7 Best Restaurants in St-Germain-des-Pres, Paris

This quaint, casual bistro a few blocks from the Musée d'Orsay is open seven days a week and serves its own scrumptious versions of the deeply satisfying French classics like a country terrine, brandade de morue (a garlicky, salty cod and mashed potato dish) and blanquette de veau (a delicious, creamy veal dish). Desserts are also traditionally French and all delicious, especially the profiteroles (vanilla ice cream in a puff pastry with warm chocolate sauce) and the giant dollop of chocolate mousse.

A perennial favorite, this lively, unpretentious bistro is prized by expats and locals for its friendly atmosphere, consistently good food, solid wine list, and English-speaking staff. Dishes like pork belly with crushed potatoes or swordfish with fresh vegetables always hit the spot, especially when followed by decadent chocolate ganache infused with candied bergamot or poached peaches with white wine and sorbet.

If it's steak you're craving, put your faith in Jean-Luc Roulière, a fifth-generation butcher who opened this long, narrow bistro near St-Sulpice church. Partner Franck Pinturier is from the Auvergne region, which is also known for its melt-in-the-mouth meat, so start with a lobster bisque or a duck foie gras terrine before indulging in a generous slab of Limousin or Salers beef, a deer steak, or, for the meat-shy, sautéed turbot with fresh vegetables.

With a cheerfully bright and tiny, wood-beamed dining room—there's more space in the loft-like upstairs—this spot is devoted to the egg in all its forms. Whether you like yours baked with smoked salmon, whisked into an omelet with truffle shavings, or beaten into fluffy pancakes, there will be something for you on the blackboard menu. It's perfect for a late breakfast or light lunch on weekdays (it opens at 10 am and closes in the late afternoon), though rather mobbed for weekend brunch (10 am to 6 pm).

Portraits of cows adorn the stone walls of this no-nonsense bistro near the Luxembourg Gardens, hinting at the kitchen's penchant for meaty cooking (Ferrandaise is a breed of cattle). Still, there's something for every taste on the market-inspired menu, which changes monthly and lists at least one fish, one poultry, and one vegetarian main. The dining room buzzes with locals who appreciate the friendly service and the inexpensive lunch menu although there are always diners eager to sample the copious €46 three-course prix-fixe dinner.

Run by legendary bistro chef Yves Camdeborde, this small, Art Deco restaurant gets booked up early for its satisfying menu of traditional French cuisine. Favorites include classics like rib steak with potato puree and grilled salmon. Reservations are not accepted, resulting in long lines and brisk service. Camdeborde also has three local tapas bars, two right next door (L'Avant Comptoir de la Mer and de la Terre) and a much larger one (L'Avant Comptoir du Marché) around the corner at the Marché St-Germain, where delicious small plates, good wine, and a festive atmosphere are guaranteed.

The duo behind the popular neighborhood bistro La Boissonerie and the excellent wineshop La Dernière Goutte have poured their significant expertise into this laid-back bistro in the heart of tony St-Germain-des-Prés. Its sophisticated cuisine, superb wines by the bottle or glass, and total lack of pretension have quickly made Semilla the toast of the town. A lively open kitchen produces a menu of plentiful dishes served raw, roasted, baked, or steamed, with choices that will thrill carnivores, pescatarians, and herbivores alike. Two- or three-course menus are priced at €55 and €70, respectively, and the five-course tasting menu is €90.