Food in Paris: 9 Quintessentially French Dishes and Where To Eat Them

One of the simplest pastries is also one of the most misunderstood. Croissants may be served all around the world, but they’re often dry, stale, and otherwise severely lacking in deliciousness. In Paris, on the other hand, you’ll find this most iconic French food as it’s meant to be—not excessively crumbly, but deeply redolent of butter, with tender sheets of pastry that pull apart like candy floss. If you’re brave enough to try making this famously finnicky treat, you can even sign up for a chef-led masterclass.

Where to try croissants in Paris: One of the city’s most celebrated boulangeries, Du Pain et des Idées makes what is arguably its most perfect croissant. Prepare to wait in line to grab one—then head to the Canal Saint-Martin to enjoy it waterside.

Speaking of simple things done well, there is perhaps no greater Parisian food experience than lining up for a still-warm baguette from a neighborhood bakery, and nibbling at it on the way home. If you want to try the best baguette, however, don’t settle for any ol’ stick of bread. Instead, ask for une tradition. The name comes with legal requirements, and any traditional baguette must be made completely on-site and contain only flour, water, salt, and yeast. The only way to improve it? Serve with salted butter and a cheese platter on the side.

Where to try baguettes in Paris: Every year, baguette bakeries compete in the Grand Prix de la Baguette de la Ville de Paris; it’s worth looking up who’s on the top of the annual list. Some recent finalists include Au Levain des Pyrénées and Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Guyot.

No tour of gastronomic delights in Paris is complete without macarons—just don’t call them “macaroons.” Not to be confused with their coconut-heavy American counterparts, these vibrant little treats are made from meringue-and-almond-flour shells, with a luscious layer of filling sandwiched in between. Best of all, they come in a wide variety of flavors, from vanilla and rose to pistachio and coffee. They’re displayed like jewels on pastry counters around town, and you can even bake them yourself at the ever-so-chic Galeries Lafayette.

Where to try macarons in Paris: While Ladurée is a classic choice (and is renowned for its equally classic macaron flavors), you can’t do better than Pierre Hermé. His Ispahan macaron, featuring lychee, raspberry, and rose, is considered one of Paris’ most iconic treats.

Okay, so wine may not be a dish in its own right—but is any country better known for the fruits of its vines than la belle France? Luckily, Paris is absolutely bursting with effortlessly cool wine bars, which offer a vinous tasting tour of regions from Burgundy to Bordeaux, the Loire to the Jura, Provence to the Pays d’Oc. Book a wine tasting experience for an accessible introduction—or enjoy an only-in-Paris moment when you visit the sole vineyard within city limits, located in hilltop Montmartre. (Pro tip: Come by during its annual festival in October if you want a tour of the vines.)

Where to try wine in Paris: You can’t pop a cork without hitting a wine bar in Paris, but some of the city’s best include Septime La Cave, Le Verre Volé, and Willi’s Wine Bar.

Milk and cookies. Chips and salsa. Bacon and eggs. Steak and fries—err, frites. It’s clear that some food combos just can’t be beaten, and that’s certainly the case for the latter, which is a bistro staple and prix fixe menu stalwart in dining rooms all over the French capital. This dish needs little introduction, although its component parts can vary: depending on the restaurant, you can choose between different cuts of steak, and sauces that range from peppercorn to béarnaise.

Where to try steak frites in Paris: It’s probably easier to narrow down where you can’t find steak frites in Paris, but you’re best off heading to one of the city’s top-rated bistros to enjoy the dish at its best. Le Bistrot Paul Bert, while not easy to book, is pretty much peerless.

In Paris, crêpes are a ubiquitous convenience choice favored by students, workers, or anyone else in a rush and looking for an instantly satisfying sweet or savory bite. In fact, they’re such an iconic French food that crêpe tastings are held right in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. But to seek out the best of the best, follow locals to Paris’ Breton crêperies. Crêpes—well, technically galettes, their buckwheat-flour cousins—are a specialty of Brittany, and these atmospheric restaurants serve some of the most delectable examples in town.

Where to try crêpes in Paris: If you’re looking for a truly authentic Breton experience, head to Breizh Café, which pairs its offerings with Brittany-made ciders to complete the meal.

There are few occasions that can’t be improved by a croque-monsieur (or croque-madame). Whether enjoyed as a hearty weekend lunch, as part of a food-focused walking tour, or simply devoured as an effective cure if you have a gueule de bois—even hangovers sound elegant in French—this ham-and-cheese sandwich is served hot off the griddle and liberally doused in béchamel sauce. To upgrade, you can order a croque-madame, which adds an egg to this already-rich treat.

Where to try croque-monsieurs in Paris: According to Paris newspaper Le Monde, Brasserie Bellanger makes one of the finest croque-monsieurs in town.

Paris’ largest immigrant group hails from the Maghreb region, comprising the formerly French-colonized countries of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, and this community has left an indelible stamp on the culture—and cuisine—of the capital. Today, couscous is one of the most-eaten dishes in France. Couscous platters here tend to include brothy chickpeas, large hunks of carrots and other root vegetables, and raisins, and don’t forget to add amply spiced lamb merguez sausages.

Where to try merguez couscous in Paris: To get the classic experience (with plenty of atmosphere to go with), head to Mansouria and Le Tagine.

If you only come to Paris in search of traditional French cuisine, you’re missing out on some of the most delicious dining experiences in town. Case in point: the capital is known for its wealth of Vietnamese restaurants, and there are few experiences more fulfilling on a typically gloomy Parisian day than inhaling the fragrant steam from a bowl of pho. Order a version of the noodle soup that comes topped with roseate slices of rare steak, opt for chicken, or go bold and choose from other add-ins ranging from beef tendon to tripe.

Where to try pho in Paris: Once you’ve toured Belleville, home to Paris’ Chinatown, drop by for a nourishing bowl at Dong Huong.