Things to do in Paris
What are some of the best things to do in Paris? Eating great food and enjoying good bars, are at the top of my list of priorities!
Paris is such a beautiful city with dozens of nice restaurants and cafes. Actually, in 2014, almost 14 000 restaurants and bars were registered in Paris alone.
The arrondissement with the highest density of bars and restaurants is the 11th. In French, it’s called le débit de boisson. So, as you can imagine, if you are looking for things to do in Paris, you will always find something to suit your tastes. However, like in any great city, there are also a lot of tourist traps, and those are the places where you’ll possibly eat the most disgusting croissant or pizza in your life. Yes, bad croissants also exist in Paris, trust me.
As a private French teacher, I often meet students who discover the city and learn French at the same time. Maybe it’s your case as well. Maybe you are in Paris for just one week or as long as two years. In any case, we all deserve to enjoy the city to its maximum potential and it can be a challenge to find the right place for the right occasion.
I decided to write down all the best things to do in Paris – so here is my list of all the places that I’ve tried, and liked, in Paris. Enjoy!
The Best Pizza in Paris
Sette
38 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010
Papelli
74 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010
61 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, 75010
Julia
43 Rue de Charenton, 75012, Metro Bastille – only take away
Café d’Italie – All day long
76 Avenue des Gobelins, 75013
Amazing Middle-Eastern Restaurants
La rose de Damas :Syrian restaurant – amazing falafels
6 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005
Miznon Best cauliflower in town – all day long
22 Rue des Ecouffes, 75004
37, Quai Valmy, 75010
Feyrrouz
8 Rue de Lourmel, 75015
Mi-va-mi
23 Rue des Rosiers, 75004
French Cuisine
Le bouillon de Pigalle: Cheap French cuisine – all day long
22 boulevard de Clichy, 75018
Chez Paul (not the bakery) : Traditional French cuisine – all day long
13 Rue de Charonne, 75011
Le carreau: Excellent and cosy also a very nice place to have a coffee in the afternoon
5 Rue de la Corderie, 75003
Chez Casimir
6 Rue de Belzunce, 75010
Les mauvais garçons – Cuisine from Lyon
4 Rue des Mauvais Garçons, 75004
L’aubergeade : Prix fixe menu (my favorite)
17 Rue de Chaligny, 75012
La jouvence : gastronomique
172 Bis Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75012
Les chouettes
32 rue de Picardie, 75 003
L’alchimiste
181 Rue de Charenton, 75012
Le Grand Colbert – Brasserie française – Fruits de mer – chic
Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris
Les deux moulins – Brasserie française de Amélie Poulain
15 Rue Lepic, 75018
Les papilles – French restaurant with one menu – Excellent
30 Rue Gay-Lussac, 75005
Aux vins des pyrénées – 2 minutes walk from the Marais
25 Rue Beautreillis, 75004
Le café de la Nouvelle Mairie: If you want to see French television journalists and other intellectual (or want-to-be) people, this place if for you.
19 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, 75005
Wine Bar and Planche
Le barav
6 Rue Charles-François Dupuis, 75003
Monsieur Henri : good wine and nice planche
8 Rue de Picardie, 75003
Barawine
25 Rue de Charonne, 75011
Dauphin : vins naturels
131 Rue Parmentier, 75011
Best Brunch
En attendant l’or – all you can eat
6 Rue Faidherbe, 75011
Soya – all you can eat – vegan
20 Rue de la Pierre Levée, 75011
Les bonnes soeurs
8 Rue du Pas de la Mule, 75003
La librairie – all you can eat
2 Rue Duban, 75016
Chez Casimir
6 Rue de Belzunce, 75010
Treiz Baker – cute little gem hidden in Saint Germain – English speaking
5 Rue de Medicis, 75005 Paris
Judy: Quality restaurant with fresh juice, smoothie and colorful dishes.
Best Asian Food in Paris
Ramen
Kotteri – No veggie option
31 Rue des Petits Champs, 75001
Hakata Choten
53 Rue des Petits Champs, 75001
Dosanko – from the North of Japan and highly recommended by a Japanese friend. My favorite is the red miso ramen.
