Best of Paris
Where locals eat in Paris
Start with Le Petit Vendôme in Opéra / Vendôme for jambon-beurre, Le Severo in 14th arr. for sliced faux-filet with fries and Boulangerie Utopie in Oberkampf for the black sesame éclair and the baguette. Here are all 12, with what to get at each.
- Le Petit VendômeOpéra / Vendôme · Jambon-beurre on a fresh baguette
Get: Jambon-beurre
Old school sandwich and bistro counter near the Bourse, popular for simple jambon beurre and hearty lunch plates.
- Le Severo14th arr. · Steak frites
Get: Sliced faux-filet with fries
A butcher-run bistro where the beef is the whole point.
- Boulangerie UtopieOberkampf
Get: The black sesame éclair and the baguette
A bakery known for creative pastry and very good bread.
- Chez GeorgesSentier · French bistro
Get: the steak frites with bearnaise. A mirrored bistro, little changed since 1964
Old-school Sentier bistro with red banquettes, serving classic French comfort food like steak frites and terrines.
- Chez GladinesButte-aux-Cailles · Basque bistro
Get: the salade landaise with potatoes. A Basque bistro packed with locals and students
Noisy, cheap Basque bistro in Butte-aux-Cailles, known for big salads with potatoes and hearty Basque classics.
- Chez JanouMarais · French Provençal
Get: the duck and the bowl of chocolate mousse. A Provencal bistro with a terrace
Sunny Marais bistro with a Provençal feel, famous for its bottomless chocolate mousse and pastis wall.
- Le TagineOberkampf · Moroccan
Get: the couscous royal. Neighborhood families at lunch, a family-run room for 40 years
Small Oberkampf restaurant serving Moroccan tagines and couscous in a warm, simple setting.
- AstierOberkampf · French bistro
Get: the cheese board, left on the table. A warm, fairly priced 11th bistro
Classic Oberkampf bistro with a generous cheese course, known for honest French cooking at fair prices.
- Le Baratin20th arrondissement (Belleville) · French bistro
Get: the daily slate of slow-cooked dishes. The bistrot Paris chefs go to on their night off
Tiny Belleville bistro beloved by chefs, with a daily chalkboard menu and a warm, unpretentious neighborhood feel.
- Chez IboCanal Saint-Martin
Get: the chicken shawarma sandwich. A shawarma counter Infatuation editors return to
- Le Bistrot des TournellesMarais
Get: the eggs mayonnaise and a classic plat. A bistro in a near century-old room
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What are the local restaurants in Paris?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Le Petit Vendôme (Opéra / Vendôme), Le Severo (14th arr.) and Boulangerie Utopie (Oberkampf). All 12 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Le Petit Vendôme, get jambon-beurre. At Le Severo, get sliced faux-filet with fries. At Boulangerie Utopie, get the black sesame éclair and the baguette. At Chez Georges, get the steak frites with bearnaise. A mirrored bistro, little changed since 1964.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in Paris?
Most of these are in Oberkampf and Marais. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Paris: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
More in Paris
Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.