Brasserie

First brasseries appeared in Paris shortly after the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany in 1870. Alsacians leaving their homeland and settling in Paris started opening large, well-lit restaurants with a specific kind of decor (mirrors, benches) and food (choucroute, confit, beer).

Some of the oldest and most famous brasseries in Paris are Bofinger (opened in 1864), Brasserie Flo (called Hans until its destruction in 1914; the new name, from the owner's last name, Floderer, was decidedly non-Germanic) and Lipp.

Select Brasserie Restaurants

• Bofinger
  5-7 rue de la Bastille (4th Arrondissement), +33 (0)1 42 72 87 82
  One of the oldest brasseries in Paris. Outstanding belle époque design, rich in stained glass. Currently managed by the Flo group. Original decor by Neret et Royer (1900), redecorations by Letay and Mitgen (1919), upstairs dining room by Jean-Jacques Waltz (aka Hansi) (1930). That room can be booked for groups of 6 to 8 people. Seafood recommended; otherwise pretty reliable brasserie food and reasonably priced wine.


• Brasserie de l'Île St-Louis
  55 quai de Bourbon (4th Arrondissement), +33 (0) 1 43 54 02 59
  Reliable brasserie fare in a quiet, historic setting. The terrace features views of the Notre Dame cathedral and the dome of the Institue de France in a distance.


• Brasserie du Pont Louis Philippe
  66 quai de l'Hôtel de Ville (4th Arrondissement), +33 (0)1 42 72 29 42
  A reasonably-priced restaurant. The second floor (specify your preference when booking a table) affords good views.


• Brasserie Flo
  7 cour des Petites Ecuries (10th Arrondissement), +33 (0)1 47 70 13 59
  One of the first brasseries in Paris, Flo opened in 1860 (initially as Hans - it changed its name in 1914). The decor is very typical of turn-of-the-century brasseries. The menu features Alsactian classics such as la choucroute.


• La Rotonde
  105 bd. Montparnasse (6th Arrondissement), +33 (0)1 43 26 48 26
  A century-old café with a classic decor. Famous for being the hangout of more than a dozen artists and intellectuals of the early 20th century.


• Le Dôme
  108 Boulevard Montparnasse (14th Arrondissement), +33 (0)1 43 35 25 81
  Arguably one of the best fish and seafood restaurants in Paris, Le Dôme first became cool in the early 20th century, when, along with other Montparnasse establishments, this legendary restaurant served the "office" of several prominent writers.

Please keep in mind that our site does not attempt to provide comprehensive restaurant listings. These are simply the restaurants picked by our editors and contributors - subject to all the subjectivity such a method implies.