thoughts about these in demand restaurants.

L’Avenue

Located on the popular shopping street, Avenue Montaigne, L’Avenue is the lunch spot to see and be seen. Influencers, celebrities, and diners who love to people watch are often seen here with bundles of shopping bags in each arm. This is not a restaurant for the discreet. That being said, the restaurant itself is not flashy. The decor is surprisingly elegant with neutral colors and dim ambient lighting inside the dining room. The restaurant is owned by the famed Costes group, operating several of the trendiest restaurants in Paris, as well as the exclusive Hotel Costes.

Pro tip: Outdoor seating is highly coveted. While you can request it, the restaurant isn’t able to guarantee it in advance. Word on the street is the better dressed diners get sat outside.

The cuisine served at L’Avenue is French Asian fusion. There are some classic indulgent French dishes, such as foie gras and escargots, or you could opt for some of their Asian dishes, like dim sum. Surprisingly, both cuisine types are done well. On my visit I ordered the Thai chicken spring rolls, shrimp dim sum, and the jumbo shrimp risotto for my savory courses. I ordered the red berry plate with chantilly cream for my sweet course.

The food came out looking Instagram perfect, and I know I wasn’t the only one in the restaurant taking pictures of the food. The dishes tasted great as well, with a gentle balance of salty, sweet, umami, and sour notes. I had zero complaints about the food! I will say, there is a quick turnover of tables and the service felt rushed because of that. The restaurant is incredibly in demand and the atmosphere is more get in, get pictures, and get out rather than enjoying a relaxing lunch, in my opinion. I would rate the service as so-so; the hostess had a full on conversation with another staff member in front of me before acknowledging me or saying bonjour.

Le Récamier

I can sum up Le Récamier in one sentence: best soufflés in Paris! This was one of my favorite lunches in Paris, and one that never fails to impress my clients. Le Recamier is located on the left bank right down the street from Hotel Lutetia. The restaurant is in the trendy Saint Germain neighborhood, so there are plenty of shopping options and cafe hopping that can be done to get you hungry for lunch.

The restaurant offers both savory and sweet soufflés, and their portion sizes are generous. The soufflés come out relatively quickly and piping hot. Now, keep in mind that soufflés are mostly air, so I would highly recommend ordering another dish, like a salad, to keep you sustained. On my visit, I had a cheese soufflé as my savory course, and the chocolate soufflé as my sweet course. Both dishes were perfect! Light, fluffy, and so flavorful – I am not ashamed to say I devoured both of my soufflés.

Pro Tip: Request outdoor seating in advance! Make sure to order something alongside your soufflé to keep you satiated.

Le Récamier offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Not much of a view, but the covered patio offers a nice respite from the unpredictable Paris weather. While dining there, I saw families and couples of all ages enjoying their soufflés. The staff was kind and helpful with suggestions taking the time to answer my questions about what certain dishes were. This is the type of restaurant where you will need to flag a waiter down, but this is pretty typical of most restaurants in France.

Loulou

Italian food in Paris? Yes, you heard right. Not only is Loulou one of the most sought out Italian restaurants in Paris, but the location of the restaurant is unbeatable. Located inside the Musée des Arts Décoratifs by the Louvre, you can choose to dine inside the museum or outside on the terrace surrounded by beautiful green space. I would highly recommend securing terrace seating during sunset as the location of the terrace makes for perfect golden lighting.

The menu at Loulou is elevated Italian where fresh seasonal produce influences the changing menu. The restaurant is listed on the Michelin Guide, and for good reason! One of the must-try dishes on the menu is the splurge-worthy truffle pizza, and I have to say it was worth the hype. In my experience, truffle can be such a strong flavor and easily overdone, but the white pizza with shaved truffle had the perfect ratio. I also ordered the tempura zucchini flowers and the pistachio pesto linguine, which were both fantastic.

Pro Tip: Make sure to book terrace seating during sunset for the best lighting and ambiance! Always a great lunch stop to break up touring at the Louvre.

There are plenty of amazing Italian restaurants in Paris, but what makes Loulou special is the ambiance. Dining outdoors within feet of the Louvre and a block from the Tulleries garden makes for a relaxing and unique dining experience. On the lawns surrounding the terrace, locals are having picnics and doing acroyoga. There is light chatter and laughter from nearby tables and impeccable service all around. This is not a restaurant to be missed!

Girafe

Girafe screams romantic date night, and its reputation as a hot spot is well-deserved. Not only is the restaurant located on the Trocadero within the Cité de l’Architecture museum, just 2 minutes from the iconic Eiffel Tower view, but the interior is a gorgeous art deco dream. There is indoor and outdoor seating, though the outdoor seats are not covered so a rainy day will mean the inside of the restaurant will be packed. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a seat near the windows with a five star view of the Eiffel tower lit up at night.

Pro tip: Reservations at Girafe are a MUST. Usually they only accommodate two seatings, 7:00 PM or 9:00 PM. Keep an eye on when the sun sets in Paris to make sure you’re at the restaurant when the tower lights up.

