The Best Brasseries in Paris for Wine Lovers

Breweries of Paris and wine lovers go hand in hand, from the winemakers’ cellar tucked away beneath Île Saint-Louis to the rooftop La Samaritaine’s Michelin-starred restaurant. From grand crus to wines by the glass, from Friday magnums to champagne cocktails, here are 5 Parisian brasseries that have plenty of experience—literally.

1. Les Fous de l’Île, Paris 4th arrondissement | A brasserie and winemakers’ cellar

Between the Pont Marie and the Pont de la Tournelle, Rue des Deux-Ponts runs straight across Île Saint-Louis. At number 33, a century-old establishment—refreshed by a new team—remains true to a dual culinary tradition: Parisian and Aveyron. A brasserie on Île Saint-Louis open continuously from 9 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, Les Fous de l’Île lets everyone set their own pace: lunch is served late, and dinner is served early. On the menu, two house specialties set the tone: traditional onion soup and the “Tigre qui pleure” (marinated beef tenderloin), while aligot accompanies the pork chop with its maple syrup glaze. The charcuterie and cheese platters come from Solange’s table in Aveyron, and the caramel crème renversée—the third member of the trio—vies for the spotlight with Berthillon ice cream.

What makes the difference? The wine cellar, located one level below, offers everything from aperitifs to digestifs and can be reserved for private, customized tastings. The wine list features 105 bottled wines, 16 wines by the glass, 15 magnums, and two jeroboams, sourced from all over France, with a few selections from Italy. From Domaine Laurens’ Marcillac—available by the glass or by the magnum—to the 2016 Château La Fleur de Pétrus, this selection makes Les Fous de l’Île one of the best wine restaurants in central Paris and one of the most eclectic. On Fridays, large-format bottles are offered at discounted prices.

The Island Craze
33 Rue des Deux-Ponts, Paris 4th arrondissement
Official website

2. Le Tout-Paris, Paris 1st | A Michelin-starred brasserie on the seventh floor of La Samaritaine

A name to be taken literally: from the terrace of Tout-Paris, the city unfolds from Notre-Dame to the Eiffel Tower, with a few tree-lined nooks perfect for a romantic dinner for two. On the seventh floor of Cheval Blanc Paris, in the historic Samaritaine building, the Michelin-starred brasserie shares its space with a cocktail bar. Arnaud Donckele, whose Plénitude boasts three Michelin stars under the same roof, oversees the kitchen here alongside Executive Chef William Béquin, who reimagines the classics of the genre. In the evening, pigeon a la crapaudine, roasted sole meunière, and French toast with vanilla ice cream take center stage; at lunch, the spotlight is on the “Le Tout-Homard” menu, pearly scallops, or black blood sausage à la royale. Sundays are reserved for family meals, with a menu that changes every month. Breakfast, however, is reserved exclusively for the residents of the Maison.

What makes the difference? To quench your thirst, Emmanuel Cadieu, director of the wine cellar, and his teams have curated a wine list that pairs heritage wines with hidden gems from all corners of the globe. Open to all styles, he supports small wineries and regularly takes his sommeliers on visits to the vineyards. Sake, cider, and spirits round out the selection. At Le Tout-Paris, a “Wine of the Month” list is also featured.

All of Paris
Cheval Blanc Paris, 8 Quai du Louvre, Paris 1st arrondissement

3. Brass, Paris 6th arrondissement | 80 wines, ranging from Chenin from the Île-de-France region to a 1996 Latour

«World Championship Finalist!»: At Brass, the eggs with mayonnaise set the tone. Next come the staples of a «neighborhood» restaurant throughout the seasons: six No. 5 Géants de Bourgogne, fillet steak with Béarnaise or pepper sauce, sole à la plancha, and veal liver with parsley. Suppliers are prominently featured on the menu, from Maison Verot to Petrossian. American influences make subtle appearances, with a French mac and cheese featuring cooked ham and truffle and a club sandwich named “Brass.” As befits a brasserie, there’s also a beer bearing its name—the Brass Blonde—served by the half-pint or pint.

