10 Best Restaurants in Paris With Kids: Family Favorites

One of the biggest concerns for families visiting Paris is eating out at restaurants with kids. I get it. I’m an American mom of three little kids who also happen to be picky eaters!

But don’t let that stop you from enjoying Paris or from eating at the restaurants you actually want to try. There are plenty of wonderful family-friendly restaurants throughout the city, and some of our favorite experiences in Paris have been around the table.

If you’re wondering where to eat in Paris with kids, here are 10 of our family’s favorite restaurants and casual spots around the city.

Tips for Eating at Restaurants in Paris With Kids

Before getting into our favorite restaurants, I want to share a few tips and tricks that have worked for us over the years to make dining out with kids less stressful and more fun for the whole family.

Set expectations

I find that my kids are much more excited about restaurants when they know what to expect. We usually talk through our plans for the day, including where we’re going for lunch or dinner.

If I can, I’ll look at the menu ahead of time and tell them a little about the restaurant so they can start thinking about what they might want to eat.

Kids don’t have very long attention spans, especially when they’re already hungry and tired from sightseeing, so it helps to have an idea of what everyone might order before you even sit down. It makes the whole experience much easier once you’re at the table.

Bring something for the kids to do

This is something we do every time we go out to eat, even at home.

I always keep a few small notebooks and colored pencils in our day bag. Restaurant meals in France can move at a more relaxed pace, and kids just need something to do while they’re waiting for their food.

These take up almost no room in our bag and have saved us during more meals than I can count.

Make lunch your big meal

Many restaurants in Paris offer lunch service, close for a few hours in the afternoon, and then reopen for dinner around 7 or 8 p.m. That can get tricky with little kids, especially after a long day of sightseeing.

We often make lunch our bigger restaurant meal in the area we’re exploring and keep dinner simple somewhere close to where we’re staying. This works especially well on busy sightseeing days when everyone is already tired by evening.

Look for the lunch specials

Lunch can be a much more affordable way to try some of the nicer restaurants in Paris.

Many restaurants offer a set lunch menu that includes multiple courses for one price. Even some Michelin-starred restaurants offer more affordable lunch menus, making lunchtime a great time to try somewhere special without spending as much as you would at dinner.

We’ve found some of our favorite meals in Paris this way.

Our Favorite Kid-Approved Restaurants in Paris

1. Café du Commerce – 15th Arrondissement

Best for: An affordable French lunch

Café du Commerce is easily one of our favorite places to eat in Paris with the kids.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, with a huge multi-level atrium spread across several floors. It feels like a special Paris dining experience without the high price tag.

One of the biggest reasons we love coming here is the weekday lunch special. When we visited, you could get a meal, dessert and coffee for around €19. The portions are huge and everything was so good! I had the chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy.

They also have a children’s menu and all the desserts were amazing!

We always recommend this restaurant to friends and family. You’ll want to make a reservation for lunch as it does get quite crowded.

2. Chez Janou – 3rd Arrondissement

Best for: A classic Paris meal in the Marais

Chez Janou is tucked away near Place des Vosges and is one of my favorite restaurants to recommend when spending the day exploring the Marais.

I have an entire post dedicated to this restaurant if you want more details: Chez Janou Paris: What to Know Before You Go.

The restaurant is very popular with tourists so you will need a reservation, but the food is good quality and the prices are very reasonable. The portions are huge! My youngest two were able to split a pasta kids meal it was so big.

And, of course, one of the highlights is dessert.

Their famous mousse au chocolat is brought to the table in a giant bowl and it’s every bit as good as Instagram claims.

This restaurant works well for families because it gives parents the experience of eating somewhere that feels very Parisian while still being fun for kids.

3. Little Nonna – 17th Arrondissement

Best for: Gluten-free families

If someone in your family eats gluten-free, put Little Nonna on your list.

We stumbled upon this hidden gem years ago when we visited Paris with my parents. My dad has celiac disease, and at the time, finding good sans gluten options in Paris felt much more challenging. We were staying nearby and ended up eating here a few times during that trip.

Everything on the menu is gluten-free including pizza, pasta and bread. The food is so good you would never know it’s gluten-free.

I would recommend making reservations as the restaurant can get very busy during the lunchtime rush.

I also have an entire blog post dedicated to this restaurant if you want more details: Our Favorite Gluten-Free Pizza in Paris: Little Nonna.

