Alternative Paris: Non-Touristy Restaurants in Paris
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Everyone wants to eat well in Paris, but you don’t have to stick to the overpriced brasseries packed with tourists near the big attractions. Some of the best meals we had in Paris were at spots that barely show up in the guidebooks. These local favorites serve real food without the Eiffel Tower markup. If you’re looking for alternative places to eat in Paris, this list is a great place to start.
Non-Touristy Restaurants in Paris: (Jump To)
This post is part of our Alternative Paris Series, your go-to source for discovering off-the-beaten-path Parisian experiences.
Le Baratin - Belleville
If you’re looking for non touristy things to do in Paris, start with a meal at one of the most authentic restaurants in Belleville Paris. Le Baratin is where locals go when they want quality French cooking without any fuss or fanfare.
Map: Google Maps
Le Baratin is a neighborhood bistro in Belleville that draws a loyal crowd without trying too hard. It’s not flashy, but that’s kind of the point. The food leans traditional—roast pork, lamb, sweetbreads—but the execution is solid and the portions are generous. Prices are surprisingly reasonable for a place with this much reputation. You might hear other tables speaking English, but they’re almost always expats who live nearby. The space is small, the lighting is dim, and the service is a little too relaxed if you’re in a rush—but this is the kind of place where no one is.
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L'Ambroisie - Saint-Ambroise
L’Ambroisie stands out among the best restaurants in Saint-Ambroise Paris for visitors who want an upscale dining experience without the tourist crowds. It’s a smart pick for those chasing high-end food as part of their non touristy things to do in Paris.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
L’Ambroisie has serious food credentials. It’s the kind of place where you’ll spend more than planned and still talk about the meal weeks later. This spot near Saint-Ambroise serves old-school French dishes with just enough flash to remind you it has a MICHELIN star. The menu changes often, but dishes like pigeon en croûte and frog legs are standouts. This isn’t budget dining, but if you’re looking to experience what French fine dining looks like without hitting one of the big-name tourist magnets, L’Ambroisie is the splurge.
Le Comptoir du Relais - Saint-Germain-des-Prés
When planning meals around the best restaurants in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Le Comptoir du Relais should be near the top of the list. It’s one of the easiest ways to experience non touristy restaurants in Paris without spending a fortune.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
If you want a classic French bistro without a side of tourist chaos, this place in Saint-Germain-des-Prés nails it. Le Comptoir du Relais doesn’t take reservations and it doesn’t need to—there’s almost always a line. But the food makes up for it. The duck confit is the dish to beat, though the beef tartare is also great. The vibe is laid-back and crowded, in a good way. It’s a rare spot in Paris where you’ll see people wait without complaining. If it’s your first time in the city and you want one “bistro meal” that feels like what you imagined, come here.
Le Bistrot Paul Bert - 11th Arrondissement
Le Bistrot Paul Bert is consistently recommended among the best restaurants in 11th Arrondissement, Paris, for people looking to avoid the city’s usual tourist trail. It’s a great spot to add to any list of non touristy things to do in Paris.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
Le Bistrot Paul Bert is the kind of place locals bring their visiting parents when they want to show off. Located in the 11th, this is a straightforward French bistro with just the right amount of nostalgia. The steak frites is a favorite, but the menu changes often. They also have a surprisingly good seafood selection. The inside feels like the set of a French movie from the 70s, in a good way. It gets busy, so book ahead or plan to eat early.
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Le Verre Volé - Canal Saint-Martin
Wine lovers looking for the best restaurants in Canal Saint-Martin Paris should make time for Le Verre Volé. The place nails that perfect mix of non touristy dining and casual neighborhood charm.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
A casual wine bar with better food than it needs to have. That’s Le Verre Volé. You’ll find it along Canal Saint-Martin, and it gets packed, especially later in the evening. The wine list is long, the staff knows what they’re talking about, and the food menu rotates around what’s fresh and seasonal. Most plates lean on cheese, charcuterie, and roasted meats, but in that effortlessly stylish way the French always seem to do. It’s a great stop before or after a walk along the canal.
