12 Most Romantic Restaurants in Paris For Your Partner

Everything about Paris oozes romance. The gorgeous curves of the river, the elegant architecture that reflects the enriching culture, the cuisine that leaves an undying impression, the weather that pleases your visit every moment, everything. When you step into this paradise of romance, a typical dinner plan in a great setting alone seems too dull and cliche.

Paris is arguably the most glamorous city in the world. Its skyline is legendary, and people traveling there for the first time will want to see it from every angle — especially while sipping a glass of champagne. The best way to get a glimpse of the new majesty of Paris is by heading to one of the city's many rooftop bars.

These chic establishments serve snacks and cocktails among the most in-the-know Parisians. These are the spots to go if you love stunning views, elevated cocktails, and an atmosphere that embodies legendary Parisian style.

If you ask someone in France what Parisian cuisine is, they will laugh in your face and make sure that such a thing simply doesn't exist. Especially if this person is from Lyon, supposedly the capital of gastronomy in this country. However, this would be a misunderstanding of two realities. On the one hand, the cuisine of the people, which is an art of accommodating leftovers and whose masterpiece remains la blanquette de veau, the veal blanquette.

On the other hand, the cuisine of the many Parisian brasseries, born with the arrival of Alsatian refugees after 1871 and which has created many typical Parisian dishes such as the salade de boeuf à la Parisienne, beef salad Parisian style. Paris has more than just an elegant dinner to offer for a lovely and intimate romantic evening.

Unlike in the States, tipping is not required in restaurants, although it is appreciated. If you experience good service, consider leaving 5 – 10% of the bill. Some of my French friends say they don’t leave a specific percentage, just a bit of what they have. IF the service was good. If the service wasn’t good, they don’t give a second thought to not leaving a tip.

You may see 15% service compris or tip included on your bill in Paris. However, in France it’s pretty much known that service is included. As French servers are paid a full wage, independent of tips, you should tip based on the level of service. This does take some getting used to for Americans where always tipping 15 – 20% is the norm.

Be aware of restaurant opening times. Lunch is served from around noon – 2pm and dinner is served from around 7pm – 10:30pm. All day service restaurants are usually tourist traps. If you’re starving when restaurants are closed, pop into a boulangerie or bakery for a sandwich or treat.

If possible, make reservations. If you don’t have time to make a reservation, arrive when they open, around 7 – 7:30pm. You’ll have a greater chance of getting a table. You may also be told that they are full but you can be seated if you can be gone by a certain time. They might have that table reserved for 8:30, but know most Americans aren’t going to sit around after the meal.

Additionally, the servers will have more time to help you with the menu if you eat early. Ask for tap water (carafe d’eau) at restaurants to avoid the added expense of bottled water. French water is perfectly safe to drink. I’d rather enjoy a cappuccino or dessert after my meal than pay for water.

Eating is an experience and is not to be rushed. Don’t be surprised or angry when it takes the server a long time to bring even a cup of coffee. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere. If you’re in a rush, order a café at the bar like a Parisian.

You’ll need to ask for the check once you’ve completed your meal. It won’t automatically be brought to the table. Simply say, l’addition s’il vous plaît /lah dee-see-onh see voo play/ and the bill will be brought to your table. If paying by credit card, the machine will be brought to the table as they don’t take your card to swipe at the register.

If you just want a drink in a café, do not sit at a table that’s set for a meal. Just before lunch, you’ll notice some tables being set with placemats, silverware and glasses. If you want to eat a meal, sit here. If you’re just grabbing a drink, pick the table without the setting.

So, if you would like to have a romantic time with your loved one, here are some of the most romantic restaurants in Paris.

1. Benoit Paris

A lovely meal at Benoit and cozy movie night together at the Classic Parisian Cinema

Start your night with an exquisite dinner from Benoit. With its wooden interiors and brass fitting, this place is an olden beauty of the city. This bistro has a rich variety of dishes from authentic French cuisine lined up to delight you. The beef cheek and snails in garlic butter will make your day before you set out to explore the city.

From here you can extend the inspiration of old time to a lovely movie date. If you share the passion of watching old classic together, then this ethereal destination with the old and classic elegance is the perfect place to enjoy a great movie night. The old-school romance that will charm you with its rustic elegance, and you can enjoy a blissful evening together.

You are lucky if it's summertime here. You can cozy up in a blanket and enjoy some lovely contemporary classics at the Parc de la Villette outdoor theater, cuddled by stars and romance.

2. 58 Tour Eiffel

After a blissful meal at Le 58 Eiffel drench in the beauty of the majestic Eiffel Tower

What could be more romantic than holding your hands and enjoying a lovely meal together seated in the very own Eiffel tower? Le 58 Eiffel is a restaurant on the first floor of this romantic structure and offers a classic menu to enjoy a lovely dinner. The modern and chic interiors, paired with the lovely take on French cuisine, is a great start to the evening.

Follow this with strolling around the area of this breath-taking structure, soaking in its beauty in the night light. This Parisian icon lights up the city during the night that is visible from various places. Add a Champagne glass to your setting, and you can enjoy one lovely night with your partner.

3. 159 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine

Pasta dinner at the hidden alley passage and a warm evening stroll

One of the most "Movie-like" hidden wonders of Paris is the alley at No-159 in Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine. This cobblestone alleyway that stole your heart from Lady and the Tramp is the raw beauty of Paris and French culture. You can relish some of the most wonderful Italian recipes such as Homemade Pasta and Risotto, that will melt in your mouth and melt away your heart.

