“What is the oldest restaurant in Paris, and can I eat there?” That was the question I asked myself when I was planning my recent trip to Paris, France. In a city with thousands of years of history, which restaurants, bars and cafes had stood the test of time?
As I set out to find Paris’ oldest restaurant, I found eateries that had been serving food for hundreds of years, bakeries that once served French royalty, coffee shops that were among the first in Europe to serve the now-ubiquitous beverage, and even a market named after mysterious local children. I traveled across the city, from the shadow of the Eiffel Tower to neighborhoods most travelers will never visit, all in search of Paris’ oldest cuisine.
I wish I could tell you how many hours I spent researching this guide, but it would be impossible. I encountered red herrings, stretched truths, outdated information and flat-out lies at every turn. Ultimately, I’m 99% confident that the ten locales listed below are the oldest in Paris, but if you have evidence to the contrary please let me know!
The Oldest Cafe in Paris – Le Procope
Founded by a Sicilian chef in 1686, Le Procope tenuously claims to be the oldest continually-operating cafe in Paris. The tenuous part stems from the fact that there was a 85-year period in there where the restaurant was not open to the public, operating instead as a private members’ club, but since they did serve food and drink to their members the cafe counts that in their tally.
Located inside the Cour du Commerce Saint-André, one of Paris’ (partially) covered shopping arcades, Le Procope today is a popular restaurant that serves much more than just coffee. You can expect to find traditional French dishes, other European favorites, and even some vegetarian options on their menu.
While they do offer a la carte dining, most visitors choose one of their set menus as they are a good value. At press time they do a two-course lunch for €27 (a main dish plus a starter or dessert) and a full three-course lunch for €34. They also have a prix-fixe dinner menu for €49. Reservations are always recommended.
📍 Address: 13 Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Odéon
The Oldest Restaurant in Paris – La Tour d’Argent
A restaurant has stood on this site since 1582, and it has never wavered in its commitment to serving fine dining to upper-class Parisians. According to their website, they were among the first restaurants in France to provide diners with both forks (!) and after-dinner coffee cups. As well, they were some of the first proprietors to offer chocolate to their guests.
Unfortunately for this article (but fortunately for my wallet) La Tour d’Argent was not offering a vegetarian menu at the time of my visit, so I skipped it and saved anywhere from €165 (for lunch) to €450 (for dinner), before adding on the price of the wine pairing! Reservations are required and there is a dress code.
📍 Address: 15 Quai de la Tournelle
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Jussieu
The Oldest Market in Paris – Le Marche des Enfants Rouges
This was probably the easiest historic food spot for me to visit in Paris, as it was just around the corner from the Airbnb where I was staying.
This market in Le Marais has been in operation since 1628. Inside the Marche des Enfants Rouges there are traditional food vendors selling fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood, and there are also restaurants serving quick-service cuisine from France and beyond.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings the market expands to include a local farmer’s market where you can buy everything from strawberries to goat cheese directly from the producer.
📍 Address: 38 Rue de Bretagne
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Saint-Sébastien – Froissart or Temple
The Oldest Pâtisserie in Paris – Stohrer
Decorated by the same designer who gilded the interior of Palais Garnier, Stohrer has been serving up some of Paris’ most indulgent treats since 1730 (almost three hundred years!). The founder was the baker of choice for the Polish royal family, and followed them to Paris when one of their daughters wed Louis XV. Here, in his original pastry shop, he invented many sweets that are still well-known today, the most notable being the rum baba.
Although the interior is certainly fancy, prices at this famous Paris patisserie aren’t much higher than what you’d find at other patisseries in touristic locations. You can buy an individual baba au rhum for less than €6, and other pastries like the chocolate-hazelnut Piemont are similarly priced. There aren’t any tables here (or clean benches nearby) so you’ll need to take your pastries back to your hotel room or maybe over to the gardens in the Palais Royal.
📍 Address: 51 Rue Montorgueil
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Étienne Marcel
The Oldest Bar in Paris – L’Entracte
There has been a bar here since 1614, when it was a popular place for horse-drawn carriage drivers to toss back a shot or two between customers. Today, its most loyal customers are the actors and stage crew from the nearby Théâtre du Palais-Royal. Come after a show to rub shoulders (literally) with artsy Parisians.
The reviews of the oldest bar in Paris were so shockingly bad that I’d hoped to be able to check it out for myself. However, both times I passed by it was closed. I’m not sure if they were closed for a summer holiday or if they only open after dark.
