Paris Business City Guide: Paris restaurants
Eating and drinking are at the heart of Parisian joie de vivre. Restaurants are busy all week, but busiest on Friday. Hospitality is valued – visitors can expect invitations for both lunch and dinner. Working through a meal is practically unheard of. Socialising over coffee (in a nearby bar or café), lunch, dinner or drinks is important to business culture. Many large companies have cafeterias with excellent food at lunchtime. Restaurants generally serve lunch between noon and 2pm. After 2.30pm, the kitchen may close.

Though La Défense has adequate restaurants, take a client/colleague to dinner somewhere more special (though not necessarily expensive: Parisians appreciate good value). Good options are in the central arrondissements (1, 2, 6, 7) or near the Champs-Elysées (more expensive).

The French dress well and dine late (8.30pm or later). Avoid jeans; jacket and tie for fine dining. Wine (red, except with fish) is important. If you don’t know wine well, let the server choose. Kir (white wine with cassis) is a common aperitif. Meal courses are generally entrée, meat/fish, salad/cheese, dessert and coffee (espresso). Service is included, but still tip €2-5 on a moderate bill, €10-20 for fine dining.

Paris restaurants reviews

L'Atelier Berger
49 rue Berger
1st, M° Louvre-Rivoli
01-40 28 00 00
Sleek and comfortable bistro with a relaxed atmosphere and a stylish crowd who come for Norwegian chef Jean Christiansen’s superb take on fish. Excellent for lunch or dinner.

Le Parc aux Cerfs
50 rue Vavin
6th, M° Vavin
01-43 54 87 83
Indoor mezzanine and garden courtyard create niches for relaxed conversation. Consistently excellent and creative cuisine draws loyal Parisian clientele.

Le Vaudeville
29 rue Vivienne
2nd, M° Bourse
01-40 20 04 62
Friendly atmosphere near the Opera and major department stores makes for lively dining. Sophisticated comfort food for a quick bite or leisurely meal. Accommodating staff. A good address for solo diners.

L’Avenue
41 ave Montaigne
8th, M° Franklin D. Roosevelt
01-40 70 14 91
Swank but low-key, with convenient hours, good service and reliable food. The place to go for casual sophistication. Pay attention to dress: casual chic, lose the tie.

Les Bouquinistes
53 quai des Grands-Augustins
6th, M° St-Michel
01-43 25 45 94
Contemporary French cuisine in a bright, classy dining room. Quayside location lends atmosphere, and inventive but reliable food sparks conversation. Open for lunch weekdays.

L’Astor
11 rue d’Astorg
8th, M° St-Augustin
01-53 05 05 20
A real insider’s tip, located in the Sofitel Demeure Hotel Astor. The rising-star chef prepares impeccable cuisine, and the all-inclusive lunch menu is a bargain.

Pierre au Palais-Royal
10 rue de Richelieu
1st, M° Palais Royal
01-42 96 09 17
Colour scheme and classic banquette seating create clubby, professional atmosphere conducive to business meals. Food is classic with contemporary touches. Good but expensive wine list.

Fish
69 rue de Seine
6th, M° Odéon or Mabillon
01-43 54 34 69
In a lively part of St-Germain, an unpretentious, popular spot in which to unwind with a glass of wine at the bar and a meal of inventively prepared, market-fresh fish.

La Tour d’Argent
15–17 quai de la Tournelle
5th, M° Pont Marie or Cardinal Lemoine
01-43 54 23 31
An haute-cuisine institution, classy and consistent. Recently served its one-millionth duck (they started counting in 1919). Three-course lunch menu is a relative bargain. Sky-high views of the Seine and Notre Dame.

Guy Savoy
18 rue Troyon
17th, M° Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
01-43 80 40 61
Haute cuisine in the hands of a true master. Contemporary, stylish dining room, warm and attentive service. Half portions available. Friendly sommelier helps with wine selection.

Au Babylone
13 rue de Babylone
7th, M° Sèvres-Babylone
01-45 48 72 13
Near Le Bon Marché, an inexpensive and delicious family-run restaurant that draws locals, fashionable shoppers and families. Excellent for a meal on your own. Open lunch only. No credit cards.

Les Communautés
2 pl de la Défense
La Défense (M° La Défense)
01-46 92 10 30
A quiet, elegant cocoon of a restaurant adjacent to the CNIT exhibition centre, with grand views of the Grande Arche. Fine cuisine and excellent wine list draws business lunchers.