How to Eat Like a Local in Paris — a Guide to the Best Restaurants, Culinary-Focused Hotels, and More
Food lovers can curate the perfect visit around the city’s culinary delights.
By Mary Winston Nicklin Published on March 4, 2026
“It is unquestionably the place in the universe where the finest cuisine is served,” said Grimod de La Reynière of Paris in the 19th century. France’s first food critic — the brain behind the Almanach des Gourmands guidebooks, the precursor to the Michelin Guide — would be just as effusive about the dining scene today, which has swelled to some 18,000 restaurants since the concept’s 18th-century invention on the Palais Royal. Sure, Parisians may be guilty of Gallic pride (just a soupçon), but let’s tell it like it is: Paris is a great place to eat.