The best restaurants in Paris to try in 2025

There is no city quite as synonymous with excellent cuisine and fabulous food than Paris. With plenty of restaurants serving amazing dishes from coq au vin to crêpes, it can be difficult to narrow down one’s list of ‘must-go’ spots. Indeed, one’s choices often depends on the time of year and personality, too, further muddying the waters of restaurant selection. However, it needn’t be so tricky, especially with our continually updated roundup of Paris’ best restaurants.

Of course, there are a few key details to know ahead of reserving your wicker bistro chair and uncorking that bottle of Bordeaux.

Do you tip in Paris?

In Paris, the tip is almost included in the final price on your bill, called “l’addition” or the posher “la note” in French. Should your service have been extraordinary, however, feel free to leave a 10-15% tip (“pourboire” in French). With smaller bills for, say, an espresso or two, you can round up to the closest round number, too. However, if you feel compelled to leave a €1 or €2 coin, be warned: rather paradoxically, these modest, small tips are often taken as an insult by servers and should be avoided.

Is there ever a bad time to dine out in Paris?

While Paris is the most-touristed city in Europe, travellers should note that Parisian restaurateurs do not put their customers ahead of their holidays. Should you be heading to Paris in August, do take care to plan ahead, as the majority of Parisians will have cleared out and closed up shop for their summer holidays (“les grandes vacances” in French). Some restaurants and cafés will stay open, but for shorter hours or with limited service, so do call eateries well in advance or check the restaurant or café’s social media, should they have it. Additionally, the weeks between and after Christmas and New Year’s are additional times during which Parisians flee the city for their winter holidays, so you’d be wise to take the same proactive approach.

The best restaurants in Paris