Not every place to eat near the Louvre or Eiffel Tower is a tourist trap — but we turned to a local expert to weed out the best of the best.

Fact checked by Jillian Dara

Sometimes it may seem that restaurants located near popular tourist spots — museums, cathedrals, parks, theaters — tend to be pricey, bland, and basic. These establishments know you’re hungry after waiting hours in line to see Mona Lisa’s smile or will be famished before the curtain at the Opera Bastille. However, meals in Paris can — and should — be a main attraction too. There’s no need to sacrifice taste or budget for convenience.

Here are some of our favorites worth seeking out in the City of Light.

Near the Eiffel Tower: Francette

If you’re visiting the city’s iron lady — and, let’s be honest, who isn’t? — but you want more than a crepe from a cart and can’t quite swing the multi-course meal at Jules Verne, head over to this floating restaurant at the foot of the famed monument that opened in summer 2021. Upon approaching the multi-level barge on the Seine, you may be confused by the lines of people waiting to cruise the river. However, walk past them to find the host at the new bistro-cocktail bar featuring both indoor and outdoor tables for year-round boire et manger. Whether you’re there for seasonal sunset snacks like homemade tarama and breaded Camembert or to wine and dine on heartier classics like scallops or sweetbreads, sparkly views of Madame Eiffel are included. Furthermore, there’s a below-river wine cave that can be privatized for group dinners among the bottles.

Near the Champs-Elysées: Le Mermoz

You may be tempted to just duck into Five Guys because it’s familiar or wait in line at Ladurée because it’s well-known. Nevertheless, after ogling or climbing the Arc de Triomphe, those who swing off a side street on the east end of this avenue are rewarded by a gastronomic treat from American chef Thomas Graham. During the day, there’s a more traditional entrée-plat-dessert à la carte menu, whereas at night it’s all about shared small plates ranging in price from 9 to 21€. Options include pillowy agnolotti with sweet potatoes and a chicken terrine. While Graham shifts the menu seasonally, be sure not to skip his deconstructed onion soup featuring trout roe and slivered almonds if it’s available. The wine selection is mostly natural or biodynamic, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting, enhanced by quirky illustrations of French life lining the walls.

Near Montmartre and Sacre Coeur: Café de Luce

The restaurant scene up on the butte has developed over the years, offering plenty of choices in this northern area that used to be woodlands. The hilly and maze-like cobblestoned streets are not only great for exploring but also where chefs like Amandine Chaignot, who trained with both Jean-François Piège and Eric Frechon, cook elevated cafe-meets-bistro fare from morning to night. This is ideal for travelers who can’t commit to the city’s otherwise strictly set dining hours. Whether you head there first to try the legendary stuffed croissant sandwich or later in the day for beef tartare or a smash burger with fries, you won’t leave hungry.

Near the Louvre: Ha Noi 1988

It’s common to smell the scents of cardamom and cloves on the streets of Paris, yet the best Vietnamese restaurants are seldom found in the heart of the city on Île de la Cité, just off Pont Neuf a hop and skip from the Louvre. That is, they weren’t until this bi-level restaurant with bamboo light fixtures and floral birdcages opened. Here, young chef Huy, born in 1988, focuses on cuisine from northern Vietnam, making everything in-house — including the yeast for his signature whole-wheat steamed bao with ground beef and quail egg. Most Vietnamese classics are also on the menu — from piping hot bowls of spicy beef pho to heaping plates of bò bún with the crispiest nem to dip in the house chili sauce. Better yet? It’s open every day for both lunch and dinner with continuous service on weekends.

Near Opéra Bastille and the Marais: Brasserie Rosie

The southern part of the Marais, closer to the river, is more densely packed with chic boutiques and parks like Place des Vosges than it is with standout dining establishments. So when Brasserie Rosie opened on rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine near Place de la Bastille, locals were très contents. The space is surprisingly large for Paris, with distinct seating areas, including diner-style booths and counter seats upfront, a more open dining room towards the back, and two private rooms upstairs. While the menu features standard brasserie fare that swaps meats seasonally, the execution and presentation are superb. Rosie prides itself on using seasonal ingredients from local purveyors, with an exciting cocktail menu adding to the experience.