4. Carette – 16th Arrondissement

Best for: Hot chocolate near the Eiffel Tower

Carette is famous for its rich hot chocolate and one of those classic Paris experiences that is especially fun with kids. The hot chocolate is big enough for kids to share and the pastries are delicious!

The Trocadéro location is an easy stop when spending the day around the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro, so it fits naturally into a sightseeing day.

Carette is a popular tourist stop and can get quite busy, so I recommend going early in the morning if you want to avoid the biggest crowds.

5. Chez Filiberto – 16th Arrondissement

Best for: Authentic Italian neighborhood feel

Chez Filiberto is our favorite neighborhood restaurant in Paris.

The owner is from Italy, the food is excellent and you feel like family the moment you enter. It’s not a touristy restaurant, just a local Italian restaurant with good food and the best service.

I recommend trying the calzone! It’s delicious!

The restaurant is small and there is limited outdoor seating, so I definitely recommend making a reservation.

6. Le Chalet Savoyard – 11th Arrondissement

Best for: A cozy fondue or raclette meal in fall and winter

For something completely different, take the kids for fondue or raclette at Le Chalet Savoyard.

This restaurant specializes in food from the Savoy region of France, and sharing melted cheese around the table turns lunch into an experience.

I especially recommend this one in the fall and winter when the weather is cooler and a warm, hearty meal sounds perfect. The raclette is our favorite, and my kids love coming here!

The restaurant will get very crowded at lunchtime so it’s best to have a reservation.

7. Café Roussillon – 7th Arrondissement

Best for: An easy lunch while sightseeing in the 7th

Café Roussillon is a convenient option when you’re spending the day exploring the 7th arrondissement.

The inside of the restaurant is fairly small, but we’ve found it welcoming with kids and easy for a casual family meal.

One thing I’ve learned about Paris with kids is that not every restaurant needs to be a destination restaurant.

Sometimes you just need somewhere to get off your feet and have a good meal.

8. Daroco – 2nd Arrondissement

Best for: Italian food near Palais Royal and the Louvre

Daroco is a great restaurant to pair with a sightseeing day around central Paris.

It’s close to Palais Royal, and there is so much to do within walking distance that you can easily plan an entire afternoon around this area.

Explore Palais Royal, walk through the beautiful Galerie Vivienne, head toward the Louvre or continue on to the Tuileries Garden.

We love restaurants like this because they fit naturally into an itinerary instead of requiring a separate trip across Paris just for a meal.

I would make a reservation. This is one I would not count on walking into with a family. It’s gets very busy at lunchtime too, with a lot of businesses nearby.

9. Breizh Café – Multiple Paris Locations

Best for: Best for: Crêpes and an easy family lunch

You can’t take your kids to Paris without having crêpes at least once.

Breizh Café is a creperie that is known for their traditional buckwheat galettes made from high quality ingredients. These are gluten-free too! They also offer sweet crepes that kids will love!

They have several locations around Paris and offer an English menu.

10. Maison Kayser – Multiple Paris Locations

Best for: A grab-and-go lunch or picnic

Not every meal in Paris needs to involve sitting down at a restaurant.

Grabbing baguettes and pastries from a local boulangerie and having a family picnic is one of the best ways to enjoy lunch in Paris while also saving some money.

We first discovered Eric Kayser years ago when we were living in Hong Kong so it’s been fun enjoying it again when visiting Paris.

Here you’ll find baguette sandwiches, breads, pastries and other easy options that work well for the whole family.

Where Should You Eat in Paris With Kids?

Honestly, you can pretty much eat wherever you want with kids.

I would recommend making a list of any restaurants that are really important to you and booking those a few weeks in advance. Once you have your reservations, try to plan your sightseeing around that area so you’re not running all over the city with hungry, tired kids just to make it to a meal.

We usually prefer a bigger lunch while we’re already out sightseeing. Lunch tends to feel a little more casual than dinner in Paris, and if you can go toward the beginning of lunch service, restaurants are often less crowded.

And don’t forget about having a family picnic. Pick up baguettes, sandwiches and pastries from a local boulangerie and enjoy lunch together in one of Paris’s many parks or gardens. It’s an easy, stress-free option in nice weather and a great way to save money while traveling.

More Paris With Kids Resources

Planning a family trip to Paris? These guides can help:

And if you want all of our favorite Paris recommendations together in one place, my Paris With Kids Guide includes our family travel tips, places to eat, things to do, day trips and everything we’ve learned from spending so much time exploring Paris with our three kids.

get my Paris with kids guide

10 Best Restaurants in Paris With Kids: Our Family Favorites