food
Parisian Bistros
Small restaurants with market cooking, daily blackboard and gingham tablecloths.
History & context
The bistro emerged in the 19th century as a working-class place to eat fast and simply, often run by families from the Auvergne who had settled in Paris.
Its short menu — starter, main, dessert — and its banquettes and paper tablecloths still define the French idea of an everyday meal.
Why visit
- ·Everyday French cooking, with no theatrics
- ·Lunch set menus that are more affordable than dinner service
- ·A historic setting: zinc bar, mirrors, the day's blackboard
What to see
- ·Bouillon Pigalle (affordable)
- ·Chez Janou (Marais)
- ·Le Comptoir du Relais
- ·Chez l'Ami Jean
Practical tips
- ·Lunch menu is often half the evening price
- ·Book ahead in the evening
Best photo spots
- ·The painted shopfront and the day's blackboard on the pavement
- ·The room from the back banquette, mirrors and zinc in frame
Good to know
- ·Service runs at set hours: lunch then dinner, rarely all day
- ·The daily blackboard is usually the best option on the menu
- ·Service is included in the bill in France; tipping stays optional
Schedules and tickets may change. Check the official website before booking.
Anu's insider tip
Go for lunch rather than dinner: same kitchen, quieter room, and a set menu that's usually easier to book.
Itineraries with this place
Nearby
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The literary heart of the Left Bank, home to Sartre, Beauvoir, Hemingway and legendary cafés.
Le Marais
A historic aristocratic quarter turned trendy heart of Paris, mixing mansions and boutiques.
Parisian Cafés
From Flore to Procope, cafés are a Parisian institution, places of debate and rendez-vous for three centuries.