Three new Paris bistros where lunch has a habit of turning into a late night
Staying longer than planned, ordering one last glass on a whim, coming back the following week: that is the effect of the new Paris bistros quietly settling into their neighbourhoods, between century-old shopfronts and entirely reimagined spaces. Three addresses, three atmospheres, one shared desire to turn a meal into something that lingers.
Eupatoria 5 and Éthanol: two history-laden spaces, two chef-driven kitchens
In the Ménilmontant neighbourhood, a short walk from the église Notre-Dame-de-la-Croix, Eupatoria 5 occupies a space that has lived many lives. A former bric-a-brac shop, then an underground bar, then an art gallery, the place carries its layers of history without erasing them. The worn walls, shelves stacked with bottles and books, the open kitchen and the small sun-drenched terrace create an atmosphere closer to a neighbourhood tavern than a trendy restaurant. You settle in with the feeling of stepping into somewhere that already has a thousand stories to tell.
In the kitchen, chef Basile Eidel, who came to wider attention on Top Chef after working at Boucan, puts together a menu that sets Greece and Paris in conversation. The dishes are made for sharing: house-made tarama, courgette fritters, grilled octopus, white beans lifted with bottarga. In the glasses, a selection of natural wines extends the same free-spirited mood. More than a simple bistro, Eupatoria 5 has mastered the art of long evenings that begin with an apéritif and often end with everyone staying for dinner. The address is 5 rue d’Eupatoria, 75020 Paris, open on weekdays and weekends for dinner, with a terrace in fine weather. Reservations by SMS at 07 62 62 74 46.
In the 11th arrondissement, Éthanol takes a different approach. Chef Maxime Bouttier, already at the helm of Géosmine, his Michelin-starred restaurant a few doors down, opens a new chapter here somewhere between wine bar and chef’s table. The former cobbler’s shop has been entirely reinvented: solid oak, antique terracotta floor tiles, corten steel and wide glass frontage combine to create a setting that is at once raw and warm. From the first fine days, a small terrace extends the atmosphere, designed equally for an impromptu glass or a dinner that stretches well into the night.
On the plate, the chef sets aside the ceremony of fine dining without abandoning the exacting standards that built Géosmine’s reputation. The menu follows the market and weaves together exceptional Iberian produce, sharing plates and personal creations, such as artichokes with a hazelnut ajo blanco or crispy rillettes croquettes. The cellar holds more than 400 carefully selected wine references, and the relaxed service invites you to let yourself be guided. Éthanol is at 28 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5:30 pm to midnight, Saturday from 12 pm to 2 pm and then 5:30 pm to midnight, and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Dogs welcome. Phone: 01 86 04 97 09.
What these new Paris bistros have in common
From one arrondissement to the next, these three addresses share several traits that define this new generation of neighbourhood tables. Here are the defining threads:
- An honest kitchen that evolves with the seasons and the market, without artifice.
- Spaces designed to last, with materials that develop character over time.
- A natural wine selection at each of the three venues.
- Dishes conceived for sharing, putting conviviality at the centre of the experience.
- A light and atmosphere that work just as well for lunch as for a long evening.
That is, in fact, the common thread running through these new Paris bistros: you come in for lunch and more often than not end up staying into the evening. The atmosphere plays a large part in that, but so does the food. Each chef brings a strong identity rooted in a personal journey, without ever losing sight of the essential: making sure the guest feels at home.
L’Amic, the 18th-arrondissement bistro keeping the spirit of old Parisian cafés alive
In the 18th arrondissement, L’Amic holds a special place among the new Paris bistros. Dreamed up by a group of friends, it cultivates the spirit of the old Parisian café with just the right touch of modernity. The long zinc bar, the exposed stone and brick walls, the green banquettes and large communal tables set the tone immediately. At midday, light pours generously through both dining rooms. In the evening, candles are lit, conversations stretch on and the place takes on the feel of a home you are happy to return to.
In the kitchen, chef Gabriel Urgese, trained between France and Italy, revisits bistro classics with nods to his Milanese roots. Sausage and mash spiked with an nduja jus sits alongside a creamy risotto Milanese, and sharing plates shift with the seasons. Behind the bar, the natural wine selection keeps pace with this no-nonsense cooking. On Sundays, a large dish is brought to the centre of the table in the spirit of a family lunch where everyone helps themselves to seconds.
L’Amic is at 50 rue du Poteau, 75018 Paris. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 12 pm to 3 pm and 6 pm to 2 am, and Sunday from 12:30 pm to 5 pm. Closed Monday. Reservations recommended at 01 88 61 16 85.
Practical information for planning your visit
These new Paris bistros share one organisational detail: reservations are recommended at all three, whether by phone for L’Amic and Éthanol or by SMS for Eupatoria 5. Opening hours vary from one address to the next, so it is worth checking before you make the trip. L’Amic and Eupatoria 5 both offer Sunday service, ideal for a long, leisurely end-of-week lunch. Éthanol, for its part, opens on Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm, making it a solid option for a midday meal in the 11th.
These three addresses capture what is most exciting about the Paris bistro scene in 2026: places where the care given to the décor, the cooking and the wine list is entirely in service of something simple, the pleasure of spending a good moment at the table.
