Discover the Restaurants Behind your Favorite Paris Films

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Discover the Restaurants Behind your Favorite Paris Films

Lights, camera, action! Welcome to Paris, the birthplace of countless cinematic creations, settings and inspirations. Here, there are many opportunities across the city to wine and dine as the movie stars do, in a variety of timelessly Parisian restaurants, many of which you might recognize from huge blockbuster hits such as Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards or perhaps Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie. Besides from being a movie set, most of the establishments mentioned here are steeped in history, evoking an inspiring culinary experience. Over the years, the striking décor and great cuisine of these eateries have captured the eye of many filmmakers, artists and writers, so it is no wonder that the city continues to feature prominently on Hollywood’s set location list. Ditch the popcorn and step inside the cinema screen at these five restaurants!

Le Grand Vefour – Midnight in Paris 

Take a trip through time in the first ever grand restaurant to have been built in Paris! Tucked away in the Palais Royal, this was the meeting place of political, artistic and literary individuals for over 200 years. It comes as no surprise that Woody Allen chose to feature Le Grand Vefour in his fantasy film, Midnight in Paris, which perfectly complements the nostalgic aesthetics of the movie. Chef Guy Martin has managed to preserve the restaurant’s 18th century Parisian glamour, providing his clientele with a real ‘step back in time’ quality- an experience that echoes the essence of the film. In this way, Martin can only be described as an artist. He has triumphed in obtaining a perfect balance between tradition and modernity in the food served at this haute cuisine gem. This culinary decadence certainly comes at a price, costing around €300 per person, but the prestigious dining experience will be one to cherish forever.

17 Rue de Beaujolais, 75001 Paris. +33 1 42 96 56 27. www.grand-vefour.com

Le Grand Colbert

courtesy of Le Grand Colbert

Le Grand Colbert – Something’s Gotta Give

Situated in the heart of the second arrondissement, this Parisian brasserie is not one to miss. It is in fact classified as a historical monument, and will captivate your gaze from the lofty ceilings to the stunning mosaic floor. You may remember Diane Keaton raving about the ‘universe’s best’ roast chicken in Nancy Meyer’s movie, and the real thing does not disappoint! Immerse yourself in this romantic and traditional restaurant and enjoy a three course dinner for a reasonable €56.

2 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris. +33 1 42 86 87 88. www.legrandcolbert.fr

Bistrot La Renaissance

courtesy of Bistrot La Renaissance

Bistrot La Renaissance – Inglorious Bastards

From the outside this appears to be a typical Parisian bistrot, but a quick glance inside La Renaissance will transport you back in time. This could be due to the fact that not much has changed in the bistrot since 1905, and it exudes the very essence of la Belle Epoque. For this reason, it is no wonder Quentin Tarantino chose to include this restaurant in many sequences of his film Inglorious Bastards. La Renaissance also serves great, traditional fare at prices that even those without Hollywood budgets can afford. (Dishes from roughly €15-20.) The steak and sweet potato gratin really is the star of the show – serious melt-in-the-mouth deliciousness. This bistrot, like Tarantino’s films, is a real crowd pleaser.

112 Rue Championnet, 75018 Paris. +33 1 46 06 01 76. www.bistrotlarenaissance.fr

 Cafe des Deux Moulins

courtesy of Cafe des Deux Moulins

Café des deux Moulins – Amelie

Montmartre is peppered with quaint Parisian cafés, but I would definitely recommend a visit to Café des deux Moulins. This humble, neighborhood eatery was catapulted to fame after being featured in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s beloved film, Amélie. The café can now be seen as a homage to the quirky classic, as you will find it filled to the rafters with Amélie memorabilia. Find yourself a table overlooking the street, and enjoy the same ‘petit plaisir‘ that Amélie does, as you crack into a crème brûlée.

15 rue Lepic, 75018 Paris. +33 1 42 54 90 50. www.facebook.com/café-les-2-moulins-43499289590/

La Tour d'Argent

courtesy of La Tour d’Argent

La Tour d’Argent – Ratatouille

One of the most famous restaurants in the world, La Tour d’Argent stands proudly as one of the oldest establishments in Paris. Check out that glorious view over the Seine! This magnificent setting has captured the imagination of writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Marcel Proust, and you might also recognize it from the Pixar movie Ratatouille, many of whose scenes were inspired by La Tour d’Argent. The food here lives up to its setting, and the duck in particular is certainly worthy of an Oscar Award. Here, it is the speciality, as the restaurant actually farms their own (famous) Challans ducks. The restaurant also has one of the most impressive wine cellars in the city.