The charm of this place is unmatchable. You can continue this fabulous night with an energetic evening stroll through the local neighborhood around Rue Charonne. The streets brim with fancy bars you can enjoy all night long. You can grab the finest eagle rare with a side of French beauty here.

4. Au Bon Accueil

Take a bite at the Au Bon Accueil Bistro and get ready for some tango

Grab a seat outside at the Au Bon Accueil and grab some of the best food delivered from French cuisine, while you cherish the sight of the beautifully lit Eiffel tower through the streets. The bistro is in a street with the shadow of the Eiffel tower falling over it, and it is a great location with extravagant food to cherish on a lovely evening.

If the weather goes in your favor, then do not forget to walk up to the amphitheaters along the Seine, 5th arrondissement. The place brims with enthusiastic couples holding hands and dancing the tango all night until twilight. The sight of an old man by the river playing charming tango music and the entire place lit in beautiful lights is mesmerizing. You could even enjoy this setting sitting by the stairs with your loved one too.

5. Qui Plume La Lune

A gastronomic meal at La Plume qui Lune and a memorable Moulin Rouge Show

Plumi qui Lune is one of the few places where you can get recipes made from fresh products with a romantic setting. The stone walls and eclectic objects that cover the place can only depict the beauty of a simple and elegant dining setting. You are in for some surprises here as there is no pre-established menu and the chef promises to please you with an extravagant dish you will never forget.

After a charming dinner, you can take your time to enjoy one of the finest cabaret shows of this time. The relationship between Paris and Cabaret dates back to over a hundred years. This is an energetic place to spend a great evening with your loved one. The spectacle of glorious lights and colors set the base for the fabulous dancers to entice the audience with their ecstatic performance. The live orchestra light up this glamorous stage performance and will fill your evening with joy and energy.

6. Le Derrière

A sunset cruise at Seine with a side of bed and dinner at Derriere

Paris is at its peak beauty when drenched in the soft glamour of the dusk red falling on it. This is also the perfect time to go on a Bateaux Mouches ride along the Seine. The cruise takes you through the iconic structures of the city and lasts for about an hour. And while under Pont-Marie or the lover`s bridge, you could lean in and kiss your loved one for the tradition.

While the colors of the sky and the mind-numbing beauty of the city fills your heart with love, it is time to enjoy some bed and dinner at Derriere. This restaurant, hidden away behind huge double doors and an archway, will invite you into a courtyard lit in nothing but candles. You can enjoy the menu here, especially with so many varieties of cheese.

A double bed seating, a ping pong table, and mind-blowing food all in one place. What could be more romantic?

7. Le Baratin

Le Baratin in Belleville is a favourite among retaurant people. The husband runs the bar, a famously grumpy man unwilling to share his legendary wine collection with anyone he deems does not worthy. The wife runs the kitchen with a perennial cig in her mouth and a preference for fisk, offal, blood and tradition. They do not have a menu, just a blackboard that changes daily.

8. La Petite Chaise

Not that old but still in operation, the restaurant La Petite Chaise in the 7th arrondissement of Paris was inaugurated in 1680 under the reign of Louis XIV, in a building built a few years earlier, in 1610. Its name is due to the deformation of the old French chèze which meant house. The forged grill installed on the front of the restaurant is listed in historical monuments and reflects the existence of the restaurant from 1680.

9. Le Procope

A legendary restaurant in the 6th arrondissement of Paris since 1686, Le Procope is a place steeped in history.

10. Brasserie Lipp

Brasserie Lipp, on Boulevard St. Germain, in St. Germain des Près has terrific atmosphere, and it smells wonderful as soon as you walk in the door. Main courses are around 25 euros, meaning around 50 euros for a complete meal with an entrée and the house wine.

Their speciality is sauerkraut with sausage and salt pork, which they’ve been serving to happy customers for at least 70 years, but they also have a wide range of generous main course meat dishes, and you won’t go away hungry. They also have a huge selection of entrées, around 20 of them, so you are sure to find something you like for your starter.

11. Bouillon Balzar

A bit less expensive and still very good for the price is the Brasserie Balzar, on rue des Ecoles in the Latin Quarter, snuggled up against the Sorbonne. It’s a favorite of the professors from the Sorbonne, therefore a bit cheaper than Chez Lipp, with a complete menu for around 30 euros. The service is splendid, main courses are generous, the setting is sparkling, and you’ll hear some very high level intellectual conversation at neighboring tables if your French is good enough.

12. Bouillon Chartier

If you want to experience a Parisian atmosphere that is half popular and half stylish, visit Chez Chartier, the place famous for its low prices and its garçons who could carry ten full plates on each arm. Since then things have of course changed, prices are higher but there is still something of the old times in the air.

You can also enjoy the lover's garden, the traditional Paris cafe, enjoy opera, enjoy the sunset at Butte Bergere, stroll the antique shopping streets, sip wine with a lovely romantic novel in hand or get drenched in the Paris beauty with a view from your rooftop.

The quest for lip-smacking food and unforgettable dining experience can take people places. Be it with your partner, your friends, or your family, going out to eat in a restaurant is always an experience that everyone looks forward to. Hence, it is only fair that one goes all out and chooses the best and the unique place, which will seize the occasion.

These dinner ideas will make sure you enjoy the best of French cuisine, and French beauty all in one with your wonderful loved one.