10 chic restaurants to meet up with friends
Touristy addresses are filling up, as are trendy spots… but a few well-chosen restaurants still offer the perfect balance of freshness, calm and excellence.
Here’s our tried-and-tested address book, for uncompromising lunch this autumn.
Addresses with a view, both panoramic and pleasant
Café de l’Homme: a unique view of the Eiffel Tower + a top-flight menu
It’s impossible to ignore the magic of this place. Facing the Eiffel Tower, this institution reinvents summer lunch with elegance and precision. The menu fuses contemporary French cuisine with Asian inspirations, in a gastronomic yet accessible spirit.
📍Café de l’Homme, 17 Pl. du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris
Loulou: lunch in an exceptional setting, the gardens of the Louvre
Nestled in the gardens of the Palais du Louvre, Loulou remains open all summer with almost militant regularity. The service is exceptionally efficient, and the dishes oscillate between Italian dolce vita and bistro cuisine. Creamy risotto, well-seasoned carpaccio, crisp vegetables: everything is fresh, served quickly and tastefully. An ideal spot to escape the tourist crowds without leaving the center.
📍Loulou, 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
BelleFeuille: an ultra-chic classic in the heart of the 16th district
Between Avenue Mozart and Passy, this nugget of an address attracts a loyal clientele.
The décor evokes a hushed private club, without being overbearing. The French cuisine remains clear and precise, with a few welcome plant-based surprises in hot weather. The shady, well-placed terrace remains one of the most pleasant in the 16th arrondissement.
📍Bellefeuille, 5 Pl. du Chancelier Adenauer, 75116 Paris
For a starlit lunch or palatial service without the stiffness
La Grande Cascade: freshness in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne and five-star service
The Bois de Boulogne is home to this legendary restaurant with its Napoleonic setting and subtly classic cuisine. Even in August, the house remains impeccable, with smooth, attentive service.
Foie gras in light jelly, roast lobster or frozen soufflé with red fruits: the dishes are masterful, but never rigid. Lunch here is a chic, bucolic interlude.
📍La Grande Cascade, Rte de la Vge aux Berceaux, 75016 Paris
Kunigawa: the place to be!
In the heart of the 8th arrondissement, Kunigawa maintains its position without ever succumbing to summer’s ease. Sashimi, chirashi and tempura are served with the utmost precision and freshness.
Discreet, attentive service adds to the sense of calm. Perfect for a refined lunch without overload or flashiness.
📍Kinugawa Matignon, 1Bis Rue Jean Mermoz, 75008 Paris
Bauhinia at the Shangri-La Paris: extreme refinement
Under the large glass roof of this discreet palace, gastronomy expresses itself with finesse and modernity. La Bauhinia offers a culinary voyage blending French classics with Asian-inspired dishes. The atmosphere remains hushed, ideal for a professional or contemplative lunch. We recommend the mild curries, fragrant broths and vegetarian plates.
📍La Bauhinia, Shangri-La Paris, 10 Av. d’Iéna, 75116 Paris
Creative spirit, urban terrace or Italian modernity
Bar Long – Royal Monceau: design, calm and arty brasserie
Starck designed the decor, but comfort takes precedence. This palatial bar-restaurant remains surprisingly relaxed, without denying its standing, and the menu favors accessible cuisine: Caesar salad, linguine, beef tartare or a revisited club sandwich. An ideal spot for a stylish lunch, surrounded by contemporary art.
📍Le Bar Long, 37 Av. Hoche, 75008 Paris
Nonos by Paul Pairet: the anti-palace at the heart of the Crillon
Nonos plays with the codes of the bistro, but pushes them to the limit.
Paul Pairet delivers here a direct, tasty and thoughtful version of the Parisian lunch.
Croque-monsieur with truffles, herring with warm apples or boneless roast chicken: each dish seems familiar, but surprises with its execution. The atmosphere is confidential, perfect also for business lunches.
📍Nonos & Comestibles by Paul Pairet, 6 Rue Boissy d’Anglas, 75008 Paris
L’Attilio: elegant trattoria and 21st-century Neapolitan cuisine
Chef Attilio Marrazzo offers demanding Italian cuisine, rooted in the product, served in a refined setting. The menu is perfect, with homemade pasta and desserts to die for: everything is made in situ, served quickly and without overload. Perfect for a chic, elegant lunch.
📍L’Attilio Paris, 184 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris
Forest, free, plant-based rooftop cooking
Perched on the rooftop of the Palais de Tokyo, this restaurant by Julien Sebbag blends vegetal, revisited street-food and oriental inspirations.
The terrace offers a breathtaking view of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower, without ever falling into cliché.
Shareable plates, house cocktails and an arty atmosphere complete the picture.
A vibrant, open spot, surprisingly soothing at lunchtime.
📍Forest, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, 11 Av. du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris
Each of these addresses embodies Parisian summer refinement in its own way, without excess or ostentation.
To discover even more restaurants open in August: our summer selection on Paris Select