The restaurant has a primarily seafood based menu with a fresh oyster station at the bar. The menu offers a variety of seafood dishes as well as freshly prepared whole fish, bones and all. You have the choice to decide how your fish is cooked along with an accompanying sauce giving you full control over your meal. The ambiance of the restaurant is luxurious, upscale, and refined. You won’t find screaming children here, but you will find a lot of lit birthday candles coming by as guests love to celebrate occasions here.

I have to be completely honest, I was about 30 minutes late for my dinner reservation at Girafe. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of thinking my dinner reservation was at 7:30 PM when it was actually at 7:00 PM, and adding to the mess was the fact that it was raining heavily so the restaurant was packed. I was bracing to be turned away from the hostess, but she actually made bar seating available which ended up being a fun experience. While I missed out on the view of the tower at night, I witnessed the energetic bartenders and oyster shuckers in their element.

Speaking of the food, I started my meal at Girafe with a tuna tartare appetizer. Being sat at the bar, I saw the tartare prepared firsthand and I have to say it tasted as good as it looked. The tuna was fresh and the avocado and jalapeños complimented the flavors. My main course was roasted chicken with a side of truffle linguine. The chicken was juicy, umami, and all around delicious with the truffle pasta. My other half ordered the lobster linguine which was, and I quote, “one of the best dishes he’s ever had”. The lobster was delicately cooked and soaking in a tomato and seafood broth sauce with olives. We ended the evening with a petite chocolate and caramel tart – a sweet ending to an enjoyable evening.

Ferdi

Ferdi was made popular when Kim Kardashian endorsed it as her favorite burger place in Paris. After dining there firsthand, I have to say that there is more than just Kim K and the burgers that make the restaurant a success. Ferdi is as whimsical and fun as the website indicates, and they’ve grown so popular that they’ve expanded to several restaurants all over Europe. The location of Ferdi in Paris is solidly within the Rue St. Honore high end shopping area, essentially right behind the Mandarin Oriental Paris and a few blocks from the Place Vendôme.

The menu at Ferdi is eclectic with a strong Spanish influence. There are Spanish tapas, macaroni and cheese, burgers, churros, and more. I would say the food is more on the comfort side, and the decor of the restaurant is reflective of the feeling of being in your childhood home. Walking into Ferdi the walls are lined with miniature action figures, dolls, and toy cars. There are cute vintage toys hanging from the corners and knick knacks thoughtfully placed around the bar. The restaurant itself is incredibly small and narrow, and on a packed night can feel like being in a sardine can. The ambiance is fun – the staff working there are young hip types chatting casually about where in Europe they’ve just visited.

I had to try the infamous burger on my visit to Ferdi, and I did exactly that. Deciding to be extra naughty, I also ordered the macaroni and cheese as well. I wouldn’t say the burger was the best one I’ve had in my life, but it was a good burger, especially for Paris, and it tasted like a McDonalds burger but better and fresher. The macaroni and cheese was just okay – I was expecting it to have a little more pizazz and flavor other than wheat and cheese, but it was comforting and filling.

If I could describe this restaurant in one word I would say “fun”. The energy of the restaurant combined with the comfort food options, perfect when you’re sick of French food, is just what makes this restaurant frequently requested each year.

Bistrot Paul Bert

My thoughts on Bistrot Paul Bert might be controversial, but I have to include this restaurant in my list because of how frequently requested it is. The restaurant is located in the 11th arrondissement which is far for anyone staying in central Paris in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd arrondissements. On top of the distance, I encountered a lot of traffic getting to the restaurant for dinner time. For most guests who decide to dine there, the distance isn’t an issue and I’ll tell you why.

The restaurant is a classic old school French bistro that doesn’t cater to tourists even though it’s popular with tourists. The menu is written on a chalkboard, and you’ll find bistro classics like steak frites and steak tartare on the menu. You won’t find French onion soup or escargots on the menu here – only local authentic French bistro options. Keep this in mind if you plan on bringing your family here as many of the dishes require a more refined palate.

During my visit to Bistrot Paul Bert, I was intrigued by how there was one small woman seemingly running the entire restaurant. She was seating, bussing, taking the orders, serving the food, checking on guests, and reconciling bills without a drop of sweat on her forehead. She was a marvel, and it contributed to the overall feeling of the restaurant which was authentic, not try hard, and that was incredibly refreshing coming from the hoity toity restaurants of inner Paris. I ordered a whole steamed artichoke appetizer to start, and their fish of the day (a pan fried white fish) as my main course. My other half ordered the steak tartare with fries. I hate to say this, but we were both “meh” about the food – it tasted basic and didn’t wow us.

Was it worth the hour long drive to the restaurant for “meh” food, in my opinion? Not really. What I will say though is that it was refreshing to experience an authentic French bistro where tables are filled with locals and there is no fancy dress code. I can absolutely see why Bistrot Paul Bert remains a trendy highly requested restaurant for those seeking a genuine Parisian evening out.

Those who are visiting Paris are spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants. If you’re wanting to get into the trendy Paris scene or have clients who ask for trendy recommendations, stick to this list above. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a current list of restaurants I book often.

Most important tip: The restaurants mentioned are in high demand most of the year. The best way to get reservations is having the concierge at your luxury hotel make the bookings if possible. They have contacts, trust me!

What are your thoughts on these restaurants? Have you been to any of these? Are there holy grail restaurants you always visit or send people to? Let me know in the comments below!