Where can you take a lunch break or enjoy a light meal with the girls without gaining 3 kilos? Here are the favorite spots of those slender foodies who like to watch their waistlines, from healthy cafés in 5-star hotels to Amandine Chaignot’s charming eatery in a Parisian beauty temple, ultra-light Japanese restaurants, and other places where you can feast on beautiful vegetables and fish. Zero guilt!
The Most 5-Star: Café 52
Two locations, same vibe! Whether in the Golden Triangle at the Hôtel Grand Powers or just steps from the Comédie-Française at the Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, Café 52 is one of those chic spots that make you want to eat healthy every lunch. Chef Maxime Raab (formerly of Fouquet’s) creates vibrant, trendy dishes that showcase vegetables and fish in the plush settings of these luxury 5-star hotels… served all day long at surprisingly reasonable prices for such high-end service. A major plus in good weather: the lovely sunny terraces.
Light pleasures : to share as a starter, the crispy organic Breton cauliflower with ginger caramel (€18) or the delicious grandma-style pumpkin soup with crushed chestnuts (€18). For mains: a seriously sexy healthy bowl you’ll want to recreate at home (quinoa, marinated salmon, grilled broccoli, pomegranate, sesame, coriander… €29), a miso and dashi ramen with udon noodles, organic brown rice, tofu and vegetables (€29), or the egg-white frittata with roasted sweet potato, feta, pumpkin seeds, sumac and tetragonia salad with ginger and turmeric (€28). Bonus: Beauty Drinks with lattes and detox juices, with optional collagen, spirulina or CBD (+€5).
Café 52, at Hôtel Grand Powers at 52 rue François Ier, Paris 8e and at the Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, 4 rue de Valois, Paris 1er. Open daily from 7am to midnight non-stop.
The Most Japanese: Hando Marais
We already raved about the first two locations in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and near Place Vendôme. Now Hando returns (or rather the chopsticks do) with a third spot in the Marais. Adrien Albou’s concept has everything to charm: handrolls that are both healthy and addictive, and a wildly zen, bright, and design-focused interior inspired by the work of Tadao Ando, which also inspired the restaurant’s name. As a result, the fashion crowd of the neighborhood already flocks to the large counter to watch chef Chiharu Takada and her team handle nigiris like no one else.
Light pleasures : you get a small menu and pencil let you tick your choices. Must-haves include Wagyu, Black Cod, Bottarga, Yellowtail or Fried Tofu handrolls (€7 to €19), toro, King Crab or Aburi Wagyu nigiri (€8 to €16), and an excellent, fragrant miso soup (€7). Our tip? Go for the 3- to 6-handroll menus (€19 to €45) to avoid blowing the budget. Finish with matcha or black sesame mochis (€8).
Hando Handroll Marais, 14 rue de Bretagne, Paris 3e. 01 86 04 57 49. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
© Pierre Lucet-Penato
The Most Homestyle: Café sarah
Sarah Lavoine is known for her chic, modern, ultra-designed furniture and décor pieces. Nestled between Place des Petits Pères and Place des Victoires is her incredible store, Maison Sarah Lavoine, designed like a massive apartment with a living room, kitchen, and bedroom to spark inspiration. What’s less known is that this stylish haven hosts one of the best healthy lunch spots in Paris: Café Sarah serves fresh seasonal products and delightfully light homemade dishes.
Light pleasures: to start, a carrot and cumin velouté with croutons and chervil (€8) could easily be crowned the best soup of your life. Craving a classic French dish? Try the duck hachis Parmentier served with a green salad (€24). For the main course, we fell in love with the Fisherman’s Sushi: sea bass, vinegared rice, avocado, cabbage, coriander, shiso and ginger (€26). Club sandwich lovers will devour the gluten-free vegetarian version with avocado, carrots and perfectly seasoned feta — completely guilt-free (€22). After a meal that’s as good for your heart as it is for your waistline, indulge in a delicious granola bowl, a chocolate and sobacha cake (€8), or a black sesame and white chocolate cookie (€5).
