The Best Places for an Unforgettable Lunch in Paris

1. Café de Flore: A Parisian Institution

Located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Café de Flore is much more than just a café. It is a legendary place where philosophers, writers, and artists have gathered since the early 20th century. The charm lies as much in its Art Deco decor as in its classic menu: baked eggs, crispy croque-monsieur, or the traditional ham-butter sandwich, everything is executed with timeless elegance.

Take a seat on the terrace, order a café crème, and watch Parisian life unfold — here, lunch is a celebration of the passage of time. A must for anyone wanting to taste the Parisian soul in its most authentic form.

📍 Address: 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 7:30 AM to 1:30 AM
💶 Average price: 25 – 40 € per person

2. Le Meurice: Elegance and Gastronomy

For an exceptional lunch, step through the doors of Meurice, an iconic palace facing the Tuileries Garden. Here, everything exudes refinement: from the gilded salons inspired by Versailles to the menu crafted by the double Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse.

The lunch menu, offered on weekdays, allows you to discover high French gastronomy in a majestic setting, without reaching astronomical prices. What's on the agenda? Seasonal vegetable velouté, noble fish poached in broth, signature desserts. The experience is as visual as it is gustatory.

Booking a table at Meurice is to offer your midday a poetic and timeless dimension. An extraordinary interlude, for special occasions or simply to feel royal.

📍 Address: 228 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
⏰ Hours: Monday to Friday, from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
💶 Average price: Lunch menu starting at €110

🔗 For other gastronomic experiences in Paris, explore our selection of must-visit restaurants in the capital.

3. Angelina: Pastries and Hot Chocolate

An iconic address on Rue de Rivoli since 1903, Angelina is a paradise for sweet tooths. Once frequented by Coco Chanel and Proust, this Belle Époque style establishment is as famous for its hot chocolate "l’Africain" as it is for its iconic Mont-Blanc.

But don't be fooled: Angelina is also an elegant lunch spot. On the menu, you'll find gourmet salads, seasonal vegetable quiches, refined club sandwiches, and perfectly executed daily specials. All of this in a setting that is both cozy and photogenic.

It's the ideal place for a chic lunch break between cultural visits or a cozy moment on a rainy day. And if you're looking for places that are as original as they are delicious, let yourself be surprised by our selection of unusual restaurants in Paris.

📍 Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 8 AM to 7 PM
💶 Average price: 25 – 45 € per person

4. L'As du Fallafel: Flavors of the Marais

It's impossible to talk about lunch in Paris without mentioning L’As du Fallafel, a true institution of the Marais. Recognizable by its constant line, this cult counter has been serving the best falafels in the capital for decades, crispy and generously filled.

Here, you order a sandwich in a soft pita, accompanied by fresh vegetables, grilled eggplants, tahini sauce, and a hint of harissa for those who enjoy a kick. An explosion of Eastern flavors to savor on the go or to take away for a picnic at the Temple square or along the quays.

This spot is ideal for a quick, hearty lunch, and authentically Parisian in its most cosmopolitan version. And if you want to take the experience further, why not try a cooking workshop? Discover our selection of gastronomic workshops and tastings in Paris to learn, taste, and share around flavors.

📍 Address: 34 Rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris
⏰ Hours: From Sunday to Thursday from 12 PM to midnight, Friday until 4 PM
💶 Average price: 10 – 15 € for a sandwich

5. Le Bristol: Luxury and Refinement

A symbol of French chic, Le Bristol is much more than a palace: it is an institution of the Parisian art of living. Its Michelin-starred restaurant "114 Faubourg" offers a relaxed yet ultra-refined version of haute cuisine. People come here to savor exceptional products in a cozy yet accessible setting during lunch hours.

During the week, the lunch menu allows you to taste creative and refined cuisine: perfectly seared fish, subtle sauces, elevated vegetables — a true ballet of flavors orchestrated by a top-notch team. It is the perfect address for a business meal, a romantic lunch, or simply to treat yourself.

And for those seeking unforgettable experiences, why not combine gastronomy and panorama? Treat yourself to a dinner at the Eiffel Tower and discover Paris like you have never seen it before.