* Be careful, as there are newer bars and restaurants with a similar name. You’re looking for the one at the address below – if it has bad reviews on Google you’re in the right place. 🙊
📍 Address: 47 Rue de Montpensier
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre
The Oldest Chocolate Shop in Paris – À La Mère de Famille
À La Mère de Famille opened their shop in the 9th Arrondissement all the way back in 1761. Although they now have fifteen more locations around the city, and the chocolates are produced in Chambray lès Tours (just outside Tours), thanks to this shop they are able to retain their title of Oldest Chocolate Shop in Paris. Listed as a Historical Monument, the interior of the chocolate shop has changed very little since the Belle Epoque.
The chocolates here are surprisingly affordable, so I sampled two: a Palet de Faubourg and a Praliné Amande. They were both really good (far better than supermarket chocolate!) and I could see how a box of chocolates from this shop would make a good souvenir, gift for someone back home or even a sweet treat to keep in your Paris hotel room at night.
In 2017 À La Mère de Famille formed a partnership with the Stohrer Patisserie, and they now work together to combine their culinary expertise in unique pastries and sweets.
📍 Address: 35 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Le Peletier
The Oldest Brasserie in Paris – Bofinger
A brasserie is a specific type of restaurant that serves simple, filling dishes accompanied by good beers and wines. The oldest brasserie in Paris is Bofinger, an Alsatian restaurant between Bastille and Place des Vosges. It was opened in 1864 by a chef from Alsace, near the border with Germany, which is perhaps why it was the first restaurant in Paris to serve draft beer.
Today, Bofinger has a beautiful Belle Epoque interior, including a stained-glass cupola, mirrored walls and Art Nouveau decor. The menu is heavily focused on fish and seafood, but still includes some typical Alsatian dishes like flammekuchen and homemade saurkraut. If you’d like to visit, I recommend making a reservation on their website.
📍 Address: 5-7 Rue de la Bastille
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Bastille
The Oldest Ice Cream Shop in Paris – Raimo
A number of websites proclaim that Berthillon, the famous ice cream shop on Ile Saint-Louis, is the oldest ice cream shop in Paris. However, in my research for this guide, I found a Paris ice cream shop that is seven years older.
Opened in 1947, Raimo Glacier is Paris’ oldest ice cream shop. Located in the 12th arrondissement, it’s a bit out of the way unless, like me, you’re particularly interested in both ice cream and history. 😉 With my curiosity piqued I made the journey out to the adorably-named Picpus neighborhood, which doesn’t have much going on aside from being part of the Coulée Verte René-Dumont, a raised pedestrian parkway.
On the summer day when I visited Raimo it was already busy before lunch, and I had to queue at the takeaway window to get my cup of ice cream. I’d been hoping to try their almond-orgeat flavor but they were sold out, so instead I had one scoop of pistachio and one of white chocolate, which were both really good.
📍 Address: 59-63 Boulevard de Reuilly
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Daumesnil
The Oldest Cheese Shop in Paris – Androuët
Although the original Androuët cheese shop on Rue Amsterdam is no longer operating, this multi-generational family of cheesemongers has been introducing Parisians to new and exciting cheeses since 1909. Back then, the family sold cheese on the ground floor while aging it in their basement cellar, before eventually also opening a restaurant above the shop.
Today, it’s their fromagerie in the 7th Arrondissement that will probably capture your interest, although they also have shops around the city (mostly in the suburbs). Here, English-speaking staff can help you choose the perfect cheese, whether you are heading for pique-nique in the Tuileries Gardens (just across the river) or heading back to your apartment for a light charcuterie dinner.
Unfortunately Fromagerie Androuët was operating on their limited summer hours on the day I was nearby, so instead I had to get my assorted cheese fix from a wine and cheese tasting at O Chateau.
📍 Address: 37 Rue de Verneuil
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: Rue du Bac
The Oldest Bakery in Paris – Le Moulin de la Vierge
According to the official tourist authority for the Paris region, a bakery has stood at 64 Rue Saint-Dominique since 1356. It’s hard to trace the history of this particular bakery because it has changed names and owners so many times over the years. Today, this bakery in the Faubourg Saint-Germain neighborhood is best known for its croissants, pain au chocolate and baguette – nothing fancy, just classic French bakery treats.
I think I accidentally deleted my photo of the front of the bakery, but it’s literally the orange awning you can see on the right side of this photo of Rue Saint-Dominique. I must have been distracted by the amazing Eiffel Tower view! 😂
📍 Address: 64 Rue Saint-Dominique
Ⓜ️ Nearest Metro: La Tour-Maubourg
I have lots more Paris travel guides to help you plan your trip!
🇫🇷 The Best Areas to Stay in Paris
🌹 How to Make a Custom Perfume in Paris
🧀 The Best Wine & Cheese Tastings in Paris
🌃 10 Things to Do in Paris at Night
🎨 How to Spend One Day in Montmartre
🏰 This Chateau is BETTER Than Versailles
🖼️ How to Get the Most Value from a Paris Museum Pass
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