40, Rue Sainte-Anne, 75002 Paris
Dumplings
Ravioli Nord-Est – cheap
115 Rue Saint-Denis, 75001
11 Rue Civiale, 75010
Vietnamese
Pho Bom
71 Avenue de Choisy, 75013
Best Restaurants for Meat Lovers
Santa Carne
3 Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 75011
The butchers of Paname – Viande maturée- €€
9 rue de l’école de médecine, 75006
The best bar or restaurant with a view on La dame de fer (Tour Eiffel)
Chez Francis:
7 Place de l’Alma, 75008
Le Comptoir Principal – take the terrace on the right and you will see it/her 😉
29 Boulevard de Grenelle, 75015
Peruche – Rooftop
Printemps de l’Homme, 2 Rue du Havre, 75008
Les Ombres – Musée du quai Branly
27 Quai Branly, 75007
Les Grands Verres
13 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75016
Café de l’homme
17 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75116
Monsieur Bleu
20 Avenue de New York, 75116
Georges
6ème étage Palais Beaubourg Place Georges Pompidou, 75004
Le Zyriab by Noura – Lebanese food / gastronomie – Be careful, all other Noura in Paris are rubbish
Niveau 9 de l’Institut du Monde Arabe, 1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, 75005
Best places for Drinks and Dates in Paris
Speakeasy
The little red door
60 Rue Charlot, 75003
The candelaria
52 Rue de Saintonge, 75003
The 1905 – one of my favorite cocktail bar in Paris. It’s also a very nice spot for a date. Just so you know. 😊
25 Rue Beautreillis, 75004
Latino bar
Favela chic
18 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75011
Le calbar
82 rue de Charenton 75012
Le China
50 Rue de Charenton 75012
Other Cool Places in Paris
Ground Control – former train station
81 Rue du Charolais, 75012
Guinguette de Javel
Port de Javel Bas, 75015 Paris
Karaoke
Le Chinatown de Belleville: Big restaurant where you go to have fun, get drunk and sing like a crazy.
27 Rue du Buisson Saint-Louis, 75010
To Dance
Café Oz – view on the Seine
34 Quai d’Austerlitz, 75013
Café Chéri – Small bar
44 Boulevard de la Villette, 75019
Faust – Electro – Nice view on Pont Alexandre III and Grand Palais
Pont Alexandre III – Rive Gauche 75007 Paris FR, 75007
Favela chic
18 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75011
Le Bus palladium
6 Rue Pierre Fontaine, 75009
Le Rouge
77 Rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, 75009
Cafes for meetings and to work
Les Minimes – good to work upstairs – it’s also a restaurant but the food isn’t great
36 Rue de Turenne, 75004
Le Peloton Café
17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004
KB café shop
53 Avenue Trudaine, 75009
La Caféothèque
52 Rue de l’Hôtel de ville, 75004
La pâtisserie Lacroix – Vue on Notre Dame- computer not allowed during the weekends
11 Quai de Montebello, 75005
Prêt-à-manger
34-36 Rue du Louvre, 75001
58 Avenue Marceau, 75008
La cantine Monoprix
199 Avenue Charles de Gaulle, 92200 Neuilly-Sur-Seine
Tours of Paris
Flea Markets
Les puces de Saint Ouen
Les puces de Vanves
Best croissant in Paris (!)
Landemaine : Ask for the pur beurre, so delicious
2 Rue Crozatier, 75012
121 Rue de Charonne, 75011
28 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75011
130 Rue de la Roquette, 75011
41 Rue Oberkampf, 75011
123 Rue Monge, 75005
26 Rue des Martyrs, 75009
56 Rue de Clichy, 75009
4 Rue du Poteau, 75018
7 Place Cambronne, 75015
Le moulin de Rosa
36 Rue de Turenne, 75003, près de la place des Vosges. Metro Saint Paul / Chemin Vert
Website to find cheap and tasty restaurants : les petites tables.com
Patisserie
You will find happiness in Rue des Martyrs. There are a least 8 different patisseries.
Landemaine : my favorite is the givana, a cake similar to a ferrero rocher
2 Rue Crozatier, 75012
121 Rue de Charonne, 75011
28 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75011
130 Rue de la Roquette, 75011
41 Rue Oberkampf, 75011
123 Rue Monge, 75005
26 Rue des Martyrs, 75009
56 Rue de Clichy, 75009
4 Rue du Poteau, 75018
7 Place Cambronne, 75015
Pâtisserie Lacroix – with a nice view on Notre Dame
11 Quai de Montebello, 75005
Hairdresser
Le 58 – Ask for Pauline
58 Rue des Tournelles, Metro Bastille/ St Paul/ Chemin Vert, 75003
Get your phone repaired
L’Atelier Montgallet
181 Rue de Charenton, 75012
Bookstores
Gibert Jeune New and second hand (occasion)
Place Saint Michel
Fnac New
Forum des Halles
49-53 Cour Saint Emilion (Bercy Village)
132 Rue de Rennes, 75006
Bookoff – second hand bookstore – My favorite
90 Rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine, 75012
Paris Photoshoot experience
Therapeutic massage
Have you tried some of them? Which one is your favorite? Join my weekly newsletter below and share it with me.