*Updated November 2026*
After visiting the Alsatian Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar in December 2025, Dan and I went to Paris before flying back home. As always, Paris is lovely, especially around the holidays. We didn’t have time for too many Parisian things, preferring to spend our time at the Christmas markets, but we did have time for a wonderfully Parisian dinner at Les Cocottes, near the Eiffel Tower.
Part of our dinner at Les Cocottes.
Les Cocottes is worth booking if you want classic French bistro food within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower without tourist-trap prices.
We had booked an upscale tasting menu restaurant close to our hotel, but the restaurant unexpectedly lost water (crazy!) and cancelled on us. After doing some quick research, I made a reservation at Les Cocottes in the 7th arrondissement, near the Eiffel Tower. It’s not an area I usually frequent unless I’m visiting the Eiffel Tower, but I was intrigued by the menu and good online reviews, seemingly from locals. I was also inspired because I had a great meal in this area a few years ago at Le Casse-Noix.
Paris in December!
About Les Cocottes, Near the Eiffel Tower
Les Cocottes is a French bistro serving classic Parisian dishes with a bit of a modern flair. The restaurant is open 7 days a week, and offers terrace seating in good weather. In addition to its classic menu, it offers daily specials, as well as a lunch prix fixe Monday to Friday (for 32 or 38 euro) and a daily lunch and dinner prix fixe for 45 euro (called the Cocottes Menu).
Les Cocottes from the street.
Les Cocottes menu.
The Space
As we made a last-minute reservation, we were seated at the bar, which was perfectly fine with us. We enjoyed watching the food come out and the bartender prepare drinks. There was also plenty of space at the bar, so we were not cramped or anything like that. To start our meal, as we were in France, we began with a bottle of 2019 Clos des Menuts Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (fun fact, we visited Saint-Émilion back in 2016!). It was delicious.
A 2019 Clos des Menuts Saint-Émilion Grand Cru!
The view from our seat.
The Food at Les Cocottes
To start our meal, we had to begin with the escargot. Can’t go to Paris without them! These were done in a lot of garlic and herb butter and served piping hot (the butter was bubbling). These were very good, rivaling those we had in 2020 at Rudy’s on Mo’orea that we still talk about… The cost is 18 euro for 6. This is a good portion for one person, or two if you are uncertain if you will like them (you will).
Les escargots. These were so garlicky and so buttery and so delicious.
We also started with Les Cocottes’ Steak Tartare. This was a beautifully plated tartare, made with lots of capers and onion. It was as delicious as it was pretty. While we opted for this dish as a starter, it is listed as a main course on the menu at 28 euro. The steak tartare was also served with French fries.
A stunning steak tartare.
The tartare was very, very tasty.
For mains, I ordered La véritable salade César (or “The Real Caesar Salad), and it was insanely good. Like as good as my salad at Baracca Zermatt in Basel earlier in the trip. I am usually not a salad girl in Europe, but these two may have changed my mind. This Caesar Salad was served with lots of cheese, hard-boiled eggs, crunchy croutons, and an excellent Caesar dressing. Would 100% order again. The salad is served in two sizes: a starter portion at 15 euro or a main portion at 30 euro.
Les Cocottes Caesar. INSANE.
Dan and I also shared the “Faux-filet de bœuf, beurre maître d’hôtel, moelle et frites maison.” This was essentially a “Steak Frites” with a beef sirloin topped with the restaurant’s maître d’hôtel (parsley) butter and bone marrow, served with French fries. This course was 37 euro.
Steak frites with bone marrow and house-made butter.
After Dinner
Due to its location, Les Cocottes is set up perfectly for a romantic evening stroll by the Eiffel Tower. It is only a 7-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. It would also be a good pairing after a river cruise down the Seine (they often board at the Eiffel Tower).
The Eiffel Tower lit up at night (from another trip).
We, however, walked 5 minutes for me to have a Guinness at an Irish pub, the Ha’Penny Bridge Pub Paris. I mean, come on, you know me. This was a cute Irish pub that was well decorated for the holidays.
A Guinness at the Ha’Penny Bridge Pub Paris.
STEAL OUR TRIP
Les Cocottes: 135 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris, France. Open daily 12:00 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Reservations suggested; you can book a table at Les Cocottes online.
More places we love to eat in Paris: Le Grand Colbert, Ellsworth, and Secret Paris Food Tours in Montmartre.
Flying into Charles de Gaulle? Here is our guide to getting to and from CDG by train.