📍 Address: 114 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris
⏰ Hours: Monday to Friday, from 12 PM to 2 PM
💶 Average price: Lunch menu starting at €75

6. La Coupole: Art Deco Atmosphere

Located in the heart of Montparnasse since 1927, La Coupole is a true monument of the Parisian scene. This legendary brasserie has welcomed Sartre, Picasso, Josephine Baker, and many others. Even today, it captivates with its flamboyant Art Deco decor, its columns adorned with artworks, and its lively atmosphere.

On the menu? A generous brasserie cuisine: seafood, beef tartare, sauerkraut, calf's liver — all served with flair by waiters in white vests. The place is also known for its impeccably fresh seafood platters.

La Coupole perfectly embodies the timeless elegance of the great Parisian brasseries, ideal for a lunch with friends, family, or colleagues visiting.

And if you are still looking for other iconic places to have lunch in Paris, check out our complete selection of the best restaurants in the capital.

📍 Address: 102 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75014 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 8:30 AM to midnight
💶 Average price: 30 – 50 € per person

7. Septime: Innovative Cuisine

Booking a table at Septime is to embark on a culinary journey at the border of art. Ranked among the best restaurants in the world, this spot in the 11th arrondissement is led by chef Bertrand Grébaut, a leading figure in sustainable bistronomy.

Here, there is no à la carte menu: everything revolves around an evolving tasting menu, in tune with the seasons and arrivals. Each plate is a sensitive composition, combining textures, colors, and rigorously sourced products. The atmosphere is both minimalist and warm, far from the stuffy stereotypes of haute cuisine.

Septime caters to curious gourmets, concerned about what they eat as much as how it is conceived. A lunch here is an experience in itself — delicate, ethical, and full of surprises.

📍 Address: 80 Rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris
⏰ Hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 12:15 PM to 2 PM
💶 Average Price: Lunch menu starting at €65

8. Le Procope: History and Tradition

Founded in 1686, Le Procope is simply the oldest café-restaurant in Paris. Located in the Odéon district, this historic place has welcomed Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, and later Bonaparte and Victor Hugo. Today, it continues to serve classic French cuisine in a baroque decor, complete with chandeliers and velvet banquettes.

At noon, one can enjoy coq au vin, blanquette de veau, or sole meunière in a cozy atmosphere, perfect for soaking in the charm of another century. The menu also offers more accessible options, ideal for an elegant lunch without breaking the bank.

It is the perfect place to combine gastronomic pleasure and historical immersion, in a literary and flavorful Paris.

📍 Address: 13 Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, 75006 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 11:45 AM to 11:30 PM
💶 Average price: 30 – 50 € per person

9. At Janou: Provençal Cuisine

Craving sunshine on your plate? Head to At Janou, a true haven of Provence in the heart of the Marais. This bistro with a joyful atmosphere and retro decor celebrates southern cuisine in its most generous form: ratatouille, beef daube, pissaladière, savory tarts, and desserts to die for.

The signature dish? The gigantic pot of chocolate mousse available as much as you want, which has become a legend in its own right. With an impressive pastis menu (over 80 references!) and a shaded terrace when the weather is nice, At Janou is the perfect spot for a lunch that is both exotic, gourmet, and relaxed.

It’s a Mediterranean stop in Paris, ideal for feeling like you're on vacation for a midday.

📍 Address: 2 Rue Roger Verlomme, 75003 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 12 PM to 3 PM and then from 7 PM to 11 PM
💶 Average price: 25 – 40 € per person

10. Holybelly: Gourmet Breakfast

Craving a brunch that overflows with generosity even at lunchtime? Holybelly is the haunt of Parisian foodies seeking an Anglo-Saxon twist on well-executed classics. Fluffy pancakes, poached eggs on brioche bread, crispy bacon, homemade hashbrowns, specialty coffees... everything is made with love and precision.

The atmosphere is cool, industrial, and cosmopolitan, reflecting its founders who wanted to recreate the spirit of Melbourne coffee shops in Paris. Here, you don't just come to eat, but to savor the moment. The place is perfect for a late lunch, a professional brunch, or a chill moment alone.

Holybelly is the little luxury of everyday life, without fuss but with a sure taste for good things.

📍 Address: 5 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day except Wednesday, from 9 AM to 4 PM
💶 Average price: 20 – 30 € per person

11. La Maison Plisson: Fresh and Local Products

A true temple of good eating, La Maison Plisson brings together gourmet grocery, bakery, cheese shop, and restaurant in one meticulously cared-for place. Here, everything is designed around the quality of the products: short supply chains, committed producers, strict seasonality. The result? A fresh, tasty menu that is always evolving.

