Paris, the epicenter of culinary innovation, is abuzz with new dining destinations that are redefining the city’s gastronomic landscape. From the opulent revival of iconic Art Nouveau bastions like Maxim’s to the daring and adventurous flavors found at spots like Boubalé, showcasing the richness of Eastern European cuisine, the dining scene in the French capital has reached a fever pitch of excitement. This curated list unveils the top 10 hottest restaurants, each offering a unique blend of tradition, innovation, and a tantalizing journey through diverse culinary narratives, promising a feast for the senses and an exploration of Parisian dining at its most avant-garde.
Dazzling Views And French Classics At La Tour d’Argent
More than a mere renovation, the Tour d’Argent’s revival represents a genuine reinvention, a seamless transformation as it reopens after more than a year of being closed. Said to have been founded in 1582, this iconic Parisian restaurant is poised to script a fresh chapter in its storied history, led by owner André Terrail, whose family’s stewardship spans back to 1911. Renowned for the iconic canard au sang (pressed duck) introduced by Frédéric Delair in 1890, the dish remains the Tour d’Argent’s signature among other specialities by chef Yanick Franques who’s been heading things up since 2019.
Inside La Tour (literally a tower that takes up most of the building), André Terrail has transformed the ground floor — previously a lobby and before that it was where the actual restaurant was located — into the chic Bar des Maillets d’Argent where you can sit on a high stool at the bar for a glass of champagne or cocktail while you wait for your table upstairs or settle at one of the tables for breakfast, lunch, goûter or dinner of classic French staples.
Make time to zip up to the new roof top bar too, where you can take in the spectacular 360° views of Paris. The dining room is located just below, and while keeps the same layout as before, Mr Terrail has added a light-reflecting silver ceiling and replaced the floral carpet with a powder blue one. If you want longer than the duration of a meal to admire the surrounds, then book a night at L’Appartement, an exclusive suite on the 5th floor of the building with wraparound views of Paris you won’t have to share with anyone else if you don’t want to.
Journeying Between France And Africa At L’Espadon
The Ritz Paris unveiled L’Espadon, the storied hotel’s new fine-dining restaurant with the trailblazing Chef Eugénie Béziat at the helm. Breaking tradition as the first female chef of 11 so far at the Ritz, Béziat, born in Gabon to Southern French parents, is a rare Michelin-starred talent in Paris. Her cuisine transcends borders, meshing mastery of French gastronomic techniques and produce with influences from her childhood between the African continent and South of France. The intimate Espadon restaurant, with just 30 seats, also has an elegant outdoor terrace in the hotel’s tree-lined garden. With each meticulously crafted dish, Béziat shares her heartfelt memories, sensations and flavors of Africa and Mediterranean summers, taking diners on a soulful expedition. Supported by the Ritz’s stellar team, including star Pastry Chef François Perret and Director of Sommellerie Florian Guilloteau, an evening at L’Espadon is an unforgettable journey that explores rare combinations of flavors and produce unlike any other in town.
Korean Food, French Glamor At OMA
Just around the corner from the Champs-Elysées, a new place to stay’s taken root in place of an old drab hotel that was in dire need of a full revamp. Completely shelled and transformed, the Château des Fleurs, sister property of the Saint James and Relais Chirstine also in Paris, is a light and bright property of 37 rooms, with a cozy ground floor bar and restaurant OMA (Korean for “mother”) that already have a loyal following of regulars. The crowd here is a mix of hotel guests, shoppers and locals on their lunch break, come for charismatic chef Ji-Hye Park’s lip-smacking good bites to share like cakes piled high with crab and hearty mains like her signature spicy Mulhulé raw fish and vegetable broth or Riz OMA (tender pork neck, soft-boiled egg, marinated seaweed, sesame, and radish). Arriving in France 25 years ago, Chef Park mastered the art of fermentation, juices, and broths—knowledge acquired notably from her father. Her expertise in nuanced flavors, precise techniques, and refined tastes now emanates within the warm and inviting ambiance of this new setting.
Celebrating Nature Every Day At Datil
Manon Fleury, known for her culinary expertise at Mermoz and Perchoir Ménilmontant, local go to’s in Paris, has debuted her first restaurant, Datil. The name references plums and dates, and the concept breaks norms not just in terms of what’s on your plate but also when it comes to management. Fleury, alongside four collaborators, experienced female chefs for the most part, whip up plant-based explorations with dashes of meat that take you on a journey across the region and that supports sustainable agriculture. Overall, Datil embodies culinary innovation, ethical sourcing, and empowerment in Paris’sgastronomic scene. Here there is no set menu as the team works according to season and what’s available from their producers to elaborate an instinctive, creative cuisine.
Festive Flavors From Eastern Europe At Boubalé
At the heart of Paris’ Le Grand Mazarin hotel lies Boubalé, overseen by acclaimed Israeli chef Assaf Granit and headman Tomer Lanzman, reviving forgotten Ashkenazi flavors from their childhood. The Yiddish-named restaurant cherishes the endearing bond between Ashkenazi grandmothers and their grandchildren, featuring legendary dishes traversing Eastern Europe to Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Iraq. Granit and Lanzman’s ambitious vision, executed by chef Itamar Gargi, modernizes this cuisine into a contemporary feast for sharing, complemented by an alluring cocktail bar and an upcoming underground cabaret. The ever-evolving menu reinvents traditional Ashkenazi favorites, such as the challah bread, lakerda sashimi, and lobster-infused matza balls, all crafted and plated exquisitely in a lush, maximalist setting envisioned by designer Martin Brudnizki, echoing an Eastern European dacha ambiance adorned with botanical frescoes and velvet banquettes. The warm, attentive staff enhances the experience, theatrically presenting dishes like the steaming hamud soup poured onto matza balls, ensuring a delightful, immersive culinary journey.
