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A new series looking at the best dining options within walking distance (1 mile) of city landmarks worldwide. Here we offer our 5 IDEAL restaurants close to the Eiffel Tower, Paris.
More than just about any city in the world, Paris is a city of fine food and restaurant culture. It doesn’t all have to be starched white table cloths, champagne and foie gras – there’s plenty of diversity on show and sometimes the most humble bistro results in the most satisfying experience. Indeed, there is something for everyone in France’s capital.
The Eiffel Tower is the city’s most iconic landmark and is in an area well-supported by public transport and close to the River Seine. To say that on a day trip to the tower, you’ll be spoilt for choice restaurant wise, is something of an understatement. We’ve eaten our way around the area and found our favourites and here they are, our 5 IDEAL restaurants close to the Eiffel Tower.
L’Astrance (0.5 miles)
Although Les Jules Verne would be the convenient go-to (it’s housed in the tower) if you’d like to include haute cuisine in your day out, Astrance is the place we’d recommend for fine dining in the immediate area. It has 3 michelin stars – the ultimate marker of highest calibre cooking – and a superb wine list. We’ve included it on the list for a reason we’d like whispered, only; at 75 euros, their set lunch option is one of the cheapest (yes, we know, still not cheap) 3 star meals in the world.
Address: 4 Rue Beethoven, 75016 Paris, France
Website: www.astrancerestaurant.com
20 Eiffel (0.3 miles)
A stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower – although, please not from the top; we all learnt in school physics lessons that would kill a man – and cooking of precision and craft, 20 Eiffel is a no-brainer if you’re visiting the area. The traditional Parisian set menu of a starter and a main for 24 euros is a steal, with an honest focus on great flavour above frippery.
Address: 20 Rue de Monttessuy, 75007 Paris, France
Website: www.restaurant20eiffel.fr
Crépuscule (0.9 miles)
Paris is home to scores of cafes and creperies celebrating the cuisine of Britanny, which is wonderfully rich yet humble. Crépuscule does a fantastic buckwheat crepe (we’d always recommend savoury) of Breton cheese, ham and an unctuous egg yolk. This place attempts to eschew tradition with some more flamboyant flavour pairings but we suggest staying safely in the middle of the road for this one, and you’ll be rewarded handsomely. A very reasonable option with the Eiffel Tower in sight.
Address: 18 Rue Amélie, 75007 Paris, France
Website: www.facebook.com
Les Cocottes (0.4 miles)
Still well within reach on Rue St. Dominique, Les Cocottes serves French charcuterie for sharing and individual mains in shallow, heat-proof baking dishes, all of which are fantastic. We couldn’t recommend this place highly enough; a hyper seasonal menu, unfussy yet precise cooking and wine by the carafe making it a big winner in our book.
Check out our full review here
Address: 135 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France
Website: www.maisonconstant.com
Le Table du Vietnam (0.5 mile)
When one has spent a few days in Paris, there is a tendency to feel a little heavy. There’s a lot of cheese, a lot of butter and a lot of protein. Something light and refreshing then, at Le Table du Vietnam. I know you may be thinking; Vietnamese food in Paris , why oh why? Well, following a period of French occupation in Vietnam, the country’s food has plenty of technique learnt from the French and lots of flourishes that shouldn’t feel unfamiliar. Think bread, pate and bone broths galore. Le Table du Vietnam is a fine purveyor of Vietnamese fare and trust us, we’ve eaten a hell of a lot.
Address: 6 Avenue Bosquet, 75007 Paris, France
Website: www.tableduvietnam.fr