Café Sarah, 6 place des Petits Pères, Paris 2e. Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 6pm. 01 40 13 75 75.
The Most Socialite: Blueberry
Imagine a poetic setting reminiscent of In the Mood for Love in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, where Monsieur Luu, a veteran of top Japanese restaurants, has crafted a nippo-rock menu with insane chirashi and maki. Choose between the dining room or the counter for an authentic Tokyo sushi bar experience. Best spot: the second counter in the main dining area.
Light Pleasures : organic buckwheat broth with soba noodles and baby spinach (€9), toro tuna nigiri (€32 for 4 pieces), vegetarian maki with seasonal vegetables (€17), shiso bomb salmon-avocado maki (€17). Star of the menu: Gatsby maki with maigre fish, shrimp, avocado, white tarama, red onion, lemon and nori (€26). To drink, a non-alcoholic Matcha Lychee cocktail (€12). For dessert lovers: homemade mochis in black sesame, matcha or chestnut (€8). Dinner bonus: a new Discovery Menu for two with isakaya dishes, maki, nigiri and three mini signature desserts (€75 per person).
Blueberry, 6 rue du Sabot, Paris 6e. 01 42 22 21 56. Open Sunday to Wednesday 12pm–2:30pm and 7pm–10:30pm, Thursday to Saturday until 11pm.
The Chicest: Le Bar des Prés Montaigne
Without a doubt, Cyril Lignac is establishing himself as the most avant-garde chef in Parisian gastronomic and social life. Proof: his Bar des Prés, whose second and even more stunning location has recently opened on the ultra-chic Avenue Montaigne. Spotted: Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner were recently seen dining there as a couple.
Light Pleasures : baby spinach salad with yuzu, black truffle and bonito (€38), marinated sea bream carpaccio with yuzu and rocoto chili (€20), lacquered eel maki (€18), crispy crab and Madras curry galette with avocado (€30), lightly cooked yellowtail with ponzu and toasted sesame oil (€23), or a sashimi assortment (€20 to €28). Don’t miss the iced mochis (€17 for 3) and the extraordinary matcha chiffon cake with chocolate sauce (€15).
Le Bar des Prés, 25 rue du Dragon, Paris 6e. 01 43 25 87 67. Open daily from 12pm to 2:30pm and 7pm to 11pm.
The Most Oriental: Yoummah
Escape to a lively, colorful spot adorned with zelliges, terracotta bejmat tiles, earthen walls, vintage doors, and XL pottery. Yoummah embodies the Mediterranean spirit, welcoming you like family on plush banquettes, transporting you far from its neighbor on Place de la Bourse. At the helm: self-taught Hamdi Brahmia, driven by a passion for healthy and delicious food, reimagining classic oriental cuisine with less fat and sugar.
Light Pleasures : vitamin-packed salads like eggplant, hummus and pomegranate (€11.90), roasted cauliflower with zaatar (€11.90), comforting soups including tomato and green barley chorba (€7.90), vegetable balls (€11.90) and even vegetarian couscous (€13.90). For dessert, rose-infused yogurt (€3) or orange blossom mouhalabia (€3). A must: warm homemade Matlouh Algerian bread.
Yoummah, 33 rue de Vivienne, Paris 2e. Open daily from 11:30am to 3pm and 7pm to 10pm.
The Most Plant-Based: Mesa at Hoy
Total disconnection awaits within the walls of the Hoy Hotel on Rue des Martyrs, promoting wellness in every corner. At its table, named Mesa, the same mood and vibes prevail, centered around a 100% plant-based, ultra-healthy, holistic cuisine. When we say vegan, we mean it—no eggs, meat, fish, cream, or milk. Far from boring, Mesa’s plates are infused with Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian notes that add flavor and spice.