Reviving A Parisian Art Nouveau Marvel At Maxim’s
Nestled between Madeleine and Concorde on Rue Royale, this Art Nouveau marvel from the early 20th century has hosted a roster of legends and luminaries, from Mick Jagger to Jackie Kennedy, Andy Warhol to Isabelle Huppert. Acquired by Pierre Cardin in 1981 and currently overseen by the Paris Society group, Maxim’s retains its original charm—its timeless woodwork, Nancy School glass fixtures, and a rich ambiance preserved by the venerable Pierre Pelegry. Inside, the maze of rooms unfolds, each space more extravagant than the next. There’s even a smoking room modeled to look like a private garden surrounded by hedges. In the main restaurant space, diners enjoy frog legs in parsley butter, VEGE soup an original Maxim’s signature dish borrowed from Paul Bocuse, tournedos Rossini, and Yann Couvreur’s delightful desserts like a chocolate mousse to die for or crêpe Suzettes that are flambéed in front of you. On stage, a cast of young singers and musicians entertain the room as a curious crowd of well-heeled visitors, local and foreign, come to bask in the magnificence of Maxim’s, which is quite possibly the most beautiful restaurant you’ll ever step inside.
Parisian Chic With A British Vibe At Lordy’s Club
In the heart of Paris’s 16th arrondissement, Lordy’s Paris Club at Sofitel Paris Baltimore Tour Eiffel takes you on a journey between Paris and London. With a predominant cognac hue, soft lighting, and a fusion of chic British club vibes and a warm Parisian aesthetic, the venue, designed by Michael Malapert, has a minimalist yet cozy atmosphere. The imagined character of Lord Baltimore underpins the space, with his travel keepsakes adorning the shelves, creating a lived-in feel. The menu, a blend of English, American, and French influences, features the Lord’s Cocotte Egg and the Very British Pie, with an Apple Tart and praline chocolate profiteroles to finish, all rustled up by chef Yassine Riahi.
Love In And Out The Kitchen At Hémicycle
Opposite the Assemblée Nationale, Hémicycle offers refined contemporary cuisine infused with Italian influences. Part of Stéphane Manigold’s Éclore group, this spot marks his eighth venture. Manigold, known for his acclaimed establishments, entrusted the talented Italian duo Flavio Lucarini and Aurora Storari, previously at Bistrot Flaubert (also part of the group), to head things up in the kitchen. Their dishes, with a penchant for acidity and bold flavors, showcase a delightful interplay of ingredients. From a trio of appetizers with progressive acidity to inventive main courses like the standout Pigeon from the Ferme de la Touche Fleury, each dish offers a unique culinary journey. The desserts, equally bold and intricate, complement the mains, while the revamped space by architect Michel Amar exudes a contemporary ambiance—marble, leather, and travertine, creating an initially cool yet inviting atmosphere. Service, led by Michel Le Meur, offers discreet sophistication, making Hémicycle a haven for discerning palates and discreet meetings alike.
The Montana Is Back With Arty Party Vibes
The revival of the Montana, which flanks the Café de Flore in Saint-Germain-des-Prés ,brings forth a modern renaissance, transforming from its nocturnal past to a multifaceted venue boasting a cocktail bar, restaurant, and rooftop terrace. Under the direction of Romain Taieb and Laure Marsac, the Montana is composed of two parts: an intimate bar on ground floor, which feels like walking into a friend’s (very chic) living room, and a candle-lit restaurant with mirrored and white walls. Chef Francisco Raul Conforti introduces exquisite French-Italian fusion dishes, showcasing his culinary finesse from his experience at Il Pellicano and with Denny Imbroisi in France. From succulent Cecina beef with roasted figs to a huge buttery Sole Meunière and truffle spaghetti, ending with a Gianduja chocolate mousse speckled with olive oil and fleur de sel. Perfect for a quiet dinner in the beating heart of Paris’ Left Bank.
A Parisian Landmark Reawakened At Le Laurent
Le Laurent has hosted so many top-tier politicians and business moguls that it came to be known as an annex of the Elysée palace. Tucked in the green gardens at the bottom end of the Champs-Elysées (the opposite end to the Arc de Triomphe), the building was originally a hunting pavilion under Louis XIV. Closed after Covid, the iconic restaurant with its lofty main space adjoining a large outdoor terrace planted with bright red geraniums and spectacular private dining rooms upstairs, was recently folded into the restaurant empire of Paris Society (Accor Group). Renovated and relaunched with French Michelin star chef Mathieu Pacaud, it’s a beauty of a restaurant, as are all of the group’s properties. The food is a classic mix of French classics with a Provençal edge like foie gras and turbot fish or langoustine or sea urchins to start, followed by juicy beef filet or flabée T-bone steak. Desserts are presented as they used to be, on a trolley of creamy, colorful French delights.
