After its grand monuments and museums, few places evoke Paris better than its classic bistros.
It was actually in the City of Light where the term originated. As the legend goes, Russian soldiers stationed here after the fall of Napoleon I in 1814 would try to get a speedy drink at a tavern by saying “bystro,” the Russian word for “quick.” Since then, the ambience of a bistro (also spelled “bistrot”) has evolved into a cozy neighborhood eatery where travelers can get a well-prepared traditional French meal.
These best bistros in Paris — ranging from classic venues to those with a modern twist — stand out among the hundreds around the city.
Not much has changed at this nostalgic Left Bank bistro since it opened in 1898. Originally called Josephine, it was taken over by the Dumonets a few decades ago and is now run by the third generation of the family.
Josephine Chez Dumonet, one of the oldest bistros in Paris.
Credit: 2025 Josephine Chez Dumonet
They’ve retained its lovely historic decor of geometric floor tiles, banquette seating and vast mirrors. Old-school waiters, smartly dressed in black and white, glide effortlessly through its rooms, balancing trays of boeuf bourguignon, roasted veal cutlet, duck confit and fluffy Grand Marnier souffles. The menu is on the pricier side, but the quality is exceptional, and the experience is highly memorable.
With its red-and-white awning and typical Parisian terrace seating, this bistro appears at first glance as classic as it can get. However, stepping inside this eatery found between Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est, travelers will find decor with hints of contemporary flair, which also carries over to the menu.
The modern bistro cuisine of Cafe Les Deux Gares.
Credit: 2025 Valentin Le Cron
This reinvention of the classic bistro is called a “neo-bistro,” and Les Deux Gares is one of the best in the city. Behind a large glass window, you can watch chef Jonathan Schweizer, a graduate of the Institut Paul Bocuse, deftly prepare regularly changing dishes such as lamb sweetbreads with fennel and water mint, or steamed mussels with lovage greens drizzled in young garlic oil. You can pair these with the cafe’s equally modern wine list, featuring carefully selected natural wines.
This alluring bistro sits regally at the entrance of Galerie Vivienne, a beautiful, covered shopping arcade north of the Palais Royal. Diners can choose to sit in its stylish interiors — home to classic wooden bistro tables and leafy plants — on the sidewalk terrace or at some tables found within the enchanting arcade.
Bistrot Vivienne, a refined bistro near the Palais Royal.
Credit: 2025 Lily Heise
Only a 10-minute walk from the Louvre, it’s an excellent option for a meal after touring the museum. On the menu are classic French specialties with a touch of modernity, as well as several creative vegetarian dishes.
Located in the more local 11th arrondissement, not far from the Place de la Republique square and the Le Marais neighborhood, this refined bistro has been a neighborhood favorite since 1956. The wood paneling, retro light fixtures and old-fashioned crockery displayed here and there create an inviting space to sample some excellent modern bistro cuisine.
The welcoming dining room of Astier
Credit: 2025 Roberta Valerio
Travelers might want to start with the frogs’ legs with broccoli mousseline before moving on to the roasted squab with cocoa nibs, candied lemon and potato mille-feuille. If clients are not tempted to order a baba au rhum or Tanzanian chocolate souffle with a zest of kaffir lime for dessert, then they can try the exquisite assiette de fromages, offering cheeses from a renowned master cheesemonger.
Dining options are a bit bleak in Montmartre, which makes this great local bistro all the more enticing. Meaning “the mailbox” in French, La Boite aux Lettres is located just a few minutes’ walk from the Sacre-Coeur, but it’s far enough removed from the tourist crowds — and mediocre eateries — around the basilica.
Owned by two friends, it has a laid-back ambience that makes travelers feel like they are at a true neighborhood restaurant. Combining both classic and inventive dishes, its chalkboard menu could have oeuf-mayonnaise with black garlic, soft goat cheese with beets and tarragon, roasted sea bream or traditional steak frites. Come for lunch, when they offer a great-value fixed-price menu at about $22 for two courses and $28 for three.
This upscale bistro in the seventh arrondissement attracts a mix of chic locals and tourists in the know, who come here after visiting the nearby Eiffel Tower. It perfectly embodies the ideal Parisian bistro, with its red-and-white-checkered tablecloths and a terrace overlooking a small square with the restaurant’s namesake: a fountain depicting Mars, the ancient Roman God of War.
Its menu revolves around specialties from the Southwest of France, such as homemade foie gras terrine, honey-roasted duck and Basque sausage with apples. It also has daily lunch specials, which are a tad more affordable than the pricier a la carte options.
Dining and Cooking