If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

credit: Alberto OG 

Have you ever noticed that French women eat things that would destroy an American woman’s diet and yet never seem to gain a pound? It is said that the French are able to indulge in daily food delights because their great appreciation for their food overwhelms the weight gain and keeps it at bay. This probably isn’t true, of course. But what is true is that the French people are able to enjoy smaller meals because they use such rich ingredients that quality surpasses quantity in the French dish.

What this all means for the Paris traveler is that you are going to be surrounded by amazingly delicious food at every turn. You may go to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower or to walk down the Champs-Elysses but you will fall in love with Paris because your senses are tantalized every time that you sit down to enjoy a meal during your stay. You really can’t go wrong when dining in Paris but there are some restaurants that are superior to the others. The smart traveler will get his money’s worth by enjoying these hot Paris restaurants:

• Alain Senderens – This is an interesting restaurant because it has a lot of history behind it. You wouldn’t necessarily know it though because that history is associated with the restaurant’s previous name: Lucas Carton. After the name change, the restaurant became a bit trendier and is now a popular hot spot for people who are seeking traditional French foods with a global twist on them. Your best bet is to opt for the “tasting menu” which is a little bit pricey but will expose you to some terrific new tastes – and wine to go with them.
• Café de l’Homme – You might be familiar with the name “de l’Homme” because it’s the name of the museum which is located directly across from Paris’s most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. You can dine at the café there in order to get a terrific view of this major attraction. You can only see it from the outdoor seating so plan to wait awhile for a worthwhile table if you’re going to dine here. The view will outshine the food but the food can live up to what you’d expect in terms of great French fare.

credit: wEnDaLicious
• Citrus Etoile – If you are wandering along the Champs-Elysses, taking in the romance of the area, then you might want to continue the savory experience by enjoying a great restaurant located there. There are many to choose from of course but one of the hottest new restaurants is Mediterranean-based Citrus Etoile. The people who own this restaurant are originally from California so you’ll get a little bit of that light fusion flavor that you’d expect on the U.S. West Coast while still getting all of the indulgence of the French dining experience.
• Guy Savoy – This is one of the most well-known restaurants in Paris by people who are traveling there from throughout the world. They offer a tasting menu that allows you to get an experience of what many different French foods are like. That makes it a terrific stop early in your trip when you are still trying to figure out what Parisian dining is all about. The slogan of the restaurant is really all that you need to know to understand what your experience here is going to be like. That slogan is: “Cooking is the art of taking foodstuffs and turning them into pure happiness.”
• Jules Verne – You might be disinclined to opt for a Paris restaurant located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower because it seems hopelessly touristy. If you go ahead and give in to the urge, you’ll find that this restaurant more than makes up for its location with outstanding “haute cuisine”. And of course its location does provide a terrific view of the city, especially of the lights at night. You should know, however, that this is a super-trendy restaurant that usually requires reservations weeks – or even months – in advance.
• Le Grenier de Notre Dame – This restaurant gets its name from its proximity to Notre Dame Cathedral but it’s not otherwise affiliated with the famous Paris attraction. It has gained attention in the area as a hot restaurant because it provides terrific food that is all vegetarian (and has a vegan menu as well). It has been operating since the 1970’s when the vegetarian movement first began sweeping the world which means that it’s a restaurant skilled in creating vegetarian dishes that retain the tasty indulgence of the French dining experience.

credit: sling@flickr

• Maitre de Pierre – Let’s say that you’re spending time in Paris doing what people love to do here – falling in love. Undoubtedly, you’ll want to find a romantic restaurant to enjoy with the object of your affection. There are dozens of great little French restaurants to choose from but perhaps you’ve tired of French food during your stay. Head to this intimate little Italian place located near the Champs-Elysses to experience the romance while enjoying new tastes. This is a small place which is highly conducive to creating fireworks between your plates and wine glasses.
• Maxim’s – There are Maxim’s restaurants located in a few key cities throughout the world. If you’re in Tokyo, Geneva or Paris, you might want to make sure to enjoy this globally trendy hot spot. Designed to be a place where the rich and exclusive mingle with the artsy and avante-garde, it’s the kind of restaurant that you go to hoping to see and be seen. You’ll also be treated with tasty food although it’s less important to most people here than the ambience of the restaurant itself.
• Moulin Rouge – You know the name from the movie but you haven’t experienced the true romance of Paris without a trip to the cabaret. You get dinner and a show together here so it’s not just dining but rather a complete entertainment and eating experience. There are multiple menus to choose from so that you can truly enjoy the tastes of Paris while getting the opportunity to experience the city’s frisky side.

credit: visualpanic 

• Piccolo Teatro – Another intimate restaurant in Paris is this unique restaurant which combines flavors from Italy and Indonesia to create really unique dishes that your taste buds have probably never before experienced. This is a vegetarian restaurant but meat lovers won’t mind because the full flavors of the plates here make you feel like you’re not missing out on anything at all. Located in Le Marais, a historically Jewish neighborhood that has recently become known as a gay district, dining at this restaurant puts you in close proximity to some interesting Parisian experiences.
• Toutoune – There are going to be many hot restaurants in Paris that are big and open, with spectacular views and an extensive staff. These are great places to get a French meal. But you shouldn’t go to Paris without also dining in a family-owned restaurant. The Paris hot spot that fits this bill is Toutoune. The owner-operated restaurant provides a friendly atmosphere, comfort food for the French local or traveler and an experience that makes you feel like you’ve dined with a great new friend.

There are simply too many hot restaurants in Paris for you to ever get a chance to visit them all. Throw your diet books away and take the opportunity to really enjoy food in a city that knows how to make it astoundingly enjoyable!

Tags: Europe | Food & Dining | France | Paris | restaurants | travel