9 Smart Tips for Finding Good Restaurants in Paris

Finding a good meal in Paris can take hours of scrolling through blogs, Google Maps, and endless “best of” lists that all recommend the same places. Travelers often describe it as one of the hardest parts of any trip.

But people who’ve done it enough times eventually figure out what actually works. Here’s how they find great restaurants without losing their minds – and what separates a truly good spot from a tourist trap.

1. Walk First, Decide Later

Many seasoned travelers stop researching and start walking. They wander through neighborhoods, glance at menus posted outside, peek inside to see the crowd, and follow their instincts.

If the menu looks concise and seasonal, that’s a strong sign. If it’s ten pages long and translated into five languages, it’s a warning. The shorter the list of mains, the more likely it’s homemade and fresh.

Atmosphere is key. People describe walking into places where the air smells of butter or grilling meat, locals are chatting over carafes of wine, and servers seem relaxed but attentive. That’s usually enough.

To put it simply: “Stick your nose in and see if you like the look of it.”

2. Know What to Avoid

Certain patterns almost always point to mediocrity.

• Huge multilingual menus (especially more than two languages).
• Photos of dishes or glowing laminated menus.
• Waiters trying to lure you in from the sidewalk.
• Empty terraces next to major landmarks.
• Spots where you only hear English, Spanish, or Italian at nearby tables.

English on a menu is usually fine, but if you see Russian, Chinese, and Italian translations too, it’s a red flag.

Two specific names come up as places to skip: Le Sully, where diners mention dirty cutlery and forced tips for tourists, and Gargamell, another poor experience repeated by several people.

3. Move Away from the Tourist Core

Around the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, or Montmartre, many places exist purely for passing visitors. But if you walk two or three blocks farther, the crowd changes and so does the food.

The further you go from the Seine, the better the odds of eating among locals. Parisians mention the 11th and 12th arrondissements as excellent areas packed with honest bistros and fewer scams.

Bamboche Comptoir in an example recommended place in the 11th – relaxed, friendly, and consistent.

Following the lunch crowd is another trick. Between 12 and 2 p.m., Parisians fill the good spots. If you see a place buzzing with workers in suits or tradesmen on break, take it as a sign.

4. Use Tools That Actually Work

Some apps are worth your time. Le Fooding comes up a lot – a trusted guide with personality-driven recommendations instead of paid rankings. It has an app and a website that show what’s nearby and filter by price or mood.

The Fork is another favorite for locals and travelers alike. It lists menus, opening hours, ratings, and online booking links, so you can compare quickly without jumping between sites.

Paris by Mouth has carefully curated picks that rely on firsthand visits vs. marketing blurbs.

David Lebovitz’s Substack is another trusted source, known for his personal reviews of bistros, bakeries, and pastry shops.

For something more official, the Michelin Guide app lists Bib Gourmand and “Recommended” restaurants, affordable places inspected by Michelin but not starred.

For broad searches, Google Maps still works if you filter correctly:

• Look for ratings around 4.3 and higher in Paris.
• Check the most recent reviews instead of old ones.
• Ignore review counts inflated by tourists near big sights.

Some travelers even use Resy to see what’s trending or OpenTable for pre-booking, especially in London, Paris, or Mexico City.

5. Plan Lightly, But Plan

The best balance is a bit of both – one planned meal a day, then free discovery for the rest.

Some travelers keep a private Google Map full of saved spots to avoid last-minute panic. Others rely on hotel concierges, who often have insider knowledge and can even call to secure reservations.

If you’re visiting in busy months, dinner reservations are worth making a few days ahead. Brunches and special experiences like Ritz Sunday Brunch or a table at Rocaille can fill up weeks in advance.

For everything else, staying flexible helps.

6. Ask People Who Actually Live There

Servers and bartenders often give the most honest recommendations. They know where chefs go on their nights off and sometimes even help you book.

Hotel staff are another underused resource. Many travelers say their best meals came from tips given by concierges or receptionists.

7. Pay Attention to Timing and Context

In Paris, meal times shape the experience. Lunch crowds usually mean you’ve found something authentic – people on break don’t waste time on bad food.

Evenings attract more tourists so some savvy travelers eat their main meal at lunch and go lighter later.

Crowded doesn’t always mean touristy; it depends on who’s there. Locals chatting over a glass of wine and simple plat du jour is a good sign. People snapping photos of their plates? Maybe not.

8. Know When to Stop Searching

Many travelers admit that overresearching leads to worse results. You can spend hours comparing reviews only to find the meal was average anyway. The goal isn’t to find perfection, you want to enjoy good food and the city around it.

Some people treat food as part of daily life, not a checklist. They eat where they are when they’re hungry and let the rest unfold naturally. Some have had excellent meals by simply following their curiosity through side streets.

“If you’re open to anything, the universe is on your side.”

9. Don’t Dismiss the Simple Options

Sometimes the best dinner is a break from restaurants. Hotel-room picnics with baguette, cheese, charcuterie, fruit, and a bottle of wine is cheap, fun, and still feels distinctly Parisian.

And if you’re too tired to go out, Uber Eats delivers good local French meals from nearby kitchens.