15 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005 Paris. +33 1 43 54 23 31. www.tourdargent.com

Lead photo credit : courtesy of Le Grand Vefour

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Based in the UK, British student Ellie Alvarez has been living in Paris for the semester. A lover of all things food, Ellie is a serious cheese enthusiast. She spends her days hunting out new eateries to try!

Comments

  • Vicki Hofstetter
    2020-06-28 13:25:18
    Vicki Hofstetter
    I loved this article and have been to both La Tour and Le Grand Vefour. I would really like to know ALL the restaurants shown in the movie Le Divorce. That was a terrific movie for Paris streets and restaurants. Someone mentioned Le Flore and Georges, both very common, but I would like to know some of the other more upscale ones, for instance the one where the family had lunch. Also locations for the little known "nelly and Monsieru Arnaud" would be good as well. Thanks, [email protected]

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  • KERSTIN HALLERT
    2018-01-05 05:51:11
    KERSTIN HALLERT
    Wonderful reading - let me add that Woody Allen also makes use of the legendary hotel Bristol and its expensive restaurant in his Midnight in Paris. The Bristol is a lovely place, us connoisseurs prefer its bar for all sorts of rendez-vous - in Summer coming with hotel´s exquisite garden for velvet evenings. The Bristol is unusual among the grand Parisian luxury ("palace") hotels in being run by a family let alone a catloving one. You will see two Siamese cats freely and calmly walking about (not seeking your company) signalling the Bristol´s sense for elegant intimacy.

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  • Michael James
    2018-01-05 01:42:58
    Michael James
    La Renaissance was the only on-location shoot in Paris for the movie. And like almost everything Tarantino does in his films, he cribbed it from another movie: Claude Chabrol’s The Blood of Others. In all, more than ten feature films have been shot there. Topping the list are Claude Zidi’s Ripoux 1 and 2 and Stuntwoman with Jean-Paul Belmondo.

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  • Michael James
    2018-01-05 01:33:39
    Michael James
    Yes, in Ronin it was the Café Blue Sky on Rue des Trois Frères, next to the Rue Drevet staircase (between r André Barsacq & r des Trois Frères. It opened and closed the movie, with Sam (Robert de Niro) walking down it at the beginning and walking up it at the end as the credits rolled--both times emphasising the solitary thankless life of the spy! But of course it was fictional so would not make this article's list. Surprising, only a block away from Amelie's cafe but Blue Sky was not graced with the golden aura from the movie.

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  • Brian
    2018-01-04 16:56:46
    Brian
    A couple other obscure entries to note: --the cafe at the foot of a steep set of stairs in Montmartre, now closed & covered with grafitti, featured in the opening scene from "Ronin"; & --Fouquet's on Les Champs-Elysees, backdrop of a scene from "Taken".

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  • Hazel Smith
    2017-02-21 22:45:19
    Hazel Smith
    Cafe Mouffetard in Blue

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  • Michele Kurlander
    2015-12-26 07:03:05
    Michele Kurlander
    Le Pre Verre on Mouffetard was also in Amelie; and Cafe Flore was in Le Divirce-actually, so was Georges at the top of the Pompidou.

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  • Jane Grey
    2015-12-10 20:13:32
    Jane Grey
    Exellent article - thank you! However, the address and phone of Le Grand Colbert is also given for Le Grand Vefour. The latter is actually at 17, rue de Beaujolais, Paris 1e.

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  • Ed Cobleigh
    2015-12-10 19:05:24
    Ed Cobleigh
    A fine article, but I am sure the restaurant parodied in Ratatouille was Le Taillevent, not Le Tour d'Argent. The outdoor scenes, the back courtyard, the interior, and the orientation of the kitchen says Le Taillevent, it all fits. If the movie meant to show Le Tour, they would have depicted windows overlooking the Seine. Likewise, it is not possible to exit the kitchen of Le Tour onto a interior courtyard as it is on the first floor.

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  • Ken Orski
    2015-12-10 19:03:02
    Ken Orski
    You forgot to mention Le Procope , probably the oldest and most famous restaurant in Paris and shown in several lesser known films.

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  • stephen
    2015-12-10 16:33:55
    stephen
    HEY, what about Le Train Bleu from La Femme Nikita? http://www.le-train-bleu.com/uk/index.php#galerie-photos.php

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