Top 6 All-You-Can-Eat Buffets in Paris
If you knew where to look, all-you-can-eat offerings in Paris have never been in short supply. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those places to look were Asian restaurants of questionable quality in sub-optimal locations. Widely considered to be on a par with tacky holiday resorts and their drab breakfast arrangements, buffet à volonté — as it’s called in France — had a low-brow reputation; it was the reserve of penny-pinchers, of quantity over quality, of reheated rubbish.
Lately, though, things have begun to change. In the same cyclical way that everything uncool seems eventually to become cool (before soon returning to uncool-ness), all-you-can-eats are suddenly… in vogue? They’re certainly receiving some unexpected new fans, be it the prolific, fresh-faced restaurateur Julien Duboué or Eloi Spinnler, an even younger zero-waste chef and social media darling.
Eloi Spinnler at Envie Le Banquet
Wait… zero-waste — isn’t that a philosophy that’s wholly irreconcilable with buffets? Well, apparently not, at least as far as Spinnler is concerned, but more on that shortly. The commonest complaints about Parisian all-you-can-eats actually turn out to involve service levels, less-than-comfortable seating arrangements and value, with prices often much higher than bistros’ “plat” or “menu du jour” formulas. Regardless, the following six all deliver a surprising level of culinary quality and are well worth a try. Just remember to come hungry.
Fresh from opening two buzz-getting bistros since 2022, Eloi Spinnler has further excited his 338K Instagram followers by wading into the buffet world and championing classic French fare. At this large, neo-art deco space in the Haut Marais, high quality fare awaits at a cluster of handsome counters at lunch, dinner and on weekends for brunch. There are around 100 homemade savory and sweet options — from veal blanquettes and baba ganoush to rice puddings and rum babas — and even a proposed waste-minimizing solution via utilizing entire animals, serving petite portions and passing leftovers to the student-focused Linkee association. So how does it make any money? Well, those tiny servings help, as does cramming in tables and forcing customers to trudge down and upstairs for refills, which are limited to one plate’s worth. Book in advance to guarantee a seat.
Expect to pay: €37-€59 per person, including a hot drink
148 Rue du Temple, 3rd
If you like your pizzas laid out on rectangular skateboards — and, frankly, who doesn’t? — then this sprawling, 90s-inspired bar near the Passage des Panoramas is a must. The latest French opening from taproom brand Brique, it’s Barbie-pink in places, and decorated with tiny tellies, rollerblades and Playboy-cover wallpaper; flashy neon lights and loud, retro tunes then confirm the party vibe. As well as serenity-seekers, Brique Machine is certainly not the place for anyone on a health kick. Only its corner salad bar compensates for all the hot dogs, rotisserie (evening and weekends only), burgers, cheese, charcuterie and those XXL pizzas, plus a DIY sundae section. Cons include annoying stairs to navigate and long lines; on the plus side, the counters are frequently refreshed and prices are generous, even if hot drinks do cost extra.
Expect to pay: €21.50-€33.50 per person
161 Rue Montmartre, 2nd
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Now found in Montparnasse, Saint-Germain and off the Champs-Élysées, Le Relais isn’t strictly a buffet. Its set menu sees everyone start with a walnut-spiked green salad and also demands that you choose a solitary dessert such as crème brûlée or profiteroles. In between, the main course is always three slices of tender steak sirloin (offered rare, medium or well done) with stick-thin pommes allumettes and their secret, beloved sauce — a blend of onion, tarragon, anchovies and Worcestershire sauce. But you can then order another round for free. And another… and so on. As many as you want. As reservations aren’t permitted, arrive 30 minutes before the opening time on weekends or risk much queuing. Diners are seated either outside, if desired, or elbow to elbow indoors.
Expect to pay: €29 per person, with drinks costing extra
20 Rue Saint-Benoît, 6th; 101 Bld du Montparnasse, 6th; 15 Rue Marbeuf, 8th
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There are two evening all-you-can-eat options at this excellent, longstanding Indian restaurant east of Gare de l’Est, just off Boulevard Poissonnière. Visit between Monday and Thursday and you’ll enjoy table service, as many times as you wish, for a set price. From Fridays to Sundays, a self-service buffet operates; as the room — which uses gold cornices and picture frames to enliven its plain white walls — is small, this can entail some awkward waiting. Spanning curries, tandooris, pilafs, biryanis, samosas and traditional desserts, the choice is expansive. While every item upholds a surprisingly good standard, the chicken masalas are particularly recommended. A made-to-order naan is included along with, unusually, one hot and one cold drink each.
Expect to pay: €24.90-€26.90 per person
15-17 Rue des Messageries, 10th
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La Cantine des Tontons
In a deep corner of the highbrow 15th besides Parc Georges-Brassens, this homely, quirky establishment is the embodiment of its amiable founder Jean-Guillaume Dufour, who abandoned a legal career for the joys of restaurant-running. Amid two-tone walls and a brimming assemblage of art, it works like this come lunch or dinnertime: having paid a set fee, you scoff all the made-on-site appetizers — Franco-Asian options running to spring rolls, salamis, salads and tartares — you want before choosing between two mains and then eating an unlimited amount of cheese and, if there’s still somehow any room, a dessert. Everyone shares long communal tables, unless seated outside, and everyone gets to practise patience when queuing for the buffet table. Try to make a reservation.
Expect to pay: €17-19 per person
36 Rue de Dantzig, 15th
courtesy of La Cantine des Tontons
At first glance, B.O.U.L.O.M looks like a bakery and no more. Walk past the organic breads and pastries, however, and you’ll eventually find a speakeasy-like buffet à volonté open for brunch (weekends-only), lunch (Mon-Fri) and dinner. Found in those nice streets north of Montmartre, this is the latest opening from 40-something Julien Duboué, a chef turned serial restaurateur. His locavore, seasonal focus, some seriously good produce — Ospital charcuterie, Joël Dupuch oysters, Barthouil ducks — and a southwestern France flavor combine to inform such provisions as delectable beef ribs, mimosa eggs, homemade charcuterie, crêpes Suzettes and chocolate mousses. All are reliably available to diners seated on smart, dark wood benches under dangling creepers. Booking ahead is sage.
Expect to pay: €36-€58 per person, with drinks costing extra.
181 Rue Ordener, 18th
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Lead photo credit : courtesy of Envie Le Banquet
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