When things start to cool down in Paris, you’ll probably start looking for that perfect place to snuggle up by a warm fire and big pot of fondue, veal pot-au-feu, or steak frites. Here’s your short list for the coziest restaurants in Paris.
Le Petit Moulin
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Dining at Le Petit Moulin feels like spending the evening at a dinner party at your friend’s apartment… if your friend happened to make a world-class cheese and charcuterie platter. This Farm to Table resto is a neighborhood secret, tucked in a corner of Montmartre the tourists don’t usually find, and the collection of two-tops are ideal for a tête-à-tête with a friend, or even a date (just make sure no one’s lactose-intolerant first). They offer a seasonal menu, which means that right now this is the place to get raclette, fondue, tartiflette au reblochon, and baked camembert. — 17 Rue Tholozé, 75018
Chez Janou
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If you’re looking for a no-frills, classic Parisian bistro, stop at Chez Janou in the Marais, whose snug interior and wide corner terrasse are always full to bursting on joyous Saturday nights. Pop in for some Provençal classics like ratatouille, paired, perhaps, with a tableside samovar of absinthe (sure to warm you up on a chilly fall evening). — 2 Rue Roger Verlomme, 75003
La Bourse et La Vie
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For a big splurge at a tiny resto, try Chef Daniel Rose’s La Bourse et La Vie, for veal pot-au-feu, steak frites, or even pigeon. If your budget is tight, try their lunch formule. The modest little bistro might not be the flashiest place to eat, but the simple, clean decor seems to acknowledge the true star of the scene: the food. — 12 Rue Vivienne, 75002
Buvette
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Buvette feels like a country farmhouse plopped in the middle of Pigalle, the food so fresh you start looking around to see where they keep the cows and the blueberry bushes in the middle of Paris’s former red light district. In fact, their website lists exactly where they do, with a complete breakdown of the farms and vineyards their food and wine are sourced from. Go with with a date or else grab one of the several newspapers they keep on display and settle into a mismatched chair for breakfast for one. — 28 Rue Henry Monnier, 75009
Le Square Gardette
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Le Square Gardette has some serious medieval hunting lodge vibes, or perhaps those of a countryside tavern where visitors would come in to have a pint and a hot meal before getting back on the road. Kitschy wallpaper, unfinished wood everything, and eclectic decor (including, of course, a mounted buck’s head) complete the out-of-space, out-of-time effect the restaurant has on diners. — 24 Rue Saint-Ambroise, 75011
Robert et Louise
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If having your meat cooked on an open fire and served on a plank of wood isn’t enough to get you into the spirit of the season, then we don’t know how to help you. Robert et Louise was featured in the very first episode of the late chef Anthony Bourdain’s show No Reservations, and for good reason — it’s simple food, done well, and, up until that episode, pretty far off the map of local Parisian homestyle restaurants. Don’t be afraid of sharing a table with strangers, and don’t skimp on the steak. — 64 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003
Loulou Friendly Diner
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Though a little chicer than your average bistro, Loulou Friendly Diner still manages to combine hipster and homey. White tile, lots of plants, and rich, dark wood give off a bright but comforting atmosphere, the perfect place to hide out in on a rainy day with an excellent cup of coffee (which will be seasonal, regional, and fair trade). Enjoy a heartier take on French bobo cuisine on the heated terrace, or inside at the bar. — 90 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005
Featured image: Stock Photos from Yulia Grigoryeva / Shutterstock
