Looking for the best restaurants in the Latin Quarter in Paris? Good news: this historic neighbourhood is packed with great places to eat, no matter your budget. From cheap eats to more elevated spots, here’s my list of favourite restaurants in the Latin Quarter covering different cuisines and price points.
Tip: Want to know more about the area? Read my complete guide to the Latin Quarter in Paris.
Where to Eat in the Latin Quarter
The Medieval Latin Quarter is, for me, a must-visit when visiting Paris. Steeped in history, there’s so much to see. If you’re staying in the area or are planning a day in the area then you’ll no doubt be looking for the best spots to eat. This list contains my personal recommendations for the best restaurants in the Latin Quarter – no tourists traps here, just great restaurants where you’ll eat with the locals. Restaurants are in no particular order.
Au Moulin à Vent
Au Moulin à Vent is a real gem of a bistro that has, for some reason, completely escaped the hype of social media influencers. I only heard about it recently through my French friends, and I can’t work out why it’s not more famous.
Go inside the tiny, narrow restaurant and you’ll feel that you’re going back in time. It genuinely doesn’t feel like it belongs in modern Paris – in the best possible way. The original zinc bar, art-nouveau prints on the wall, empty bottles of grand crus, and a well-worn but very comfortable leather banquette all add to the charm.
We arrived for our 9pm dinner reservation and the dining room was packed with locals – not a single tourist in sight. The wine was flowing and the vibe was boisterous.
We started with a bottle of very good Chenin from the Loire region to go with our entrees – seared oyster mushrooms with garlic and parsley and their house made pâté en croûte with corn fed chicken and foie gras. The mushrooms are addictive – tons of umami from the searing and beautifully aromatic with the parsley and garlic.
The pâté en croûte is superb and is a must take – tons of flavour and you can taste the quality of the ingredients.
For mains I had their beef fillet (rare) with peppercorn sauce and sautéd potatoes. The cuisson of the beef was perfect – beautifully rare edge to edge with a great sear. The sauce was as it should be – not too thick but rich enough to perfectly coat the steak and potatoes.
Their sole meunière was cooked to perfection with a lovely crust from the butter. The fillets easily came off the bone and were oh so moist – perfection.
We didn’t have enough room for dessert but I’ll certainly be back soon. So does it make my top 3 bistros in Paris? Definitely.
What to know before you visit
- They’re closed Mondays and Sundays
- You’ll need to reserve a few days in advance
- You can reserve online
Address: 20 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, 75005
Tel: 01 43 54 99 37
Website: https://www.au-moulinavent.com/en/
La Petite Périgourdine
La Petite Périgourdine is a cracking traditional French bistro located (literally) just down the road from the Panthéon. Serving up classic, well done French dishes it’s a perfect spot to try traditional French food whilst exploring the Latin Quarter.
One of my favourite spots to bring family and friends when I first moved to Paris it’s a gem of a spot in the heart of the city. The decor is quintessentially old Parisian and wow, it really is a lovely place to eat.
On the menu you’ll find hearty French classics that are very well prepared. Starters include French onion soup, foie gras and their home made country terrine. On the main side they’ve got an awesome steak tartare, confit duck leg and a classic French style roasted chicken.
What to know before you visit
- They’re open every day of the week
- You can reserve online
Address: 39 Rue des Écoles, 75005
Tel: 01 43 26 33 35
Website: https://www.restaurantlapetiteperigourdine.com
La Rotisserie d’Argent
Sister restaurant to the famous 1 Michelin star Tour d’Argent, La Rotisserie specialises in rotisserie chicken, duck and steak.
Inside the elegant dining room, you’ll find an open kitchen with their high-tech rotisserie chicken machine on display. The gingham tablecloths are homely yet and for me, it’s one of the perfect spots for a Sunday roast chicken dinner. The added bonus? Get a table next to the window and you’ll eat with a view over to the Notre-Dame cathedral.
To start I’d recommend trying their award winning eggs-mayo (a traditional French starter). For mains, I always go for their half rotisserie chicken served with fries, washed down with a glass of their Burgundy red. It’s well cooked and the chicken comes with an awesome jus and confit garlic. Come hungry and try their delicious desserts or their famous cheese trolley. If you’re lucky you’ll even get to try a cheese from the Tour d’Argent!
What to know before you visit
- It’s easy to get a reservation on the same week
- You can reserve online
- Try the cheese board!
Address: 19 Quai de la Tournelle, 75005
Tel: 01 43 54 17 47
Website: https://rotisseriedargent.com/en/
Casse Croûte Grec
Wanting to eat in the Latin Quarter on a budget or just quickly? One of my favourite spots for a quick, hot sandwich is Casse Croûte Grec. Yes it is a kebab shop (actually the no.2 kebab shop in France!) but their food is superb.
Their grec pita is awesome. Their pita bread is tender and soft and then grilled to achieve a bit of a crust and then seasoned with olive oil and oregano. Juicy yet crunchy veal & chicken pieces are packed into the bread and topped off with salad and their home made Tzatziki sauce. Fries, drink and pita sandwich comes in at around €12.
There’s not much space inside so I’d recommend taking your sandwich around the corner and eating it next to the Pantheon where there are lots of benches.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day of the week and until 1:30am on weekends
- Limited counter space available to eat in
Address: 4 rue de l’Ecole Polytechnique, 75005
Tel: 01 56 24 22 98
Baca’v
Baca’v is fantastic modern bistro which focuses on refined yet traditional French cuisine using only the best produce. This is a fantastic option if you’re looking for up-scale French cuisine.
The restaurant is located near the Jardins des Plantes and is about a 10 minute walk from Rue Mouffetard. Inside you’ll find a beautifully clean dining space with industrial accents. It’s a lovely place to eat.
The food is genuinely stunning – it’s not pretentious but it’s beautifully presented and packs a punch with flavour. On the menu there are classic dishes but with plenty of great twists. A celeriac remoulade is given a lift with a beautiful bit of mi-cuit foie gras. Their onglet (hangar steak in the US) is cooked to perfection and served with a beautiful
What to know before you visit
- Closed on weekends
- You can reserve online
Address: 6 Rue des Fossés Saint-Marcel, 75005
Tel: 01 47 07 91 25
Website: https://www.bacav.paris
Otto
At the very top of Rue Mouffetard you’ll find an awesome French-Japanese small-plate sharing restaurant. Similar to Freddy’s in the 6th arrondissement, the dining space revolves around an open, central kitchen.
The restaurant is inspired by the izakayas in Japan – small after work bars serving up snacks and cheap drinks. The food out of the kitchen isn’t strictly Japanese however. It’s somewhat fusional with seasonal ingredients given both French and Japanese touches.
Razor clams are grilled with a garlic-parsley butter and seasoned with yuzu juice. French steaks are grilled over a Japanese charcoal BBQ and served with a zingy chimichurri sauce. It’s an awesome restaurant but I’d argue it’s better for couples given the bar seating.
What to know before you visit
- They don’t take reservations
- Come early to avoid disappointment
- Open every day of the week
Address: 5 Rue Mouffetard, 75005
Website: https://www.instagram.com/ottomouffetard/
