Your Options for Dining in Paris

With no shortage of options, answering the question of what to eat in Paris can prove a challenge.  Restaurants in Paris offer something to please every palate and taste.  Travel with Carnet suggests a few of the most popular and sought-after tables in Paris to help guide dinner reservations.

le bristol paris
Fine Dining in a Parisian Hotel

In a city known for its haute cuisine and fine dining, it is no surprise luxury hotel restaurants boast exquisite dishes and the quintessential Parisian experience. Le Bristol Paris is home to two restaurants notable not only for the French fare, but also for their lavish architecture. Epicure is a Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant. With windows opening onto a French garden with four majestic magnolia trees, the bright space is ideal for leisurely lunches and romantic dinners. Head chef Eric Frechon focuses on a few ingredients per plate, using only the top French produce and products, including French caviar, foie gras, and venison.

The 114 Faubourg is the newest edition to Le Bristol Paris’ roster of fine dining options.  Seasonal and creative menu items feature heavily in this bright space.

le grand colbert
French Bistro with Hollywood Glamour

Le Grand Colbert is a historic monument and one of the few independently owned brasseries left in Paris.  This quintessential Parisian restaurant served as the backdrop for a scene in the Jack Nicholson/Diane Keaton movie “Something’s Got to Give”—and is very popular amongst tourists as a result.  Avoid being a cliché: don’t order the roast chicken with a side of pomme frites.  Serving classic French bistro cuisine, La Grand Colbert’s seafood dishes—like frog legs Provençale, skate, and sea bass—are a few of their specialty menu items that are worthy of a taste.

guy savoy
Brilliant Menu at A Must-See Restaurant

A guide to Parisian dining would not be complete without a review of Guy Savoy Paris. Not only is it a destination-dining locale, but it also hosts an extensive art collection collected by Guy Savoy himself. Known for his showmanship, this dining experience is as playful as it is elegant. Steamed Breton lobster served with lobster “foam” and the ever-popular artichoke soup with black truffles are only a few of the tantalizing items from the inventive menu. Sorbets, brioches, and the requisite cheese cart round out an exemplary Parisian dining occasion.

Entertainment, Nightlife, and Shows in Paris

Looking for things to do in Paris for an expressly French experience? Plan for an unforgettably entertaining time on your next trip to The City of Light; Travel with Carnet suggests the best of the best of shows and attractions in the city. Indulge in slightly risqué burlesque shows or explore loftier cultural pursuits with opera and ballet.

le lido
Famous Champs-Élysées Cabaret Show

One of the most famous Paris nightlife attractions, Le Lido hosts cabaret and burlesque shows featuring acrobatic feats, extravagant set pieces and costumes, and France’s musical hits. Le Lido’s stage has been host to famous names including Marlene Dietrich, Josephine Baker, Shirley MacLaine, Laurel & Hardy, and Elton John, as well as being home to the famous Bluebell Girls. With two showings each evening, the earlier seating offers a choice of dinner with the show, or just champagne with the show; the later seating offers champagne with the show only.

le crazy horse de paris
World Famous Cabaret Show

A Parisian cabaret known for its nudity and burlesque is considered more artistic than erotic. Founded in 1951, the self-described “nude chic” revue also provides “variety” entertainment in the form of magicians, jugglers, and acrobats. Recent famous faces that have performed on Crazy Horses Paris’ stage include Dita von Teese, Carmen Electra, and Pamela Anderson. This original location of the Crazy Horse nightclub empire is a must-see on a list of things to do in Paris.

moulin rouge
Historic Landmark and Cabaret

Established in 1889, patronized by the leading artists of the time, immortalized by painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and recognized for their French Can-Can, Moulin Rouge continues to awe and amaze audiences from around the world with elaborate cabaret shows. A great way to experience Paris’ nightlife and a bit of Parisian history, visitors can enjoy dinner at the venue before the show, or opt to buy tickets for the show only.

opéra national de paris
Destination for Paris’ Ballet and Opera