What makes the difference? The wine list combines depth and humor across 80 selections. It ranges from a Graves from Château de Landiras to a 1996 Château Latour, including a Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru from Pierre Morey and a Monthelie from Coche-Dury. The tasting notes, meanwhile, make use of nicknames, such as «Pink Bill» for the Billecart-Salmon rosé or «VCC» for Vieux Château Certan. By the glass, there are ten wines, including a Chenin from the Versailles plain, «Le Grand Lever» from Domaine la Bouche du Roi, which revives a vineyard of yesteryear. Even the bar is getting in on the action: Charles Heidsieck champagne, whether brut or blanc de blancs, also sparkles in the French 75 and the Champagne Julep.

Brass
131 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, 6th arrondissement

4. Le Relais Plaza, 8th Arrondissement, Paris | Art Deco inspired by the ocean liner Normandie, Avenue Montaigne

A statue of Diana the Huntress behind the bar, a grand chandelier, and a stained-glass window featuring the signs of the zodiac by Lalique: at the Relais Plaza, diners enjoy a meal in one of the few Art Deco dining rooms where Parisians still gather for a meal. The brasserie at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, which opened on December 30, 1936, owes its design—inspired by the first-class restaurant on the transatlantic liner Normandie—to Constant Lefranc. The statue of Diana and the chandelier are listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments, and Bruno Moinard refreshed the entire space in 2014 while preserving all the original elements.

Coming from the hotel, you walk past a wall of autographed photos (Marlene Dietrich, Pierre Balmain, Yves Saint Laurent); Christian Dior—who, let’s not forget, was based at number 30 on the same avenue—even had a menu here designed specifically for him and his models. In the kitchen, Chef Victoria Boller draws on her Lyonese heritage to put a new spin on the menu, from the 1962 sea bream gratin to the “sot-l’y-laisse” Caesar salad prepared right before diners’ eyes; Angelo Musa is in charge of the desserts. The terrace overlooks the hustle and bustle of Avenue Montaigne, with the Eiffel Tower on the horizon.

What makes the difference? Wine makes its way onto the plates. The chestnut French toast with chanterelle mushrooms is topped with a vin jaune sabayon, the foie gras terrine is served with a port jelly, and the «Paquebot Normandie» spaghetti combines shellfish and champagne—a nod to the ship whose elegance the Relais has inherited.

The Relais Plaza
Plaza Athénée Hotel, 25 Avenue Montaigne, Paris 8th arrondissement

5. Brasserie l’Émil, Paris 1st | Mediterranean dishes and appellation wines at Château Voltaire

On Rue Saint-Roch, a 16th-century golden shell adorns the corner of a building that was spared by Haussmann’s urban renewal project, in the triangle formed by the Tuileries, the Opéra Garnier, and the Louvre. The Château Voltaire, a 5-star hotel with 31 rooms and one suite, is home to the tavern-style brasserie L’Émil—complete with solid oak benches—which is open from noon to 10:30 p.m. without a break. Mediterranean-inspired, the menu ranges from sea bass carpaccio with bottarga to sea bass with candied artichokes, makes a stop in Italy (paccheri with morel mushrooms, veal escalope «al limone») and extends all the way to Asia with shrimp dim sum. A small calligraphic «l’Emil» distinguishes a dozen dishes, including chocolate mousse and pavlova, offered «to share or not.».

What makes the difference? A note printed in black and white at the bottom of the menu states: All wines served are appellation wines (AOP or AOC), unless otherwise indicated as IGP, vin de pays, or vin de France. Starting at 5:30 p.m., L’Émil serves cocktails from the bar La Coquille d’Or at this Hotel in the center of Paris, where the Bellini combines champagne and vine peach, and where a splash of Pedro Ximénez is added to the Negroni.

Brasserie l’Émil
Château Voltaire, 57 Rue Saint-Roch, Paris 1st