December 2025 Restaurant Buzz: Where to Eat In Paris
“At Christmas play and make good cheer, Christmas comes but once a year.”
The countdown to 2026 begins! Christmas lights and decorations in Paris are sumptuous. One of our favorite seasonal jaunts is strolling after dark to enjoy the colorful decorations. Here’s a roundup of cherished foodie addresses.
Le Pavillon de La Reine – Restaurant Anne
Why not begin your explorations here? It’s Royal!
The handsome 17th-century mansion was built following the construction of Place des Vosges by Henri IV and sits in its own private garden courtyard setback from the square. Design is by Didier Benderli of Kérylos Intérieurs. The entrance hall’s impressive – think marble fireplaces and aristocratic portraits – with warm colors. The courtyard location gives a secluded, country vibe.
Chef Thibault Sombardier now heads the kitchens in close collaboration with the Chevalier family, owners of the hotel. Together they share the same vision: creating exceptional cuisine in a spirit of discreet luxury, true to the soul of Le Pavillon de la Reine.
At the Michelin-starred Restaurant Anne, chef Sombardier presents his delicious gastronomic experience together with the enthusiasm of Executive Chef Matthieu Pirola. The cuisine’s in perpetual motion, following the rhythm of the seasons and new market arrivals. Recent delicious lunches featured dishes such as carpaccio of yellow beetroot with smoked haddock drizzled with crème acidulé; lieu jaune (Pollack fish) with safran gnocchi and Sicilian pistachios; Challans love me tender “Duckling Madame Burgaud” alongside a tasty turnip confit, olives taggiasche, and sauce Bigarade. Note that the cheese is by MOF Laurent Dubois. The Chocolate Soufflé is a must for dessert.
Wines are interesting by the glass: White Saint Joseph Domaine Bernard Gripa 2023 (€17) or red Bordeaux Chateau Pin Beausoleil 2019 (€16).
DETAILS
Closed Monday
Sunday Brunch €79-€95. Lunch from Tuesday-Friday €32-€38 + boissons
28 place des Vosges, 3rd
Tel: +33 (0)1 40 29 19 19
Metro: Saint Paul
Staying in the Marais? Try this exciting address by chef Eloi Spinnler and Group Bonaloi. The spectacular, two-level, 500m² space offers a contemporary and sophisticated take on the all-you-can-eat buffet. A hundred carefully curated, homemade dishes are presented on various counters, like pieces in a jewel box (60 savory items, 25 cheeses, 15 desserts, etc.). For the venue, architects Dorénavant Studio envisioned bold design for the Winter Garden and the Chapel. Eloi Spinnler, known for his committed approach and zero-waste cuisine, has taken on an exciting challenge: to show that an all-you-can-eat buffet can combine respect for products and the battle against waste.
DETAILS
148 rue du Temple, 75003 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)6 70 30 84 53
Open 7/7 from 12 noon to 3 pm (11 am le week-end), weekdays 7 pm to midnight
Metro: Arts & Métiers
courtesy of Envie Le Banquet
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was applauded while dining with Carla Bruni Sarkozy, his beautiful wife, just a day after his release from prison. After 20 days in La Santé prison in Paris, Sarkozy, 70, was freed following an appeal court hearing. He arrived home in a car with blacked-out windows, which was escorted by police on motorcycles. On Tuesday afternoon, the former president took a jog around his Paris home before heading out to the achingly chic Le Flandrin, minutes from Place du Trocadero. Wonder what they ate?
DETAILS
4, place Tattegrain, 16th
Tel: +33 (0)1 45 04 34 69
Metro: La Muette
Open 7/7
Arthur Lecomte’s convivial bistro is dedicated to exceptional meats, but not only that! Here, it’s first and foremost a place that prioritizes local sourcing, both on the plate and in the glass, whether you choose the meat of the day, the catch of the day, or the vegetarian dish. With the arrival of chef Léo Bertolami (Moulin de Léré, near Lake Geneva), the lieu boasts a new dynamic: an instinctive and gourmet cuisine evolving with the seasons.
What we love about Bien Élevé? Exceptional meats from Châteauneuf Farm served with ultra-crispy fries cooked in beef fat. Homemade sauces, like pepper, béarnaise, meat jus, or chimichurri-style herb sauce. Rare, interesting cuts, like the delicate cat’s tongue pasta.
