2 Best Restaurants in Champs-Élysees, Paris

Restaurateurs-about-town Paris Society and interior design star Cordelia de Castellane worked their magic on the exceptional ambience of this historic Art Nouveau gem on the Rue Royal—a few steps from its storied sibling Maxim's de Paris—for an amped-up bistro experience devoid of pretension. Expect not some but all of the classics, served by brisk, aproned waiters just like in the old days: oeufs mayonnaise, pâté en croute, salade de chèvre chaud, soup à l’oignon, and not just escargots but giant escargots, in keeping with the experience of a bistrot à la Parisienne on steroids. And that’s just for starters: mains include a deliciously spicy steak tartare, roast chicken with rosemary, and a classic sole Meunière haloed in butter with just the right hint of lemon and flecked with parsley. For dessert, there’s classic rice pudding with caramel sauce, tarte tatin, and a billowy île flottante just like grandmère used to make. All topped off with an eclectic wine list offering plenty of gently priced choices by the bottle or glass.

Hide Kobayashi, known as "Koba," is one of several Japanese chefs in Paris who trained with some of the biggest names in French cuisine before opening their own restaurants. Not surprisingly, this great-value bistro near the Arc de Triomphe became instantly popular (reservations are a must) with locals as well as visiting Japanese and Americans who follow the food scene. Generosity is the key to the cooking here, which steers clear of haute-cuisine flourishes; both the monkfish fricassee with anchovy-rich tapenade and a classic veal kidney in mustard sauce, for instance, come with a heap of mashed potatoes. For dessert, try the stunning île flottante (floating island), made with oven-baked meringue. Wines by the glass start at €8—unheard-of in this area.