While a majority of Paris restaurants shut down for Christmas eve and day, several remain open, offering Christmas lunch or dinner service. A word of caution, though: you should always try to book ahead at least a month in advance, as spots fill up quickly. I've categorized the restaurants by price and prestige. The majority of these restaurants offer traditional French holiday fare such as oysters and shellfish, foie gras, stuffed goose or pheasant, but I've also listed a few Paris restaurants that remain open for Christmas and offer other specialties.
A tip for those of you on a tighter budget: Many of these restaurants offer a la carte menu options for Christmas as well as fixed- price menus.
Check ahead before reserving.
"Creme de la Creme" Paris Restaurants Open for Christmas
Budget: $$$$Le Meurice
The Michelin-starred restaurant at the eponymous luxury Paris hotel offers fixed-priced Christmas menus at around $350 per person. Reserve up to three months ahead when possible.
Address: 228 rue de Rivoli
Metro: Louvre-Rivoli or Tuileries
Tel: +33(0)1-44-58-10-55
Visit the official website
Le Bristol
Another restaurant-hotel with Michelin-star accolades, and headed by chef Eric Frechon. About the same price range as Le Meurice. Again, reserve well ahead.
Address: 112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Metro: Concorde
Tel: +33(0)1 53 43 43 00
Visit the official website
Le Relais au Plaza Athenee
This ultraluxury hotel-restaurant is open for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, offering fixed menus for the occasion at around $450 per person. Reserve several months ahead.
Address: 21, Avenue Montaigne, at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Metro: Champs-Elysees Clemenceau or Concorde
Tel: +33(0)1 53 67 64 00
Visit the official website
La Table de Joël Robuchon
One of the restaurants of celebrated French chef Robuchon stays open for Christmas. No special Christmas menus are available, however. Reserve well ahead.
Address: 16, avenue Bugeaud
Metro:Victor Hugo
Tel: +33(0)1-56-28-16-16
Visit the official website
Mid-Range Restaurants Open for Christmas
Budget: $$$These traditional Paris brasseries all offer special menus for Christmas eve and/or day lunch and dinner. Most Christmas menus run at around $70-$100 per person. Reserve at least a month ahead.
Armandie
Specialized in fresh seafood and shellfish platters.
Address: 2 bis Rue Pétel
Metro: Sevres-Lecourbe
Tel: +33(0)1 45 32 94 05
Bofinger
A well-known traditional brasserie offering classic Christmas fare.
Address:5-7, rue de la Bastille
Metro: Bastille
Tel: +33(0)1-42-72-87-82
Visit the official website
(Note: Other brasseries operated by Flo, the owner of Bofinger, are also open for Christmas. See this page for a full list of these and to reserve online.)
Au Petit Marguery
A traditional French restaurant tucked away in the south of the city offering Christmas menus for around $90 per person. One specialty here is game.
Address:9, Boulevard de Port Royal
Metro: Les Gobelins
Tel: +33(0)1 43 31 58 59
Chez Jenny
Offering Alsacian-style French cuisine and special Christmas menus.
Address: 39, boulevard du temple
Metro: Republique or Temple
Tel: +33(0)1-44-54-39-00
Visit the official website
Chez Francoise
In the heart of the Invalides, an elegant restaurant established in the late 1920s serves up Christmas menus at around $90 per person, including aperitif and wine.
Address: Aerogare des Invalides
Metro: Invalides
Tel: +33(0)1 47 05 49 03
Reservations: info@chezfrancoise.com
La Maree
Another seafood and shellfish specialist open for Christmas.
Address: 1 Rue Daru,
Metro: Ternes or Courcelles
Tel: +33(0)1 43 80 20 00
Restaurant Georges
Offering sublime views of Paris from the rooftop vantage at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Le Georges doesn't offer special Christmas menus, but can be an elegant option for the occasion.
Read our review of Georges restaurant and learn more here
Budget Paris Restaurants Open for Christmas
Budget: $-$$ (up to around $60 per person)Chartier
With its stunning 1900 dining room and noisy conviviality, Chartier can be a good choice for a budget Christmas meal-- but don't expect frills and ribbons. Try the whole seabass with carrots or potatoes on the side. Reserve well ahead as this is an extremely popular spot: bouillon.chartier@wanadoo.fr
Address: 7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre
Metro:Grands Boulevards
Tel: +33(0)1-47-70-86-29
Visit the official website
La Maison d'Italie
Italian home-style cooking for Christmas in a quiet corner of Paris' northeastern Gambetta neighborhood.
Address: 27, avenue Gambetta
Metro: Gambetta
Tel: +33(0)1-46-36-74-75
Justine
This restaurant located near Montparnasse at the Meridien Hotel is open for Christmas and offers a la carte or fixed menu options. Around $50 per person.
Address: 19, Rue du Commandant Mouchotte
Metro: Gaite
Tel: +33(0)1 44 36 44 00
Visit the website
Au Paradis Tropical
Celebrate Christmas Caribbean-style at this restaurant near the city center. Christmas menus for around $55 per person.
Address: 24, rue Notre Dame de Nazareth
Metro: Temple
Tel: +33(0)1-42-72-08-92
Also See:Celebrating the New Year in Paris
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