Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Paris

The 3rd Arrondissement features an easygoing and unpretentious cocktail lounge that will surely please your senses. The cozy ambiance is great for small groups. Offering lip-smacking authentic Mexican cuisine, Candelaria's must-haves are mushroom tacos, queso fresco, cactus tostada, chicken tostada, and lots more. The creative cocktails and frozen margarita are truly unforgettable and will keep you coming back to this amazing place.

Inaugurated in 1862, this café is undoubtedly one of the most popular in Paris. With its exquisite Second Empire style, it has forever been a favored hangout for celebrities and tourists alike. The leafy look combined with the rich décor of ornate flourishes and deep polished wood creates an atmosphere of freshness blending with class. You can drop in here for an early breakfast or a delayed supper as the café remains open till late in the night. During winter, you can dine alfresco at the winter terrace that overlooks the Boulevard des Capucines, while summer months see crowds filling in at the open air terrace that gives a great view of the Place de l'Opera. While in Paris, this is one destination you should not miss.

Situated in the Bastille area, Brasserie Bofinger possesses a beautiful Belle-Époque decor with a stained-glass ceiling, ceramics and mirrors. Celebrities, Parisians and tourists alike come here to taste the varied cuisine, which includes choucroute garnie (a sauerkraut dish), roasted lobster or magret de canard (duck breast). So when in Paris, do not miss out on the opportunity to sit under this exotic stained-glass ceiling and to be greeted by an unparalleled ambiance and a pleasant service.

Nestled in the 1st Arrondissement of Paris, Aki Boulanger is a fusion bakery specializing in Japanese and French confections. Small yet cozy, this corner cafe bakes around the clock to provide patrons with the freshest baked goods like their marbled green tea and red bean bread, matcha eclairs, green tea macaroons, azuki bean filled beignets and more. They also serve up fusion gourmet coffee drinks like their matcha au lait. So grab one of the few tables, a sweet treat, and watch the world go by at this popular Parisian boulangerie.

This lovely bar located in the Hôtel Meurice was redesigned by Philippe Starck in December 2007. The bar, achieving the perfect balance of cozy and chic, serves more than fifty whiskeys and malts, and over three-hundred drinks including seventeen original creations such as the cocktail Starcky or the 228. Bar 228 also serves a full menu of French specialties as well as small tapas-like plates to munch on.

Formerly a high-end hotel, this architecturally rich restaurant is known for its lavish spread since its inception in 1766 on the banks of the Seine. The fare is French and one can savor it while sitting at one of the tables where eminent personalities like Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas have cherished the satiating morsels. Enter the pristine walls of this established and be struck with awe at the old-world charm that it exudes, complete with its wooden beams, leather chairs and brass tableware. The private rooms are well away from prying eyes, behind a hidden stairway, ideal for an exclusive, intimate dinner.