The riverside dining scene of Paris flows with Michelin-starred brilliance
Paris wears many crowns – the city of love, the city of light, the city of culture – but none shines brighter than its reign as the city of food.
These Michelin-starred restaurants – all near the Seine River and with views of the city’s most famous landmarks – showcase Paris at its most delicious.
Plénitude: art of sauces
At the five-star Cheval Blanc Paris hotel, Plénitude is helmed by celebrated chef Arnaud Donckele, renowned for his masterful command of sauces.
Like a perfumer, he begins each dish with the jus (dressing) before building the seasonal components around it.
Service unfolds like a choreographed performance – from a visit to the wine cellar to a private course at the chef’s table and a stop at the cheese cave. @plenitude.paris
Hakuba: Japanese culinary sanctuary
Also within Cheval Blanc Paris, Hakuba, led by chef Takuya Watanabe, immerses diners in refined Japanese gastronomy.
Renowned for his artistry in sushi and kaiseki, Watanabe’s signature 17-course omakase showcases the finest fish, rice and seasonal produce. Expect sake-flambéed, glazed eel over glutinous claypot rice and a briny kaki oyster nigiri.
Designed by Peter Marino, the tranquil Japanese forest-inspired interiors set the stage for Watanabe’s artful presentations and inventive collaborations. @hakubaparis
Restaurant Kei: French-Japanese connection
In Paris’ first arrondissement, Restaurant Kei fuses French artistry with Japanese discipline.
Born in Japan’s Nagano prefecture, chef Kei Kobayashi trained under Alain Ducasse and alongside Gilles Goujon before opening his eponymous restaurant in 2011.
Signature dishes such as sautéed monkfish with butter, curry and foam or the perfectly lacquered pithivier of pigeon and foie gras showcase his mastery of balance and texture. restaurant-kei.fr/en
Le Gabriel: refined global flavours
Inside the opulent La Réserve hotel near the Champs-Élysées, this three-Michelin-starred restaurant takes guests on a gourmet expedition reflecting chef Jérôme Banctel’s French roots and global influences. lareserve-paris.com
