Cool Restaurants in 8th Arrondissement (Paris)

Kok Ping

This restaurant serves up fresh seafood - and that means prawns, squids, fish and lots of seaweed! All the eight chefs from Thailand serve up tangy seafood delicacies for you right in the heart of Paris. Kok Ping has tables set very close to each other, yet all in all, very comely interiors (look out for the quaint chandeliers). Start off with shrimp soup, Tom Yam Kung. Do go for the Pekinese Peking Duck, and then end with the gooey Mango and Coconut Pudding. You'll be coming back for more real soon!

World Place à Paris

World Place, well-situated in the wealthy "Triangle d'Or" neighborhood, is a fashionable club for businessmen. It includes a restaurant, health club, lounge, bar, and nightclub all beneath the same roof in the building of the former Mandala Ray where international stars would gather. So if you want a break after a day of meetings and conferences or an appealing location for your business meetings, then don't look any further than this private club. All the facilities necessary for business dinners, meetings, and research are available. Visit the website for more information.

Bar at Hôtel Le Bristol

Located in the center of the fashion district, vibrant Paris is reflected in the eclectic decor of the Bar at Hotel Le Bristol. The bar offers traditional English tea which includes snacks and pastries. Saturday High Tea times are usually booked for fashion shows from 3:30p to 5p. Reserve your tables for the show before hand. For more details log on to their website.

The Winter Garden

The Winter Garden is the place to get cozy and comfortable. So walk in anytime of the day for light snacks, tea and drinks. The decor has shades of purple and gold; soft lighting and huge sofas and wing chairs make it alluring. This restaurant also has the famed Baccarat Liquor cellar in crystal and gold. Enjoy your tea or drinks along with music by Beatrice Ardisson.

La Maison Blanche

This restaurant is located on the roof-top of the Theater des Champs-Élysées. This location lets you have excellent views of the Seine and the city outside. The white interiors and swanky furniture gives the decor a classy look. To add to it, the crowd that fills the place is metropolitan and not necessarily French. So if you happen to be a tourist in Paris, Maison Blanche makes for a great venue. The menu is interesting and everchanging with mainly contemporary French and Mediterranean fare featuring on the list. The ingredients are seasonal and hence fresh, so the quality is without a doubt top-notch. You can head here even if you're just looking for a place to relax, the twinkling lights of Paris could be a great landscape to lose your worries in!

Maitre Pierre

This little Italian joint has been around for a long time, serving authentic Italian delicacies. The decor is nothing extravagant but exudes warmth and charm that come from its old 1930s styling. The dining area is small and rather intimate - a nice place to leisurely enjoy pastas, risottos and other typical dishes on offer. The Veal and lemon-flavored Linguine is a specialty at this joint. All this can be savored with a glass of a delectable Italian wine. It's not fine French cuisine, but wholesome Italian fare at very modest prices!

Le Relais de L'Enrecote

This restaurant is known for its one special feature - Steak-Frites, also known as steak and fries. The restaurant serves beef in any form you like - rare, medium or well done. The ambience is inviting and the atmosphere is laid back. You'll generally find the neighborhood folks crowding this joint especially during the weekends. So be there in good time and make sure you have your table guarded. Once that is done, then you can settle in with your wine or the house Beaujolais and munch on the Green Salad that is served to you while you wait for your order to arrive. A succulent steak treat dripping with the restaurant's special sauces together with crispy fries is the signature dish at this "menuless" bistro. But if you're on a diet then you can keep the option of dining here for some other day, as the extremely tempting meals comprise extremely high calorie stuff!

Stella Maris

The most unique feature of this restaurant near L'Arc de Triomphe is its blend of Japanese and traditional French cooking methods. Chef Taderu Yoshino's effort has been applauded by critics as well as locals and tourists. Inside the swish interiors of this restaurant, you can gorge on specialties, such as Eel Blanquette, Tête de Veau, Cabbage-Truffle Terrine and Langoustines in a cappuccino of green lentils. If you're still not convinced about the Franco-Japanese mélange, then go in for the chef's menu that changes regularly. The fact that the dishes are prepared with organic ingredients makes them even more tempting to health freaks. So if you're looking for experimental French cuisine sans calories, then Stella Maris can sure help you out!

Le Stresa

Le Stresa is a well-known celebrity haunt, with the likes of Jean-Paul Belmondo and Delon dining here quite often. So don't be surprised when you find a Pennette Pasta "Belmondo'style" or a Linguine Pasta "Delon style" featured along the list of authentic Italian fare. The decor may not be exceptionally striking, but the special Cesar sculptures do find a retrospective glance or two. The prices are a little higher than you'd expect, thanks to all the media publicity, but then again, dining with the stars is not an everyday affair. So dress up well, stack your wallet and enjoy evening!

L' Atelier des Chefs

The name means "workshop of chefs," and the chef is none but you yourself at this unique restaurant. Hop in during lunch and you will be taught to prepare exquisite French delicacies, which can be savored at the table. Though the instructions are in French, they are easy to follow if you know even a smattering of the language. Several of the recipes taught here include Saltimbocca, polenta aux artichauts, Risotto aux morilles, and caviar d'eggplants. The schedule and recipes change continuously—for further information check the website.

Apicius

A beautiful 19th-century mansion, close to the famous Champs-Élysées, is the venue that owner-chef Jean-Pierre Vigato has chosen for his upscale restaurant. They have won the Michelin Two-Star rating and a regular clientèle in the bargain. Patrons include locals, tourists, and a motley crowd, out to sample some French culinary delights. Among the house specialties, locals favorites include the Salers Rib Steak, the Cervelle Ravigotte, and the Braised Calf Sweetbread. Serving a cuisine with rustic accents, the chef prepares offal and game like no one else in the capital. While at the table, make sure you ask for truffles – patrons have been known to have raved about them.

Villa Mauresque

Villa Mauresque is perfect for armchair travelers who are food lovers. A walk through the door transports you into a room, with an oriental bar along one end and three rooms; "Marrakech" (a private room), "Casablanca" and "Ouarzazate." Tastefully done up in artifacts, chandeliers and dark woods from the middle-east and the orient it's the perfect setting to savor what this restaurant dub's French-Moroccan fusion. The couscous with meat, pastillas, semolina preparations with vegetables are all excellent. The warm smile that the owner Fati greets you with, beats the menu all hands down.