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Le Saint Régis - Île Saint-Louis
When it comes to the best restaurants in Île Saint-Louis Paris, Le Saint Régis is a go-to for people trying to escape the overpriced tourist cafés just steps away. If you’re trying to line up a few non touristy things to do in Paris, this is an easy win.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
Tourists do come to Île Saint-Louis, but Le Saint Régis somehow manages to avoid the worst of it. The prices are mid-range, the view is perfect, and the food is way better than it has to be for a place sitting right by the Seine. The duck is excellent, and their risotto changes often but is always solid. Come for a long lunch and then take a walk past Notre-Dame to work it off. You’ll feel like you nailed the Paris experience without stepping inside a single chain café.
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Astier - 11th Arrondissement
Astier is a great example of the best restaurants in 11th arrondissement Paris where traditional food still feels special. It’s an easy stop if you’re checking off non touristy things to do in Paris and want a hearty French meal.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
Astier serves up heavy-hitter French comfort food in a space that hasn’t changed much in decades. The rabbit terrine and roast meats are standouts, and they have one of the better cheese courses in this part of town. It’s not hip or new, but it doesn’t try to be. If you want to see what French family-style dining looked like before Instagram, this is your spot.
Le Servan - Père Lachaise
For travelers exploring the best restaurants in Père Lachaise Paris, Le Servan delivers something different and worth the stop. It’s one of the better non touristy restaurants in Paris for anyone looking beyond the usual bistro experience.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
This small bistro near Père Lachaise is run by two sisters who blend French and Asian flavors in a way that’s genuinely interesting. The food is playful without being annoying. Roasted clams and caramelized pork pop up often, and there’s usually a dish or two on the menu that makes you go “Wait, what’s that?” In a good way. It’s a little more polished than some of the other spots on this list but still feels casual and local.
Le Rigmarole - Oberkampf
One of the best restaurants in Oberkampf Paris, Le Rigmarole proves that lunch-only spots can still pack a punch. It’s a solid pick for people chasing down non touristy things to do in Paris that revolve around food.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
Now only open for lunch, Le Rigmarole still gets food folks buzzing. Previously known for its charcoal grilled yakitori-style skewers, the menu has shifted—but the cooking is still sharp and full of surprises. It’s low-key in all the right ways, and the prices haven’t caught up to the quality yet. If you’re in Oberkampf during the day, this should be your move.
Chez Aline - 11th Arrondissement
Chez Aline ranks high among the best restaurants in 11th arrondissement Paris for quick bites that don’t feel phoned in. If you’re building an itinerary around non touristy things to do in Paris, this sandwich shop is an easy fit.
Map: Google Maps
This tiny sandwich counter proves that simple can still be special. Chez Aline makes a ham and butter sandwich that might ruin you for all others. They use great bread, good meat, and nothing else. There’s a rotating cast of seasonal options too. Grab one to go and eat it on a nearby bench. It’s a meal for under €10 that feels like a small moment of brilliance.
Le Chateaubriand - Parmentier
Le Chateaubriand is one of the best restaurants in Parmentier Paris for adventurous food that doesn’t play it safe. If you’re looking for non touristy restaurants in Paris with a little surprise, this is where to book.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
This one’s for the food nerds. Le Chateaubriand does a nightly tasting menu that changes constantly. There is no à la carte. You show up, you sit down, you get what you get. It’s one of those places where half the dishes make you raise an eyebrow, and the other half make you want to lick the plate. The interior is bare bones, the service is fast, and it somehow all works. Book ahead—it fills up fast.
Le Petit Pergolèse - 16th arrondissement
Among the best restaurants in 16th arrondissement, Paris, Le Petit Pergolèse offers a quieter meal in an area that rarely shows up in the tourist guides. It’s a good option for people stacking up non touristy things to do in Paris without leaving the city center.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
A quieter restaurant in the 16th with white tablecloths and real-deal classic French dishes. Le Petit Pergolèse skews fancy, but it’s not trying to be trendy. The walls are lined with art, the service is old-school, and the clientele leans local. If you want a long dinner that feels elegant but not stuffy, this is a good call.
La Mascotte - Montmartre
La Mascotte is one of the best restaurants in Montmartre Paris if you’re after seafood and trying to dodge the tourist menus. It’s a top restaurant in Montmartre Paris locals still love, especially for lunch away from the crowds.
Map: Google Maps
Link: Website
Seafood lovers, this one’s for you. La Mascotte in Montmartre serves some of the city’s best oysters and mussels. The space is big and gets noisy, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s a neighborhood restaurant first, and the food backs it up. Go for lunch to beat the crowd, or book a table in advance and settle in with a bottle of wine and a few dozen oysters.
