5 Paris Restaurants That Are NOT Tourist Traps!

Some of the most disappointing meals in Paris are served right next to the big attractions. In this video we take you to five Paris restaurants that are not tourist traps, all within walking distance of a major sight like the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides or Notre Dame. These are bistros where locals actually eat, and this page is for anyone who wants a good meal without crossing the city.

The five restaurants we tried

  • Le Coucou, 5 to 10 minutes from Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower: eggs with three different mayonnaises, calamari, hummus, beef tataki, coquillettes with a truffle cheese sauce and brioche perdue.
  • Vendémiaire, about 5 minutes from Les Invalides: a terrine, beef meatballs with peas, carrots and barley, sea bream with mussels and a chocolate mousse. Colleen fell a little in love with the chef.
  • Astier, near République and in the same neighborhood for over 70 years: goose rillettes, escargots de Bourgogne, côte de boeuf with pommes dauphine and a chocolate soufflé.
  • Atelier Maître Albert, in the Latin Quarter by Notre Dame and owned by Guy Savoy: pâté en croûte, chicken liver salad, rotisserie chicken and slow-roasted veal.
  • La Maison du Jardin, near the Jardin du Luxembourg, a Michelin Bib Gourmand: steak, dorade with cubed ratatouille and a lemon meringue tart.

Tips from our meals

Book ahead, since these are small, popular places. If you do not say how you want your meat cooked, expect it rare, so be clear if you prefer it medium or well done. And do not be shy about sharing plates, even in a nicer restaurant. We always do.

Our verdict

Every one of these five gave us real French cooking at a level you rarely find on the main tourist streets. Atelier Maître Albert and La Maison du Jardin felt the most refined, while Astier is the classic bistro experience.

If you want more ideas, our 125 best restaurants in Paris guide and our Paris Guide Bundle cover every neighborhood. We also recommend booking a Devour food tour early in your trip to get a feel for where the good food is.