This family-style bistro was reimagined by renowned chef-author Jean-François Piège and his wife, Elodie Piège a few years back, and we love the updated takes on traditional plates such as oeuf mayonnaise, pâté en croûte, and croque monsieur. The interiors (zinc bar, wood paneled walls, terrazzo floors) have thankfully not been touched.

Piège’s comfort food spot near Les Halles serves unfussy dishes in a setting of warmly nostalgic interiors—burgundy banquettes, pink tablecloths and vintage sconces. The onion soup and namesake boiled chicken are both musts.

This Bourse neighborhood go-to has been turning out authentic Lyonnais-style cooking—escargots, pike quenelles, andouillette—since 1890 in a charming, floral-tiled dining room. An excellent wine list and delicious île flottante.

This old-school 1926 brasserie on rue du Mail draws a mix of neighborhood regulars and the style crowd, who come for the Art Nouveau interiors and menu of refined but unfussy French dishes—celeri remoulade, roasted leg of lamb carved at the table, and, of course, profiteroles.

A cozy dining room with a warm, homey vibe in the Marais. The food is simple and delicious with classics like steak frites and departures like stewed snails with mushrooms and Lyonnaise pike dumplings.

An institution since it opened in 1880, this one-time hub for philosophers and poets now draws a mix of business crowd, seasoned regulars, and tourists for its traditional Alsatian menu (say yes to the sauerkraut). The service in the dining room is briskly efficient and friendly enough if you heed the sign warning diners about appropriate attire.

Family-owned and operated for its first 100 years, it is now a part of the Ducasse restaurant family, which fortunately retained much of the original spirit and integrity. The interior is wrapped in floral wallpaper and red velvet booths, and many of the dishes are whipped up from Madame Allard's original family recipes. You can’t go wrong with pâté en croûte paired with a glass of Champagne, before the signature canard aux olives and savarin au rhum for dessert.

Still affectionately referred to as Chez Joséphine after its original owner, not much has changed at this beloved bistro since it came under the ownership of the Dumonet family in the mid-1900s. Still serving substantial portions of traditional French food, the steak tartare is always prepared tableside with a flourish, and the soufflé reveal never fails to impress.

This 1930 bistro honors its namesake with cheeky vintage frog memorabilia on the walls and dishes like fried frog legs and even a frog burger. The rest of their menu offers old-school favorites like escargot and entrecote au poivre, which have been served pretty much the same way since Pablo Picasso (who painted Guernica at number 7 down the street) was a regular.

Occupying a quiet corner near the Eiffel Tower under a jaunty striped awning, this authentic Parisian bistro does hearty, southwestern French food seven days a week. With retro interiors, the best printed tablecloths and reliably great food—their selection of specials rotates daily, but we love the duck confit and foie gras maison.

One of the last of its kind, bouillons used to exist all over Paris serving cheap, hearty dishes and—as the name suggests—rich, flavorful broth. Beloved by visitors and locals for its affordable, traditional fare and Art Deco interior, this is the oldest of the three Paris locations

Stéphane Jego, a pioneer of the bistronomy movement in Paris, transformed this 1931 Basque bistro into a destination more than 20 years ago. Signature dishes include razor clams, sweetbreads, and parmesan soup, depending on the time of year. And don’t miss the rice pudding! The interiors are super cozy—you’ll definitely get to know your neighbors by the end of the meal.

This Paris bistro has been a favorite of Montmartre locals since it opened in the 1920s, surviving several changes in ownership. It recently reopened under the auspices of cool Paris-based design studio Saint-Lazare, who retained the wood-paneled walls, bar and vintage lamps, while a cute chalkboard menu spotlights the rotating menu of classics like deviled eggs and croque monsieurs. Open Sundays!

A couple of blocks from the Champs Elysées, this traditional bistro, open since 1936, retains an old-world soul with a layer of polish for its lunchtime business crowd. Red leather booths, white table cloths and vintage framed art set the scene for a menu of traditional bourgeois dishes–calf’s kidney cassolette, bone marrow and coq au vin. It’s the perfect stop for a late lunch after a day of shopping.

The theatrical Art Nouveau interiors contrast with the no-frills classic dishes. It all captures the spirit of the original Parisian bouillons—healthy, hearty food with simple, inexpensive menus.

Ensconced in the same century-old caught-in-time interiors, they’re renowned for their amazing steak frites and wine list—pick up your favorite at the Cave du Paul Bert next door. Also try the life-changing Grand Marnier soufflé and baba au rhum. They only take reservations by phone and they don’t answer said phone often, but don’t give up!

A French bistro with a history as rich as the food, this Montparnasse institution has sat the likes of Patti Smith, Henry Miller, and James Joyce since opening in 1927. Lots of outdoor seating with great people watching, but we prefer to sit in the grand, Art Deco-designed dining room. Among traditional dishes like steak au poivre and veal liver with parsley, they have some of the best seafood in the city, including an epic seafood tower.