From the inimitable Eiffel Tower to the elegant Champs-Élysées, many things come to mind with the mere mention of Paris. One of Paris’s most famous offerings: exquisite food. The City of Light more than earns its reputation as one of the world’s best food cities.
Wondering where to begin on your dream trip to Paris for a food tour? Here’s a closer look at some must-have French specialties along with the city’s best restaurants. Plus, we’ll show you how to get there for less with discounted business class flights and first-class flights to Paris.
French Foods to Try in Paris
Paris offers a variety of things to see, do, and discover. There’s so much to visit in Paris that the choices can sometimes be overwhelming. Monuments, museums, and historic sites aside, the food is where it’s at! If you’re a foodie looking for a delicious Paris staple, start by considering these five classic French dishes:
Steak Frites. A Parisien bistro staple, this may be a simple dish, but there’s a reason it’s stood the test of time. Is there anything better than the combination of juicy steak and crisp French fries? A timeless classic, this French cuisine never goes out of style.
Confit de Canard. A classic French preparation, confit de canard features succulent duck meat slow-cooked in its own fat. This age-old, widely adored entrée might just change your life, or at the very least become one of your favorite foreign delicacies.
Croque Monsieur. Sure, it’s a sandwich. But it’s not like any other sandwich you’ve had before. Made with French bread, ham, cheese (and more cheese), this broiled beauty can also be topped with a fried egg and transformed into a Croque Madame.
Crepes. Available with your choice of savory or sweet fillings, these pancake-like confections are one of France’s most famous dishes. We recommend grabbing yours from one of the city’s crêpe stands and enjoying it along the river or at another scenic location.
French Onion Soup. You’ve probably had a version of this rich and hearty soup at a local restaurant. But take our word for it, it’s different in Paris. Don’t believe us? Try it and see. It’s not like any French onion soup you’ve had at your local bistro.
While these dishes may be among the city’s most well-known foods, there’s an entire world of cuisine to be enjoyed in France, from the classics to trendy new creations.
Other amazing French foods include baguettes, crème brûlée, moules frites, escargot, profiteroles, soufflés, croissants, rillettes, quenelles de brochet, macarons, steak tartare, ratatouille, quiche, pain au chocolat, salade niçoise, beef bourguignon, tarte tatin, bouillabaisse, foie gras, madeleines, and countless others.
Best Restaurants in Paris
Now that you know what to eat, it’s time to determine which restaurants will serve up these French dishes the best!
In giving Paris a top position on its ranking of the World’s Best Food Cities, Food & Wine identified the 10 best restaurants for discovering the city’s consummate cuisine, including the following:
- Lucas Carton. Since 1985, this restaurant has been a leader in Paris’s nouvelle cuisine movement courtesy of signature dishes like Chef Alain Senderens’ lobster with vanilla.
- Les Bouquinistes. Looking for classic bistro food in one of Paris’s most stunningly beautiful and less touristy places? Don’t miss Michelin star chef Guy Savoy’s Les Bouquinistes. More humble than Haute, feast on phenomenal French food while enjoying an unbeatable location right on the Seine.
- Le Verre Volé. One of the city’s original wine bars, this relaxed yet refined hotspot is known for serving up hearty French dishes in a refreshing setting. It may look like an average storefront from the outside, but a wonderful experience awaits inside.
- Le Comptoir du Relais. Enjoy sublime brasserie fare in the bijou art deco dining room of Yves Camdeborde’s Le Comptoir. To get in on this elegant dining experience, it’s key to plan ahead. This restaurant books up to six months in advance.
- Le Dauphin. While the stunning marble bar is in and of itself worth a visit, this modern wine bar in the 11th Arrondissement is small in size but large in charm. Also worth a visit is Le Dauphin’s sister restaurant, Le Chateaubriand, conveniently located right next door.
These are just a small sampling of the restaurants you’ll find here. Looking for some more of the hottest places in Paris? Check out Conde Nast Traveler’s list of places to dine in Paris, including La Poule Au Pot, Marsan par Hélène Darroze, Le Cadoret, Le Saint Sebastien, Racines, Le Rigmarole, and many others.
If your mouth is watering, we don’t blame you. Follow your appetite to Paris with our airline tickets. Business Class gets you to your destinations for less with affordable first-class flight tickets. We offer some of the cheapest business class flights to Paris! Book your trip with us or contact our team to learn more.
