Eating alone in Paris doesn't have to be a choice by default: it can also be a pleasant, consciously chosen experience. The City of Light lends itself perfectly to this, with its lively bistros and counters at the bar or facing the open kitchen. Far from being strange, the habit is actually quite common, especially on weekdays and in neighborhoods where employees have lunch.
There are many advantages to eating alone in Paris. First and foremost, it's a moment of freedom: you choose the restaurant you want to eat at, and you choose your own pace (taking your time or going straight to the point). The experience then becomes more introspective and even more sensory: you taste better, observe more closely the interactions of staff, the habits of regulars, the rhythm of service.
There's no better way to get over your shyness than to have lunch at a restaurant counter! You can eat facing the open kitchen or the bar, and the service is often more relaxed, with more immediate contact with the staff, or even with other customers. Ideal for solitary meals... or for a chat with the person sitting next to you!
Of course, eating out alone in Paris is not for everyone. Some people can feel lonely and a little uncomfortable, especially in places that are too intimate or too quiet. The same applies to cooking smells, which are more prevalent in open-plan kitchens.
But whether you're an independent gourmet or a solo traveler just passing through, we still recommend you give it a try. If you're looking for the perfect place to eat, here are the best addresses in Paris!
Comptoir Lazu by chef Rémi Lazurowicz, inspired dishes, fine wines and 80's ambience
And that's two for chef Rémi Lazurowicz, who has opened Comptoir Lazu opposite his first Lazu address. A restaurant with 80's decor in the Pigalle district, where you can enjoy an affordable lunch menu and small plates to share in the evening! [Read more]
Pas Cher, the cheapest burger and coffeeshop in the 10th arrondissement
In the heart of the Saint-Martin covered market, Pas Cher is as simple as its title: a counter, homemade burgers served with a smile, all at mini prices. And that's all there is to it. [Read more]
Dumbo and his smash burgers, still a must in Paris
Dumbo's smash burgers are made fresh and dripping with melted cheese, just like in the USA! [Read more]
Le Boréal, fabulous responsible café-bistro by Philippine Jaillet and Charles Neyers (Top Chef 2025)
Café in the morning, bistro at lunchtime and in the evening, brunch at weekends; Le Boréal is the perfect solution to all your desires. Its founder-chefs, Philippine Jaillet and Charles Neyers, are both taking part in Top Chef 2025. [Read more]
Takuto, the elegant hand-rolls restaurant of Japanese chef Takuya Watanabe
Takuto, the restaurant of sushi master Takuya Watanabe, invites you to eat his delicate fish handrolls standing up. The take-away offer is ideal for a bucolic picnic. [Read more]
Pink Koï Paris, the immersive and festive Japanese restaurant at Les Halles - video
Alerts, friends: we're unveiling an exclusive Japanese restaurant called Pink Koï Paris, which may well attract the whole of Paris. A huge, immersive, animated restaurant with different spaces, the first restaurant in Paris dedicated to Japanese robata (Japanese barbecue) with succulent yet accessible dishes, we're running. [Read more]
Le Comptoir de la Traboule, bistronomic highlights and intoxicating vintages
Just a stone's throw from the Champ-de-Mars and the Eiffel Tower, Comptoir de la Traboule whirls up hearty bistronomic dishes and intoxicating cuvées. [Read more]
Au Trou Gascon, chef Sarah Chougnet-Strudel at the helm of Alain Dutournier's former fiefdom
Like a phoenix, starred chef Alain Dutournier's Parisian institution Au Trou Gascon is enjoying a second lease of life, under the impetus of chef Sarah Chougnet-Strudel. [Read more]
Comestibles, Paul Pairet's gourmet counter and confidential terrace at the Hôtel de Crillon
In the heart of the Hôtel de Crillon, Comestibles is a gourmet counter imagined by chef Paul Pairet, which plays on the guilty pleasures of bon vivants. When the weather's fine, this hidden address stretches out on a confidential terrace of the Palace, in a verdant courtyard far from the hustle and bustle of Paris. [Read more]
ChoCho, top chef Thomas Chisholm's (still) excellent restaurant
