Historical brasseries in Paris Region

Established in 1875 at the same time as the Opéra Garnier, the historical brasserie Le Grand Café Capucines has been serving a never-ending array of dishes for some 150 years. In a revamped decor that enhances the restaurant’s typically inviting atmosphere, make yourself comfortable and soak up the charm of yesteryear. In the comfort of the red-orange bench seats, amid a decor of wood and brass, you’ll find the oysters taste even better than usual.

Head for the 6th arrondissement, near the Luxembourg Garden, for a plunge into the bohemian madness of the 1860s. The establishment’s merrily fanciful spirit is still reflected in its lush vegetation, the Art Deco style and a piano that continues to liven up the evenings in Montparnasse. In the 21st century, tourists and local residents have replaced the Lost Generation artists and the left-bank intelligentsia, but the restaurant has lost nothing of its former splendour.

Defying the Café de Flore just opposite, the Lipp brasserie is one of the iconic establishments of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. This restaurant was opened in 1880 by a couple from Alsace and has attracted the elite from the worlds of fashion and cinema for decades. Loyal to the spirit of French gastronomy, the mouthwatering menu will satisfy large appetites, with dishes like andouillette, pork trotter and, of course, the famous sauerkraut for which the brasserie is famous. Hearty dishes to enjoy in the deliciously high-society Art Nouveau setting.

The train stations of Paris conceal some real gems of French gastronomy. If you don’t believe us, try the historical Brasserie Mollard at Saint-Lazare station, where gourmets and passing travellers have been savouring the typically French savoury dishes and sweet delights since 1865. Admiring the interior, you won’t be surprised to learn that this institution was listed as a national heritage site in 1989, with its marble columns, wall mosaics and decidedly Art Nouveau style. Your main challenge will be choosing what to eat: rainbow trout fillet, grilled rib steak with Bearnese sauce, or fried king prawns?

Head into the heart of the 14th arrondissement of Paris. La Coupole is among the most recently-opened brasseries of Paris, with barely 100 years to its name. This restaurant was the haunt of the likes of Josephine Baker, Serge Gainsbourg and other stars of their era. Even today, La Coupole remains a shining star of the Montparnasse district. The comfortable Art Deco interior featuring 32 marble columns and velvet textiles makes a beautiful backdrop to a family reunion, a meal with friends or a business lunch… Or why not pop in on a grey afternoon to enjoy a delicious sweet snack?

The Thoumieux brasserie in the 7th arrondissement offers a delicious immersion in the sophistication of 1920s Paris. You’ll dine in a recently revamped decor of ball-shaped lamps, red velvet upholstery and mirror-covered walls that retains the site’s Belle Epoque elegance. And the food won’t disappoint you either. The menu features typical Parisian brasserie dishes like duck confit and lemon meringue tart cooked on the premises. Make sure you try one of their brunches, which are among the most sophisticated you’ll find in Paris.

Welcome to the Bouillon Chartier, where authentic French cuisine in all its simplicity has taken pride of place ever since the brasserie opened in 1896. Tucked in the heart of the 9th arrondissement, a stone’s throw from the Grévin Museum, this is one of those neighbourhood restaurants where you really feel at home as soon as you step inside. Why is it so popular? The menu prices are still unbeatable, as they’ve been since the restaurant first opened. A rare place in the capital city where everyone can afford the pleasure of eating out.

Of all the brasseries in Paris, Fouquet’s Paris has to be one of the glitziest. Hardly surprising, considering it’s constantly frequented by the most famous figures in politics and the world of cinema. On the corner between the Champs-Élysées and Avenue George V, this historical brasserie invites you to stop for coffee on the terrace, or a veal blanquette under the familiar red awning. Run by the triple-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire, the restaurant honours all the great traditions of French cuisine.

What makes the Véro-Dodat café and brasserie such a legend is the majestic Véro-Dodat gallery housed beneath its glass roof. In this historical passageway dating from 1826, the restaurant of the same name made way in 2023 for a brand new Slow Food brasserie concept. The interior decoration is an exquisite mix of traditional and modern. Between the dark-purple walls, the electric-green glass roof and the golden staircase, the Véro-Dodat offers a culinary and visual feast of the highest quality.

Fancy going on a culinary voyage into history? Then go to the Train Bleu, one of the most beautiful and authentic brasseries in Paris. Designed for the 1900 Paris Exposition, this restaurant on the 1st floor of the Gare de Lyon (train station) is a real feast for the eyes. The 8-metre-high ceiling and the decor of Belle Epoque gilding and frescoes are almost intimidating to diners enjoying their gourmet lunch.