If you’re wondering what to eat in Paris, France, the answer arrives first thing in the morning. As the city slowly wakes and that utterly unmistakable, sweetly caramelised scent of clarified butter drifts out of the corner bakeries into the cool morning air, it’s a feeling that never gets old. You’re sitting at a little round table on the pavement, tearing off the still-warm crust of a crispy baguette with your hands and watching the city slide into its daily rhythm. Waiters in long white aprons line up the wicker chairs to face the street, people hurry to work clutching coffee cups, and you have a whole day of discovery ahead of you. Luk\u00e1\u0161 and I have played this gastronomic game more times than I can count, and every single time we rediscover that hunting down the best spots in Paris has its own peculiar, faintly adrenaline-fuelled magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Paris has been totally transformed food-wise since our first visit, and for the better. Gone are the days when, as a vegetarian, I’d be handed a sad, dressing-free salad and a mound of cheese while the rest of the table tucked into rich meaty courses. After all the Olympic frenzy, the city took a deep breath and launched into a huge green revolution, and 2026 is an absolutely pivotal year in this respect. When the famous three-Michelin-star restaurant Arp\u00e8ge<\/a> announced it was switching to a purely plant-based menu, it sent shockwaves through the entire culinary world. Add to that a new generation of young chefs opening laid-back bistros in tucked-away side streets, pouring cloudy natural wines and ignoring the stiff rules of the old school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Writing a guide to Parisian food means navigating between luxurious palaces and noisy market halls. You’ll need a bit of strategy, because Parisian caf\u00e9s and wine bars aren’t exactly spacious. Don’t let the legends of arrogant waiters put you off, though. Once you grasp a few basic rules, learn the magic word of greeting and fall into their rhythm, the French will welcome you with open arms. You’ll discover that a fantastic lunch is entirely possible without ever compromising on quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So here’s everything we’ve tried with our own teeth over the years in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n