The Louvre is magnificent and the Mona Lisa is small, distant, and mobbed. There is a better way to spend a cultural day in Paris, and it involves the city’s quieter museums — house-museums, single-artist collections, and civic galleries where the guard outnumbers the visitors.
The permanent collections of the City of Paris municipal museums, managed by Paris Musées, are free to enter. [1]
Where to go instead
- Musée Rodin — sculpture in a mansion garden, best on a warm afternoon.
- Musée de l’Orangerie — Monet’s Water Lilies wrapping two oval rooms.
- Musée Jacquemart-André — a private collection in a Belle Époque townhouse.
- Musée Carnavalet — the story of Paris itself, and free to enter.
You do not need the biggest museum in the world. You need the one where you can hear yourself think.
— Camille Laurent
Make a day of it
Pair two small museums with a long café lunch in between and you have a perfect, unhurried Paris day. Explore more in our culture collection.
Where to Eat
A day of museum-hopping deserves a proper meal on either end. Here are seven, from decades-old bistros to the newest tables in town.
Bistrot Paul BertClassic French bistro, 11th arr.
An enduring bistro institution with chalkboard menus, tightly packed tables and generous classic cooking.
Why it’s so good: Frequently named among the best bistros in Paris, beloved by chefs and food writers alike.
Top picks: Steak au poivre with double-fried frites · Grand Marnier soufflé
Chez GeorgesClassic French bistro, 2nd arr.
A genuine time-warp bistro little changed in more than 60 years, with a handwritten menu and old-school service.
Why it’s so good: Treasured as one of the last authentic classic bistros left in Paris.
Top picks: Sole Georges · Salade lyonnaise · Onion soup with shoestring frites
Le Bon GeorgesModern French bistro, 9th arr.
A maximalist neighbourhood bistro spread across three dining rooms, with big chalkboard menus and a produce-driven approach.
Why it’s so good: A modern bistro favourite singled out for the quality of its sourcing and cooking.
Top picks: Dry-aged entrecôte · Beef tartare · Chocolate mousse
SeptimeModern French, 11th arr. — 1 MICHELIN Star
An industrial-chic restaurant serving a daily-changing, plant-forward surprise set menu, with online-only booking.
Why it’s so good: Holds One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 France guide and remains one of the most sought-after tables in the city.
Top picks: Daily-changing seasonal tasting menu
Casa PregondaBalearic-Spanish, 2nd arr.
A buzzing recent opening serving Balearic-inspired Spanish plates, with both table and counter seating.
Why it’s so good: One of the newer trendy tables highlighted among the best new places to eat in Paris.
Top picks: Tuna crudo on ajo blanco with jalapeños · Carabineros prawns · Razor clams with sobrasada breadcrumbs
CypsèleModern tasting menu, 4th arr. (Île Saint-Louis)
A high-profile arrival set in a restored 17th-century apothecary with a neon installation and open kitchen, cooking a modern French tasting menu with Swedish and Japanese technique.
Why it’s so good: One of the most talked-about new openings in Paris, led by chef Marcin Krol.
Top picks: Gnocchi fritto with mackerel · Kimchi croquette · Spit-roasted guinea fowl
Café des MinistèresClassic French, 7th arr.
An old-school restaurant with a polished, boutique-hotel-lobby look, serving elevated French classics.
Why it’s so good: Celebrated for its rendition of rich French classics done exceptionally well.
Top picks: Vol-au-vent with veal sweetbreads in cream and spinach · Egg mayonnaise · In-shell scallops
