Between exoticism and cuisines from afar, 10 restaurants in Paris to ward off Blue Monday

As the cold sets in and the holidays are already a distant memory, Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year, comes to mind. To bring back the sunshine that is missing outside, what could be better than traveling through your plate? In Paris and beyond, restaurants offering flavors from around the world captivate customers in search of culinary discoveries and experiences. Luxus Magazine has selected ten Parisian destinations for you that are bursting with exoticism and color, without ever leaving the City of Light.

When the journey is on your plate

From European capitals to Asian metropolises, the desire to escape is no longer expressed solely through distant destinations reached by plane, but also through food. Today, we are no longer satisfied with just eating well; we aspire to an immersive experience, to understanding a culture through its recipes, spices, and rituals. This quest for authenticity is fueled by social media and a new generation of cosmopolitan chefs who are reinventing traditional dishes.

Restaurants offering foreign flavors—whether Japanese, Lebanese, Peruvian, or Italian cuisine—provide a wide range of choices for curious foodies. Social media plays a key role in this phenomenon, where photos of colorful and tasty dishes attract attention and encourage exploration. For many, visiting an exotic restaurant becomes a way to prolong the experience of past vacations. Luxus Magazine presents its selection of 10 exceptional restaurants that take you on a journey.

L’Assaggio: the most Italian of Parisian restaurants

Nestled within the Hotel Castille, L’Assaggio celebrates Italy at its most refined and sincere. Exceptional products, traditional recipes, and discreet elegance come together to create a dining experience where you can rediscover transalpine cuisine in all its nobility.

From perfectly executed pasta to iconic desserts, each dish tells the story of Italy’s great restaurants, combining generosity and precision. Every year in November and December, the restaurant creates an exceptional dialogue by showcasing white truffles, sublimated by chefs Sasha Arandjelovic and Ugo Alciati, figures of refined and authentic Italian cuisine. On sunny days, guests can enjoy the patio with its trompe-l’oeil frescoes and ornamental fountain

Address: 37, Rue Cambon 75001 Paris

Patio L’Assagio Paris © Hôtel Castille

Matsuri: a new lease of life for a Japanese institution
© Matsuri

With new owners – Adrien de Schompré, Céleste Velarde, and Sébastien Blanchet – and a completely redesigned menu, Matsuri is undergoing a renaissance. The iconic Parisian sushi restaurant is modernizing its approach while respecting the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine. High-quality ingredients, more daring recipes, and meticulous presentation: an invitation to rediscover Japan in a contemporary spirit.

Address: 145, Avenue de Courcelles 75017 Paris

Karamna: lebanese generosity in the heart of Paris
© Karamna

Karamna is a warm and family-friendly place where authentic Lebanese cuisine is experienced as a moment of sharing. Inspired by Milo Smadi, an autistic sous-chef and the driving force behind the project, accompanied by his sister Louloua, the restaurant draws on its Lebanese roots and love of travel to create a generous menu. Mezzes, grilled meats, vegetarian dishes, and modern creations celebrate the Mediterranean in a spirit of kindness, inclusion, and conviviality.

Adress: 77, rue Boissière 75016 Paris

Kinugawa Rive Gauche: contemporary Japan takes to the skies
© Kinugawa Rive Gauche

After Vendôme and Matignon, Kinugawa crosses the Seine and settles on the rooftops of the Hôtel Sax in the 7th arrondissement. This new address on the Left Bank combines Parisian elegance with Japanese simplicity, in a setting of raw materials open to the horizon. At the table, the restaurant’s signature dishes take center stage: exceptional sushi and sashimi, black cod with miso, delicate tempura, and melt-in-the-mouth wagyu beef. A refined and contemporary vision of Japan, between sky and city.

Address: 55, Avenue de Saxe 75007 Paris

Yaya Secretan: joyful and contemporary Greece
© Yaya

At Yaya (Eleni Group), Greece is celebrated as a festival. Colors, the scent of fresh herbs, and conviviality are the order of the day. The menu, designed by chef Juan Arbelaez, revisits the great Hellenic classics with a modern twist: mezze to share, grilled meats, sun-kissed vegetables. The cuisine is Mediterranean, sunny, generous, and accessible, inviting you to share, all in a blue and white decor inspired by the Peloponnese region.

Address: 33, Avenue Secrétan 75019 Paris

Nobu Matsuhisa: a masterful fusion of Japan and Peru
© Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris

A visionary chef, Nobu Matsuhisa embodies the cuisine of other lands at the crossroads of Japan and Peru through his signature Nikkei style. Nestled in the heart of the Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, Matsuhisa offers a refined experience in a setting that blends contemporary elegance with Asian influences. The menu features jalapeño sashimi, miso-marinated black cod, citrus yellowtail, light tempura, spicy edamame, and subtle desserts, composing a precise, bold, and resolutely international symphony.

Address: 39, Avenue Hoche 75008 Paris

Em Sherif Café: the Lebanese art of living in Paris
© Em Sherif Café

Em Sherif Café marks the arrival in Paris of the iconic Lebanese mother-daughter duo Mireille and Yasmina Hayek, major figures in Levantine gastronomy. Nestled in the 8th arrondissement, the restaurant celebrates the Lebanese art of living through generous and refined cuisine: silky hummus, smoked moutabal, vine leaves, falafels, kebbes, grilled meats and fish with delicate spices, accompanied by fresh juices and oriental pastries. A chic and welcoming place, dedicated to sharing and conviviality.

Address: 134, Boulevard Haussmann 75008 Paris

Nestled between Avenue d’Iéna and Avenue Marceau, 116 Pages is a Parisian izakaya with a distinctly Japanese soul. An annex of chef Ryugi Teshima‘s Michelin-starred restaurant Pages, this Japanese bistro celebrates cuisine from afar through dishes to share, inspired by Tokyo tradition and revisited with high standards. Donburi, tempura, matured meats, and fish can be enjoyed in a raw and friendly atmosphere, accompanied by a fine selection of Japanese sake and whiskeys.

Address: 2, Rue Auguste-Vacquerie 75016 Paris

Uma Nota: an unusual encounter between Brazilian samba and Japanese culture

Opened in 2019 in a former 19th-century department store on Rue Réaumur, Uma Nota offers Japanese-Brazilian cuisine. Boasting one of the largest collections of cachaça in the City of Light, the establishment also revisits the best flavors of São Paulo. The colorful setting evokes the atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro’s samba clubs.

Address: 86 Rue Réaumur, 75002 Paris

After ten years of history, Ida is undergoing a profound metamorphosis under the impetus of Denny Imbroisi. More than a restaurant, the place is becoming an intimate manifesto, inspired by his Italian roots and his travels. The decor, designed by Christophe Bro, evokes a living tree: sculpted roots, painted foliage, noble materials, and dramatic lighting. In the kitchen, Denny creates a free and emotional menu, deeply Italian, enriched with products from around the world. Ida is reborn as a laboratory of tastes and memories, where gastronomy and design interact with elegance.

Address: 117, Rue Vaugirard 75015 Paris

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