Former Top Chef contestant Thomas Chisholm opened his first Paris restaurant, ChoCho, a couple of years ago. We went back to confirm our first impressions: ChoCho is a real bistronomic nugget, full of good ideas and stamped with a real chef's touch. [Read more]
Round Egg Buns, eggy sandwiches on the Canal Saint-Martin
California on the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin is Round Egg Buns. The menu features egg sandwiches that are tantalizing - not to say indecent! [Read more]
Chakaiseki Akiyoshi, the first tea ceremony restaurant gets its first Michelin star
Chakaiseki Akiyoshi is the name of the world's first tea ceremony restaurant outside Japan. In the 15th arrondissement of Paris, you can discover this Japanese gastronomic establishment, which has just been awarded its first Michelin star. [Read more]
Iodé, Paris's genuine affordable sushi bar
Forget your preconceptions about sushi counters ('too expensive', 'too stuffy'), the Japanese restaurant Iodé has landed in Paris to demonstrate that it's possible to combine responsible French fishing, affordable prices and a genuine culinary voyage. [Read more]
Double: the original gourmet micro-counter in Paris's 18th arrondissement
Introducing Double, a micro-restaurant with a double-sided concept! At lunchtime, you can enjoy the unmissable onigiri, available for takeaway only. In the evening, the place welcomes just 12 guests for an intimate culinary experience featuring pasta... all concocted by creative Japanese chef Tsuyoshi Yamakawa. Head to the 18th arrondissement of Paris to push open the doors of this tiny, but oh-so-gourmet and atypical restaurant! [Read more]
Les Fines Gueules, French cuisine with character, a stone's throw from the Bourse
For almost 20 years now, Les Fines Gueules has opened wide on the Bourse side of town, offering French cuisine of character to be savored at the zinc counter, infiltrating among the innumerable regulars. The best thing to do is to eat alone and listen carefully! [Read more]
Taco Mesa, chef Beatriz Gonzalez's authentic taco restaurant
Chef Beatriz Gonzalez has opened Taco Mesa, her taco restaurant in Paris. A long-awaited success story! [Read more]
Ober Mamma, Big Mamma's cosy trattoria in Oberkampf
Nearly 10 years after opening, Big Mamma continues to turn out Neapolitan pizzas and Italian specialties at Ober Mamma, its Oberkampf trattoria. [Read more]
Specimen, smash burgers made to order in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Another smash burger restaurant in Paris? Yes, but at Specimen, they're done the right way, with a return to the very essence of the smash burger. [Read more]
Nour, a small counter serving Israeli street food and grilled arayes
Nour unveils arayes, a must-try Levantine street food that is still too little known in Paris. [Read more]
Enni Udon, a landmark for udon lovers in the 8th arrondissement
To discover udon, those Japanese noodles that can be eaten hot or cold, head for the Japanese restaurant Enni Udon, in the chic 8th arrondissement. [Read more]
Hando Parisian Handroll, luxurious Japanese handroll bar a stone's throw from Le Bon Marché
At Hando Parisian Handroll, the new luxury handroll bar just a stone's throw from Le Bon Marché, discover handrolls, a Japanese delicacy that's come all the way... from the USA! [Read more]
Baobar, the delicious bao counter in the Marais
Baobar is the name of the MAMAHUHU team's bar serving gua bao and other Taiwanese specialties. Take a seat at the counter to savor the richly flavored tapas-style plates. [Read more]
Pavyllon, Yannick Alléno's elegant Michelin-starred restaurant at the Pavillon Ledoyen
In the heart of the Pavillon Ledoyen, which alone boasts no fewer than 6 Michelin stars, chef Yannick Alléno treats gourmets at the counter of his 1* Pavyllon restaurant. An experience in its own right. [Read more]
OGATA Paris : the incredible temple dedicated to the Japanese art of living
Tea, cuisine, crafts, hospitality and culture... The 3rd district of the capital has opened its doors to OGATA Paris; a sumptuous place of 800 m² gathering all the Japanese art of living. [Read more]
Find the location of all these places by clicking on the map at the bottom of the article.
Restaurants for a date in Paris, our best addresses where to make a date
Looking for a hot restaurant to take your crush to in Paris? Discover our top addresses for a date in the capital. On the menu: good value for money in an atmosphere conducive to great encounters. Ready for your date? [Read more]
Restaurants for a date in Paris, our best addresses where to make a date