Light Pleasures : Among our favorites ? Jerusalem artichoke soup (€11), breaded shiitake mushrooms tonkatsu-style with Japanese rice and broccolini (€20), tofu tacos with salsa (€20), and an ultra-comforting vanilla finger cake (€11).
Mesa restaurant à l’hôtel HOY, 68 rue des Martyrs, Paris 9e. 01 77 37 87 21. Open Tuesday to Saturday 7:30am–10pm, Monday and Sunday until 6:30pm.
The Most Sought-After: Rosy at Carita
Away from the city’s hustle and bustle, nestled on the second floor of the iconic Carita Maison de Beauté on Faubourg Saint-Honoré, this ultra-relaxing white paradise offers a true escape. Calm and elegance define this hidden gem, overseen by Chef Amandine Chaignot (Pouliche, Café de Luce), who curates a fresh and delicate cuisine served from breakfast through evening aperitifs.
Light Pleasures : In this beauty temple, Rosy’s menu features exquisite, feel-good dishes. Favorites include the Rosita salad with quinoa, chicken, burrata, pumpkin, avocado, broccoli, radish, goji berries and lime teriyaki sauce (also available veggie, €28); avocado toast with a runny egg and sunflower seeds (€25); yellow carrot soup with burrata cream, hazelnut and goji berries (€14). For dessert, grapefruit salad with pink lychee sorbet (€14). Feeling naughty? Valrhona dark chocolate madeleine with coconut (€9).
Rosy, Maison de Beauté Carita, 11, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris 8e. 01 44 94 11 11. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30am to 6pm.
The Most Colorful: Açaí & You
Following the success of its food truck specializing in fruity bowls made with açai berries—this antioxidant-rich superfood—Açaí & You has opened a healthy cantine on Rue de Maubeuge, complete with a charming little terrace and a Bali-inspired decor. One of the co-founders is none other than Willy Rovelli, comedian and France Bleu columnist.
Light Pleasures : the star açaí bowl with açaí cream, banana, homemade crunchy granola, homemade peanut butter and mixed seeds, topped with your choice of fruit (from €10). For all-day brunch vibes, add a perfectly seasoned toast with eggplant caviar, burrata or guacamole, plus a smoothie or matcha latte (+€3).
Açaï & You, 47 rue Dauphine, Paris 6e. 09 81 97 49 57. Open daily from 10am to 5pm.
The Most Raw: La Cevicheria
Yum! Peruvian-style tapas in a dreamy setting! Reimagined in all its forms, ceviche takes center stage here as raw fish tapas, expertly marinated, delicately seasoned, and paired with fruits and vegetables. Complement these light bites with delicious pisco cocktails, all in a delightfully tropical-chic ambiance. A paradise for indulging while keeping a flat belly.
Light Pleasures : nikkei salmon ceviche with avocado cream and mango (€21), sea bream tiraditos with herbs (€21), and a vegan bowl with avocado, coriander, sweet potato and red onion (€16).
La Cevicheria, 14 rue Bachaumont, Paris 2e. 09 80 88 58 05. Open Monday to Friday 12pm–3pm and 6pm–midnight, Saturday nonstop from noon to midnight.
The Most Cutting-Edge: Wild & The Moon
Emma Sawko bridges French indulgence with naturopathy and veganism, bringing the best of L.A. to Paris with cold-pressed juices, hearty salads, and noglu paninis.
Light Pleasures : The stunning and colorful Blue Magic Bowl with fruits and spirulina (€12.90), orange, olive oil and white chocolate cake (€7), vegan banh mi with Chinese cabbage and cucumber (€11.50), homemade coconut chocolate bounty (€3.20), plus a range of cold-pressed juices and therapeutic drinks like Keep It Clean (from €7.90).
Wild & The Moon, 19 place du Marché Saint-Honoré, Paris 1er. 09 72 66 22 96. Open Monday to Friday 8am–8pm, weekends from 9am. Full list of Parisian locations here.
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