What may one expect from a Japanese restaurant featuring the all-star cast of chef Takuya Watanabe, Arnaud Donkele in person and his pastry chef partner Maxime Frédéric? Nothing but the best, of course! Takuya Watanabe, who belongs to the inner circle of the capital's grand masters, channels his passion and expertise into sushi, each one of which is crafted to perfection in view of diners.

A Japanese sushi maestro, outstanding quality ingredients (ikejime fish from the Atlantic) and the creative hallmark of Yannick Alléno paint the gourmet portrait. The pared-back dining room is decked in work by contemporary artists. Add to this the tip-top service typical of a high-flying establishment, a sumptuous wine list full of rare sakes and 12 seats at the pale wood counter, where you are right in the middle of the action. Sensational!

Stéphanie Le Quellec makes no secret of her aim to "deconsecrate haute cuisine" courtesy of a generous gourmet ethos in which each dish tells a story. Her menus, which are comprised of varying numbers of courses, or "acts", may appear simple but every last detail has been endlessly puzzled over and her big-boned sauces are often enhanced by vintage sherry vinegar.

This is the "contemporary French fine dining" restaurant at The Peninsula, a luxury hotel located near the Arc de Triomphe. It is named after the plane in which Nungesser and Coli attempted the first North Atlantic crossing in 1927, and a life-size replica of the plane is affixed to the top of the hotel, as if poised to take to the skies before your very eyes. A fine tribute to the two aviation pioneers, as well as to the sky over Paris!

Welcome to Jean-François Piège's "laboratory of great cuisine", a tiny dining area beneath a sculptural ceiling made up of panes of glass that catch and reflect the light. The chef gives full expression to the scope and breadth of his experience and know-how, executing timeless signature cuisine that finds its source in the annals of French gastronomy (the chef is said to own one of the finest cookery libraries of Paris).

Take an iconic luxury hotel opposite the Jardin des Tuileries and an incredibly gifted chef, Alain Ducasse, then add a sprinkling of luxury à la Versailles (white ceiling adorned with gilding, crystal chandeliers) and – voilà! – you get Le Meurice. This place has not failed to catch the imagination of wealthy foreign patrons, who come to soak up that Parisian je-ne-sais-quoi.

Chef Nicolas Beaumann enthusiastically perpetuates the tradition of delicious food that has always been synonymous with this emblematic establishment, albeit while increasingly embracing the modern, as reflected in the newly refurbished dining room.

Welcome to Jean-François Piège's "laboratory of great cuisine", a tiny dining area beneath a sculptural ceiling made up of panes of glass that catch and reflect the light. The chef gives full expression to the scope and breadth of his experience and know-how, executing timeless signature cuisine that finds its source in the annals of French gastronomy (the chef is said to own one of the finest cookery libraries of Paris).

In the special occasion setting of the Hôtel de la Monnaie, Guy Savoy is continuing the story he began a few decades ago – back when, as a young boy, he would peek into the pans in the kitchen of his family's restaurant, La Buvette de l'Esplanade, in Bourgoin-Jallieu. Here, he has taken things to another level. Imagine six boutique dining rooms, whose windows overlook the Seine and Paris, adorned with contemporary art and sculpture (many loaned by François Pinault).

Bruno Verjus's approach is to select the finest ingredients and cook them with humility and the utmost respect. This remarkable character was previously an entrepreneur, blogger and food critic.

This iconic establishment dating back to 1946 is the epitome of French classicism. Run by the Gardinier family (Les Crayères in Reims), Taillevent is nothing short of an institution. Here in the former private mansion of the Duke of Morny (19C), you are cocooned from the world outside. Chef Giuliano Sperandio is in charge of the kitchen.

In the timeless atmosphere of the Place des Vosges, this famous restaurant is decorated with antique mirrors, a huge tapestry, black and white marble flooring and striking contemporary wall panels lit by red LEDs. It was here that Bernard Pacaud, a meticulous artisan, worked for so many years, indifferent to passing trends and uncompromising about the excellence of his ingredients.

Between the Left Bank and Boulevard St Germain, this dinky restaurant celebrates the alliance of Shawn and Toshi, respectively in charge of the dining room and the kitchen, and partners in this culinary adventure. Chef Toshitaka Omiya prefers authenticity to fancy frills. His cooking, which revolves around fine seasonal ingredients, hits the spot every time, regaling both the eye and the tastebuds, as he rolls out disarmingly, yet stunningly simple, subtle recipes.

Frédéric Anton presides over the fortunes of this emblematic restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, accessible by a private lift. The magic of this location 125m up from ground level instantly bewitches diners, who are further captivated by the high-flying cuisine. Every day, the teams pull out all the stops to elevate blue-ribbon produce and deliver delicate, perfectly judged dishes boasting flavour combinations that are always on point.

The elegant interior provides the perfect foil to food embodied by the “special something” that depicts the cooking of Hélène Darroze, descended from a family of cooks. Namely, the ability to scour her homeland of southwest France for ingredients that nurture her culinary inspiration, paired with an unmistakable flair for artistic plating: Landes foie gras, roasted with sesame and buckwheat, blue lobster in tandoori spices (a signature dish), armagnac-drenched baba.

This lavish 1884 private mansion just off the Champs-Élysées is graced with a luxurious interior that embodies the essence of French art de vivre. In the wake of Christophe Pelé, Andrea Capasso has embraced the house tradition of unfettered, yet disciplined cuisine strewn with bold notes. A keen surf and turf champion, the chef slips Italian twists into what he calls ‘satellite’ dishes, while savvily developing a single theme within each menu.

The grandson of farmers, Normandy-born David Toutain started out in the kitchen of Bernard Loiseau, before making a name for himself at a series of renowned establishments (including Arpège, Agapé Substance). In a modern, loft-style space, he has brought a showcase of culinary experimentation to a quiet street in a neighbourhood of government buildings.

After making a name for himself at Passage 53, Shinichi Sato has settled here beneath a corolla vault of interwoven wooden slats in a plush yet minimalist circular dining room. The starting point is top-quality produce, which is enhanced by means of high-flying technical skill, an almost surgical attention to detail and zero compromise: caramelised Roscoff onions and restructured Bellota chorizo or Galician beef cooked over embers and paired with cecina…

A stone's throw from the Marché d'Aligre, the navy-blue façade of this restaurant conceals a vintage interior strewn with Art deco details that is reminiscent of a Parisian apartment and which is the work of Argentinian architect Marcelo Joulia. A talented couple is at the helm: Frédéric Lorimier in the kitchen and Camille Gouyer who graciously supervises the front of house.

This exceptional restaurant has left nothing to chance: ceramics designed by a Japanese artist, rosewood chopsticks set out on a small cedar tray, maple wood panelling and soft lighting. Sushi master Tomoyuki Yoshinaga crafts a feast of outstanding fish, including different varieties of fatty tuna, which he surgically prepares and seasons – all for the benefit of no more than 10 diners at a time.

Much like the artist Corot, who painted the nearby ponds, Rémi Chambard turns to nature and produce from Île-de-France for inspiration when it comes to cooking. He devises a set menu that showcases the region by highlighting the different villages from which he sources his ingredients, from Montmorency to Crécy-la-Chapelle. He also personally undertakes what he calls his "urban harvest" in the King's Kitchen Garden in Versailles.