A brunch hunt: top 10 best brunch in Paris

This is one of the Big Mamma group’s latest eateries. In the heart of the Marais district in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, it serves a menu that just oozes Italy. Naturally, this restaurant has the same charm that made its counterparts so popular: elegant tableware, a warm welcome by Italian waiters and, more importantly, generous dishes straight out of Italy. Here, brunch is available throughout the day. Buffalo-ricotta pancakes, salmon bruschetta, bread pudding with mascarpone cream and raspberries… You’ll leave with a full tummy and a desire to learn Italian.

The most Americanised town in Paris Region, also known as Saint-Ouen, conceals a very special hotel. The interior walls of this establishment display kits inviting customers to express their views. Le Mob serves an organic Italian menu that’s based on seasonal ingredients and packed with flavour. You have the freedom to choose where you sit, either outside on the spacious terrace or indoors amid the friendly atmosphere around the huge tables or on one of the super-cosy sofas. Here, the pace of time matches yours. The menu includes meze, hummus, sweet peppers, cauliflower granola, fried aubergines, bulgur tabbouleh, Kalamata olives and bread puffs prepared in-house. Not forgetting their selection of cheese, ham, pastries, hot drinks, jam, eggs and fresh fruit. This zero-waste brunch can be savoured to the sound of live music.

The ground-floor restaurant of the beautiful Thoumieux Hotel on the left bank has become a reference among brunch lovers. Both the venue and the menu are loyal to the purest Parisian tradition. Every Sunday from 12 noon, begins the classic French breakfast procession of hot and cold drinks, a selection of pastries and French bread spread with butter, honey or jam. The savoury tradition is also observed, with dishes like eggs Benedict with salmon, ham-and-cheese macaroni and croque-monsieur. For dessert, you’ll succumb to the temptation of sweet treats like a soft cookie, granola with fromage blanc or a seasonal fruit salad.

At this restaurant located in the forest of Saint Germain en Laye, don’t expect to order brunch at any old time of year. When the weather is cold and gloomy, Cazaudehore pulls out all the stops and offers warmth and comfort in the form of a winter brunch. Grégory Balland, the chef, and his team have put together an all-you-can-eat buffet that invites you and your family to enjoy a pleasant meal in a spirit of warmth and togetherness. On top of all that, the Cazaudehore expertise and the fireside atmosphere make this a hard place to leave…

More than a mere hotel, Mama Shelter is a lively venue in its own right, to which only Mama holds the secret. Initially set up in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, it can now also be found just a stone’s throw from the Porte de Versailles. At both establishments, Mama’s brunches are unique, with an all-you-can-eat option that combines French and Italian specialities. At Mama Shelter East, you’ll love the typically French cheeseboard, duck shepherd’s pie, soft-boiled eggs, croque-monsieur and pastries… With an Italian touch in the form of Mama’s famous pasta. Mama Shelter West gives pride of place to Italian dishes, in a menu of lasagna, daily pasta specials and the traditional tomatoes with mozzarella & basil pesto. Whichever one you choose, you’ll enjoy the same cosy and colourful atmosphere.

In the heart of the 1st arrondissement of Paris, Hoct & Loca in the Châtelet district calls itself a chocolate bar. But to complete the picture, they also serve savoury dishes. The three course brunch menu is available every day of the week. You’ll begin with a savoury starter such as salmon, toast with avocado, feta, red onion, etc., a veggie bowl or a healthy bowl with açai purée, chia seeds and seasonal fruit. A homemade cold drink will freshen your palate to prepare you for the highlight, a chocolate tasting session. You have just two choices from six possibilities. If this is torture for you, you’ll find comfort in the pastries, fruit, hot milk and ice cream, to be enjoyed to your heart’s content.

Located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, at the bottom of a dead-end street near Place de Clichy, Bal is a photo exhibition venue and studio. But several years ago it also became a restaurant which overlooks a garden and serves a decidedly creative ‘Brunch/Früstück’ menu at weekends. This includes British and Germanic specialities, such as homemade bircher muesli, cottage cheese with herbs and soft-boiled egg, various porridges, scones and creamy bacon sauce. Above all, the Bal Café is a shelter that offers back-to-work support to refugees keen to familiarise themselves with the values of ethical and committed cuisine.