Looking for the best lunch spot in Paris? Take a look at recommendations from The Traveling Professor.
L’As du Fallafel. 34, rue des Rosiers, 4th arrondissement. Métro: St-Paul.
This Jewish deli-type restaurant in the Marais is a crowd-pleaser. I like it so much for their 6-8 euro falafels (they call them “cocktail de viandes”, literally translated as “meat cocktail) washed down with an Orangina that I keep their business card tacked on my corkboard in my kitchen. A great little take-away (“emporter” in French) place or fine for a sit-down lunch (reservations not taken). I highly recommend this restaurant for a tasty, inexpensive meal.
Café Jacquemart-André. Métro: Miromesnil.
For me, this is one of the most delightful and elegant dining spots in all of Paris. It is the former dining room of the mansion and has indoor or patio dining. After a stroll in the nearby Parc Monceau or after shopping on the Champs-Élysées, enjoy a gourmet lunch. The menu is a beautiful array of salads, quiche, and daily special offerings. There are fancy drinks and teas of course. Plenty of pastries for dessert, but The Professor is particularly fond of the ice cream. On Sunday, there is a popular brunch menu. Website: https://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/fr/preparer-sa-visite/cafe-jacquemart-andre.
Pâtisserie Viennoise. 8, rue de l’École de Médecine, 6th arrondissement. Métro: Odéon.
What a classic pastry shop! I go out of my way to have breakfast here with the Sorbonne students. It’s not bad for lunch either. Most everything is made on the premises – from flaky croissants to cinnamon dusted apple tarts to yodel-inducing strudels. Angelina may have the reputation of having the best hot chocolate in town, but Pâtisserie Viennoise beats it by a kilometer. The creamy chocolate cup is topped with a dollop of whipped cream stiffer than the desk clerk at The Ritz. Closed weekends.
Café Constant. 139, rue St. Dominique, 7th arrondissement. Métro: École Militaire.
A casual and relatively inexpensive spot near the ET. Legendary Chef Christian Constant makes French food easy. Where else are you going to get dishes like tartare of oysters, seabass and salmon seasoned with ginger and lemon created by a Michelin-starred chef? Or how about veal cutlet from the Basque country with white Tarbais beans? I always have room for the dreamy Île Flotante for dessert. One of my top picks. About €100 for two. Website: www.cafeconstant.com.
By the way, the best resource for eating and drinking in Paris is, of course, Eating and Drinking in Paris by my friend, Andy Herbach. It has great recommendations for dining in Paris, especially lunch and dinner.
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