The weekday lunch menu (€23) includes a starter/main course or main course/dessert, and changes daily depending on chef’s inspiration. An inventive vegetarian option? Wheat risotto served with barbecued oyster mushrooms, enhanced by sauce Vin Jaune, pickled red onions, and Parmesan cheese.
DETAILS
Closed Sunday
47 rue Richer, 9th
Tel: +33 (0)1 45 81 44 35
Metro: Cadet
Acquired by Benjamin Patou, just in time for Christmas, the legendary address on Avenue Victor Hugo (since 1924) rediscovers its festive spirit. This listed Art-Deco caviar-centric landmark – sympathetically redesigned by Lazaro Rosa-Violan – is the exciting venue for caviar aficionados. From the back of the spoon via the tender jelly of the Christian Dior egg, Maison Prunier enchants under the guidance of Spanish chef Romain Fornell.
DETAILS
16 avenue Victor Hugo, 16th
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 17 35 85
Metro: Charles de Gaulle Etoile
courtesy of Prunier
A favorite address, in the 16th arrondissement – since 1948 – Café San Francisco returns to its Iberian roots. This elegant casa, in the heart of Paris, transports you to the warm, sunny, and friendly atmosphere of Spain as soon as you enter. Delight in delicious tapas to share (or not!) such as Jamón Bellota croquettes. Don’t ignore the marbled Black Angus beef. Delectable desserts include delicious leche frita. A recent addition: “Tapas y Vino”, three tasty tapas with a glass of wine of your choice, all for just €25. Chin-Chin!
Viva Espagne! Don’t forget the sun cream!
DETAILS
1 rue Mirabeau, 16th
Metro: Mirabeau
Tel: +33 (0)1 40 71 04 96
Open Tuesday to Saturday – lunch and dinner
Weekday lunch menu: starter / main course / dessert €27
courtesy of Cafe San Francisco
Paul Bocuse, The Novel
It’s a brilliant idea. Gautier Battistella – writer, journalist, luxury rewriter at Michelin and connoisseur of the inner workings of the world of haute cuisine- has made Bocuse the hero and, even better, the subject of a novel to be published next January.
He’s the author of several works of fiction, published by Grasset (A Promising Young Man, What the Man Thought He Saw, and Chef – inspired in particular by the deaths of Bernard Loiseau and Benoît Violier). The winner of the Prix Cazes, Prix du Livre de Plage, and Prix Jean Carmet, he now delves into the fascinating story of “Monsieur Paul” (1926-2018), the emblematic figure of 20th-century gastronomy.
From his family roots to three Michelin stars (retained for 55 years until his death at 91), this biographical novel retraces the journey of a genius of the kitchen – and of business. The book opens with his formative years in the village of Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, where nature and the traditions of a dynasty of innkeepers shaped his earliest memories. This is followed by his apprenticeship in the kitchens of Eugénie Brazier and then Fernand Point, whose philosophy and rigor would leave an indelible mark on him.
After the Second World War, during which soldier Bocuse is severely wounded, the young chef’s rebellious spirit accompanies the awakening of French society. From the Liberation to the birth of Concorde, an entire century unfolds before our eyes. The creation of his signature dishes, friendships with Michel Guérard, Paul Haeberlin, Roger Vergé, Jean and Pierre Troisgros, rivalries with Gault & Millau, repeated affairs with glamorous women, and encounters with Romain Gary and Charles de Gaulle, all contribute to forging the Bocuse myth. As does the story that he was the inspiration for Auguste Gusteau in Ratatouille.
Gautier Batistella’s Bocuse reveals the complexity of the man, at once traditional and revolutionary, a bon vivant and perfectionist, delicate and a giant. We discover the inner workings of “Nouvelle Cuisine,” the invention of the media chef, Bocuse’s adventures in America and Japan, as well as his doubts and the difficult question of his legacy. The fascinating story – in 320 pages – of a legendary chef who transformed a rather ordinary profession into a national art. To be published by Grasset on January 7th. Note that the book is already being translated into five languages… Can’t wait for the movie!
Happy Holidays. See you next year!
Lead photo credit : courtesy of Cafe San Francisco
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