French Onion Soup is a classic – warm, comforting and incredibly moreish. It’s a dish I always order when I see it on a menu.
After living in Paris for over 9 years I’ve had my fair share of poor soups – thin, watery, barely cooked onions – the bad ones are always disappointing. Done well, it’s incredible. Rich, fragrant, sweet yet complex – French onion soup heaven.
So where can you find the best onion soups in Paris? Read on to discover my favorite restaurants where you’ll find this French classic done really well.
My Favorite French Onion Soups in Paris
Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of my favorite spots to eat French onion soup. Bookmark this guide as I’ll be updating it regularly!
Au Pied de Cochon
I have to start with the restaurant that, some say invented the French onion soup, the legendary Au Pied de Cochon. Located right next to Les Halles, the old central market of Paris, it’s curiously open 24/7 so you can pop in to get a bowl of soup literally whenever you want.
Their version is called ‘Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée des Halles’ – referring to its historical connections with the dish. It also mentions ‘gratinée’ which is a classic part of the dish – the melty, grilled cheesy layer on the top of the soup and their version is very cheesy.
Once you’ve dug your way past the thick, cheesy layer (I think they use a mixture of Comté and Emmental) you’ll get to the soup. The onions are well caramelised with plenty of sweet flavour coming through and the broth is solid.
It’s served as an entrée here and comes in €11.50. It’s a classic done well and the rest of the menu at Au Pied de Cochon is great too – expect plenty of French classics. Great spot if you’re in the city centre – you can also expect to get a table easily without reservation if you come outside of peak times.
What to know before you visit
- You can reserve online
- They’re open 24/7
Address: 6 Rue Coquillière, 75001
Tel: 01 40 13 77 00
Website: https://www.pieddecochon.com/
La Grille Montorgueil
About a 5 minute walk away from Au Pied du Cochon on the lovely Rue Montorgueil is the epic La Grille. On a street that has mainly big cafés that serve not great food, La Grille Montorgueil is the exception.
I think their onion soup is perhaps one of my favourites. The broth is superb – the waiter told me it’s made with beef and veal stock made in the restaurant. And the onions? They’re properly caramelised and it really comes through in the soup – delicious.
They also do a killer confit duck with garlic duck fat potatoes and one of my favorite Croque-Monsieur sandwiches in Paris.
What to know before you visit
- Open for lunch and dinner every day of the week
- You can reserve online
Address: 50 Rue Montorgueil, 75002
Tel: 01 42 33 21 21
Website: https://lagrille.paris/
Le Comptoir du Relais
Le Comptoir du Relais is a great little Parisian bistro in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of the city.
It’s been on the foodie radar for a good decade and was sold by the chef owner at the time. I went to Le Comptoir recently under the new ownership and I was impressed.
Their onion soup is solid and is a great spot to try it if you’re in the area. The beef broth they use is good although I would like to see a bit more caramelisation on the onions. The gratin is spot on and I love the fact that they top it off with minced chives.
What to know before you visit
- Open every day of the week
- They serve food non-stop
Address: 9 Carr de l’Odéon, 75006
Tel: 01 44 27 07 50
Website: https://www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com/restaurant-le-comptoir
Le Bistrot des Fables
If you’re near the Eiffel Tower then I’d recommend checking out Le Bistrot des Fables. Its predecessor was one of the first bistros that I visited when I moved to Paris (it was called Café Constance at the time) and it still keeps its lovely Parisian charm.
They do a very good French onion soup – it’s particularly well seasoned with a great beefy flavour coming through. The onions are caramelised and there’s a killer cheesy crust. They use a proper slice of fresh baguette under the cheese which adds a lot to the texture.
Definitely one to check out if you’re in the area – it’s only about a 10 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower. They also have some great other entrees including frogs legs cooked in garlic butter.
What to know before you visit
- Open for lunch and dinner every day of the week
- You can reserve online
Address: 139 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007
Tel: 01 47 53 73 34
Website: https://bistrotdesfables.fr/
La Poule au Pot
La Poule au Pot is another legendary Parisian bistro owned by one of my favorite French chefs, Jean-François Piège. Like Au Pied de Cochon, it’s rumoured to be one of the founding restaurants that created the legendary soup around Les Halles.
First up, this is the most expensive soup in this list coming in at €25. It’s not cheap but it’s very, very good. It’s relatively light on the cheese (which isn’t a bad thing) but there are small croutons of bread underneath which work really well. As you’d expect, the beef broth used is stunning – aromatic and very beefy.
A relatively expensive spot to try but if you’re after a special meal, this is a great choice.
What to know before you visit
- Open for lunch and dinner every day of the week
- You can reserve online
Address: 9 Rue Vauvilliers, 75001
Tel: 01 42 36 32 96
Website: http://www.lapouleaupot.fr
