Want to eat like a French chef? Forget the Michelin-starred restaurants they run — the real question is: where do Paris’s top chefs go when they are off duty? Where do they buy their ingredients? Which neighbourhood bistros do they love? Which street markets do they swear by? The answers to these questions reveal a side of Paris’s food scene that even the most dedicated food tourists rarely see — a world of artisan producers, family-run bistros, and hidden markets where quality and authenticity matter more than fame and Instagram presence.
We have compiled the insider recommendations of dozens of Paris chefs — from Michelin-starred luminaries to rising stars — to create this guide to the professional’s Paris. These are the places where the people who cook for a living choose to eat, shop, and drink. If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for you. For more details, check out our guide to where to eat and drink in Paris.
Where Chefs Buy Their Ingredients
Poissonnerie Johann (7th Arrondissement): This tiny fish shop on the Rue de Bourgogne is the go-to for many of Paris’s top chefs when they want seafood for a special dinner at home. The selection is small but impeccable — everything is line-caught and sourced from sustainable fisheries. The owner, Johann, is a former fisherman who knows his product inside out. For more, see our guide to Le Marais guide.
Boulangerie Utopie (11th Arrondissement): When Paris’s pastry chefs want bread, they come here. Utopie’s sourdough is considered among the best in Paris — naturally fermented, with a deep, complex flavour and a perfect crust. Their pastries are also exceptional, particularly the kouign-amann (a Breton butter cake). The bakery has no signage — you find it by the queue of in-the-know locals.
Terroir d’Avenir (11th Arrondissement): This is not a shop — it is a wholesale supplier that also sells to the public. Top chefs like Alain Passard and Bertrand Grébaut source their vegetables from Terroir d’Avenir, which works directly with small organic farmers across France. The selection changes weekly and is always extraordinary. The space also houses a small restaurant that serves a single daily menu using the freshest available produce.
La Grande Épicerie (7th Arrondissement): The food hall of the Bon Marché department store is where chefs go when they want a specific ingredient they cannot find anywhere else. The selection is vast — over 3,000 products from around the world — and the quality is consistently excellent. The fresh produce section, the cheese counter, and the wine department are particularly outstanding.
The Bistros Where Chefs Eat
Le Bistrot Paul Bert (11th Arrondissement): Ask any Paris chef for their favourite classic bistro, and Le Bistrot Paul Bert will be high on the list. This no-reservations, cash-only institution serves flawless versions of French bistro classics — steak frites, escargots, tête de veau, and the best Paris-Brest pastry in Paris. The dining room is small, noisy, and completely without pretension. Arrive when they open (12 PM sharp) to avoid a long wait.
Clamato (11th Arrondissement): From the team behind Septime, Clamato is a tiny raw bar and seafood restaurant that chefs adore. The menu changes daily and focuses on raw and cured fish, oysters, crudo, and small plates. The wine list is entirely natural, and the atmosphere is casual and convivial. No reservations — arrive early and join the queue.
Les Petites Sorcières (18th Arrondissement): This neighbourhood bistro in Montmartre is a favourite of Paris chefs who live in the north of the city. The cooking is simple, seasonal, and deeply satisfying — think roasted chicken with herbs, lentil stew with pork belly, and apple tart. The prices are remarkably reasonable for the quality. Dinner for two with wine: approximately €70.
Le Cadoret (18th Arrondissement): Another Montmartre gem that chefs love. This tiny restaurant seats barely 20 people and serves a daily-changing menu of seasonal French cuisine. The cooking is precise and confident, the wine list is well-curated, and the atmosphere is like eating in someone’s home — warm, personal, and unhurried. The chef-owner, Marc, is often your waiter, your sommelier, and your dishwasher, all in one.
The best wine bars in Paris Chefs Frequent
Le Garde Robe (1st Arrondissement): One of the original natural wine bars in Paris, Le Garde Robe remains a favourite of chefs and sommeliers. The list is 100% natural, organic, and biodynamic, with a focus on small producers. The small plates (charcuterie, cheese, rillettes) are excellent, and the staff are genuinely passionate about what they pour. Wine by the glass: €5–12.
Barav (11th Arrondissement): A wine shop that doubles as a wine bar, Barav is the kind of place where you go with a question (“I want something orange, skin-contact, from the Jura”) and the owner will pull out three bottles, pour you tastings, and tell you the story of each producer. The food — a small, ever-changing chalkboard menu — is simple, seasonal, and perfectly matched to the wines.
Le Verre Volé (10th Arrondissement): The grandfather of the Paris natural wine bar scene, Le Verre Volé has been championing small producers since 1998. The list is extraordinary, the food (run by the team behind the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Chateaubriand) is excellent, and the atmosphere is as authentically Parisian as it gets. Book a table if you can — this place is always packed.
When you eat where the chefs eat, you are not just getting a good meal — you are experiencing the Paris food scene from the inside out. These are the places that sustain the city’s culinary culture, one meal at a time. For more details, check out our guide to Paris food guide.
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