Breweries, called “Brasseries” in French. These are real French institutions where life is good. Whether you want to have a quick lunch with colleagues, eat a good steak tartare with French fries on Sunday, or spend a nice evening with your friends : the Parisian brasseries are waiting for you. Discover our 2023 selection of the best brasseries in Paris.
La Tour Montlhéry – Chez Denise
Welcome to this well known artists’ bistro near Chatelet. For decades, many great French names have been coming here after their day to eat and share good bottles of wine “à la ficelle”. On the menu, traditional recipes but especially good meat : sweetbreads, venison stew, beef cheek stew… Don’t miss the delicious desserts like Denise’s Baba au rhum. Beware, the portions are huge !
📍 5 Rue des Prouvaires, 75001 Paris
Ⓜ️ Châtelet Les Halles station
Dishes around 30€
Au pied de cochon
Still next to Les Halles, formerly called “the belly of Paris”, you will find a brasserie which has become a real institution : “Au pied de cochon”, litteraly “At pig’s foot”. As its name indicates, you can eat here many specialities made with pork. Special mention for the temptation of Saint-Antoine which gathers in one dish the snout, the foot, the ear and the tail of the pig ! In this restaurant open 24 hours a day, the French service is irreproachable and the dishes are diverse and varied. You will love it !
📍 6 Rue Coquillière, 75001 Paris
Ⓜ️Châtelet Les Halles station
Dishes around 25€
Au pied de cochon Website
Bouillon Chartier
If you’re looking for a brasserie with a unique atmosphere where you can have lunch for less than 25€ for starter, main course and dessert, Bouillon Chartier is the place for you ! Appeared in the 19th century, “Parisian bouillons” initially offered invigorating dishes (such as meat broths) and cheap food to Parisian workers. Today, they serve all kinds of traditional dishes while keeping the same soul as before. Paris has several renowned broths, but the Chartier broth is undoubtedly the most elegant and emblematic. Snails and apple herring in oil are yours !
📍 7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris
Ⓜ️Grands Boulevards station
📍 59 boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
Ⓜ️Montparnasse station
Dishes around 12€
Bouillon Chartier Website
La Rotonde
For over a century, La Rotonde has been an iconic establishment in Paris. The place is notably known for having been the privileged café of many literary personalities in the inter-war period. You can enjoy classic and delicious recipes such as eggs mayonnaise, steak tartar or tarte tatin. Better yet, why not try their seafood platter with a good white wine ?
📍 105, boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
Ⓜ️Notre-Dame des champs station or Raspail station
Dishes between 30 & 50€
La Rotonde Website
Brasserie Lipp
Another typical Parisian brasserie for the pleasure of your taste buds ! The watchword here is to keep the unique atmosphere of the 19th century. The service is traditional with impeccable waiters, and the dishes are the essentials of French cuisine. Each day of the week, you will find a different specialty. So if you like old-fashioned blanquette de veau, it’s on Tuesday that you should visit the Brasserie Lipp ! If you’re more of a veal head ravigote fan, then Friday is your day !
📍 151 boulevard Saint-Germain 75006 Paris
Ⓜ️Saint-Germain-des-Prés station
Dishes around 25€
Brasserie Lipp Website
Le Potager du Père Thierry
If you’re out and about in Montmartre, then consider booking a table in the tiny bistro “Potager du père Thierry”. Here the menu, like the place, is tiny. Count less than 5 starters, 10 dishes and 5 desserts. But all are excellent and served in a very warm setting. The speciality of the place that attracts the most customers is the “œuf cocotte au foie gras”. Once you have dipped your bread in this delicious casserole, you will understand. An address to try absolutely !
📍 16 Rue des Trois Frères, 75018 Paris
Ⓜ️Abbesses station
Dishes around 15€
Le Potager du père Thierry Website
Lorette
Ah, it’s so good to go to lunch at Lorette ! The very traditional atmosphere of the place with its benches and mirrors as well as the smile of the regulars is immediately a guarantee of quality. Here the dishes and the service are simple but really succulent. We recommend the large Burgundy snails as well as the meat or fish of the day. The establishment, a little small, is quickly full. So, think of reserving especially if you go there during the weekend !
📍 9 Rue Saint-Lazare, 75009 Paris
Ⓜ️Notre-Dame-de-Lorette station
Dishes between 18 & 30€
Lorette Website
Brasserie Bellanger
Here is a brasserie that opened its doors only a few years ago and yet is already among the best brasserie addresses in the capital : the Bellanger brasserie. Its creators wanted to bring French cuisine back into fashion and to promote it to a younger audience. The bet is successful and the gourmets are numerous to come to taste a sausage with mashed potatoes and an exquisite Paris-Brest for dessert. It’s your turn to try !
📍 140 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75010 Paris
Ⓜ️Gare du Nord station
Dishes between 13 & 18€
Brasserie Bellanger Website
Closerie des Lilas
La Closerie des Lilas is an establishment that offers a gastronomic space and a brasserie space. Here you will enjoy the sweetbread fricassee or the filet “Hemingway” flambéed with bourbon. Because yes, this restaurant was once frequented by the beautiful world. And as the establishment itself says on its website : “The historic heart of La Closerie des Lilas, which houses the memory of illustrious artists from Verlaine to Hemingway, from Picasso to Gide, still beats to the sound of the piano”.
📍 171 Bd du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris
Ⓜ️Port-Royal station
Dishes between 20 & 50€
Closerie des Lilas Website
We hope this list has made you hungry ! If you still have some room for some delicious French dishes and have already tried these must-try addresses, rest assured : there are still many brasseries and bistros to discover in the City of Light. Bon appétit !
What is a French “Brasserie” ?
Brasseries are without a doubt the most iconic restaurants of French cuisine. There are many of them in all the cities of France and particularly in Paris. They mainly serve traditional French cuisine. Thus, everyone can taste many specialties such as snails from Burgundy, steak “maître d’hôtel” or the famous onion soup.
French brasseries appeared in great numbers in the 19th century, although some establishments existed before that. The word “Brasserie” refers to the brewing of beer which was then made on the spot and sold to visitors. With the economic development of the 19th century and the development of the cities, the breweries quickly became the places of socialization where people met around beer and traditional dishes.
With time, breweries have multiplied and evolved. If beer is no longer brewed in these establishments, they continue to serve the traditional dishes of French gastronomy with a nice selection of wines or beers. With some characteristic elements like the leather benches, the red tablecloths or the mirrors on the wall or the old woodwork, one recognizes them from afar. It’s hard to resist a good sauerkraut in a friendly atmosphere and with impeccable service.