Gourmet toasts, inventive salads, reimagined stews — each plate exudes well-made simplicity. The bright interior and large terraces make it an ideal spot for a healthy and stylish lunch in the heart of Paris.

It’s the perfect address for those who want to eat balanced without sacrificing pleasure, in a chic yet relaxed atmosphere.

📍 Address: 93 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 8 AM to 10 PM
💶 Average price: 20 – 35 € per person

12. Bouillon Pigalle: Affordable French Cuisine

Want to have a typically Parisian lunch without breaking the bank? Head to Bouillon Pigalle, one of the most popular spots in the capital. Inspired by the popular bouillons of the 19th century, this restaurant brings back the great classics of French cuisine... at unbeatable prices.

On the menu: mayo eggs at €1.90, beef bourguignon, leeks vinaigrette, quenelles, floating island — all in a retro and lively atmosphere, with ultra-efficient service. The place is spacious, but queues are common: a testament to its success.

Perfect for a gourmet and nostalgic break, Bouillon Pigalle makes Parisian gastronomy accessible to all, without ever sacrificing quality.

📍 Address: 22 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 11:30 AM to midnight
💶 Average price: €10 – €20 per person

13. Ladurée: Macarons and Tea

A symbol of French elegance, Ladurée is world-renowned for its macarons, but the iconic address on the Champs-Élysées also offers a lunch menu that is as chic as it is delicious. In a Belle Époque tea salon decor, one enjoys light and refined cuisine, perfect for a meal full of finesse.

Salads with noble ingredients, eggs Benedict, truffled poultry, salmon club, and desserts that are to die for — each dish is an ode to controlled indulgence. And of course, it's impossible to leave without a little pastel box filled with colorful macarons, both crunchy and melting in the mouth.

Ladurée is the lunch of aesthetes, combining refinement, sweetness, and the Parisian art of living.

📍 Address: 75 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 8 AM to 10 PM
💶 Average price: 25 – 45 € per person

14. The Relais de l'Entrecôte: Unique Formula, Guaranteed Success

No need to read the menu at Relais de l’Entrecôte: here, the menu is unique and that’s what makes all the magic. A green salad with nuts as a starter, followed by a perfectly cooked rib steak, topped with the famous "secret" sauce, accompanied by unlimited homemade fries. That’s the promise, and it has been kept with flair for decades.

The atmosphere, classic and lively, attracts both regulars and initiated tourists. The service is quick, precise, and always in black and white uniform. A lunch here guarantees a simple, generous, and efficient meal — reflecting the Parisian know-how in its most iconic form.

📍 Address: 15 Rue Marbeuf, 75008 Paris (multiple addresses in Paris)
⏰ Hours: Every day from 12:00 to 14:30 and from 19:00 to 23:00
💶 Average price: 30 – 35 € per person

15. Les Deux Magots: Historic Literary Café

It's impossible to talk about lunch in Paris without mentioning Les Deux Magots, a true legend of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. This café, frequented by the greatest thinkers and artists of the 20th century — from Sartre to Simone de Beauvoir, from Hemingway to Picasso — remains today a vibrant place of history and charm.

The menu blends tradition and elegance: tartares, foie gras, gravlax salmon, composed salads, or daily specials inspired by classic French cuisine. It’s the perfect spot for a lunch on the terrace, facing the Saint-Germain church, with a glass of wine or a strong café crème.

Les Deux Magots is much more than a meal: it’s an immersion into the literary and artistic Paris, a chic and timeless interlude to savor the moment.

📍 Address: 6 Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 75006 Paris
⏰ Hours: Every day from 7:30 AM to 1 AM
💶 Average price: 30 – 50 € per person

Conclusion: A Lunch in Paris, A Unique Experience

Lunch in Paris is not just about dining — it’s about experiencing a moment of culture, style, and taste. Whether you are a fan of haute cuisine, a lover of popular dishes, or an explorer of unusual concepts, the capital is full of places where every bite tells a story.

From the intimacy of a historic café to the buzz of a lively brasserie, through the sweet pleasures of tea rooms and the starred menus of palaces, Paris offers a gastronomic palette as vast as it is exciting.

So, let yourself be tempted, book a table, or improvise as you stroll. And above all: savor. Because in Paris, every lunch is a declaration of love for life.

Bon appétit, and see you soon around a good Parisian table.