The best southern restaurants in Paris

"Come to Provence, or Provence will come to you..." The vacation can wait: right in Paris, some Mediterranean restaurants have nothing to envy to the tables, markets, and beach huts of the South. Where can you savor the best pain-bagnats, pissaladières, bouillabaisses, zucchini flower fritters, and stuffed vegetables without leaving the capital? Let's explore the spots that exude the fragrant scents of the scrubland...

Head to the French Riviera at Les Niçois, a trendy spot run by ambassadors of the "pastis, pétanque, pissaladière" lifestyle. Here, you can enjoy a killer pan-bagnat with your fingers (€8), a real Niçoise salad (€8), a cone of panisses (€5), zucchini fritters (€7), and chichis for dessert (€6) before playing pétanque in the secret room downstairs, all washed down with their house rosé in collaboration with José Garcia (€5). On weekends, enjoy a relaxed brunch with the whole family.

Les Niçois, 7 rue Lacharrière, Paris 11th. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 6 pm to 2 am. Reservations at 09 84 16 55 03.

Stars and artists from the neighborhood flock to Le Basilic, an elegant restaurant akin to those you can only reach by boat on the Riviera. The dishes here evoke barefoot luxury : crab tartare with avocado (€35), spaghetti with clams (€36), sole meunière (€72), grilled tuna with fresh coriander, soy sauce, and sesame (€36). Its tree-lined terrace with tablecloths and silverware is a true haven away from the cars.

Le Basilic, 2 rue Casimir Périer, Paris 7th. Open Monday to Sunday from 12 pm to 3 pm and from 7:30 pm to midnight. Info and reservations online or at 01 44 18 94 64.

A café and a little square under the olive trees in the heart of the Marais that transport you straight to Gordes or Saint-Rémy. This highly privileged address continues to gather the trendy neighborhood tribes around large tables with a refined selection of pastis. Enjoy Pagnol's madeleines with ratatouille, anchoïade or tapenade (€12), small fried fish (€12), Provençal stuffed vegetables (€24), and orange blossom crème brûlée (€9).

Chez Janou, 2 rue Roger Verlomme, Paris 3rd. Open Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 8 pm. Info and reservations at 01 42 72 28 41.

When a Niçois is homesick, they inevitably crave socca, the famous chickpea pancakes: the quintessential southern street food. Fortunately, Alain Miam Miam, the dealer of the best sandwiches in the capital, makes a delicious one at his highly sought-after stall on rue Charlot. Enjoy it in a cone, as if you were at the Cours Saleya market (€3.50).

Chez Alain Miam Miam, 26 rue Charlot, Paris 3rd. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Info at 09 86 17 28 00.

A gust of mistral in the 16th ! This brasserie, founded by a group of southerners, has imported the cheerfulness of Saint-Tropez, the social terrace gatherings, and Var specialties for beautiful summer evenings : truffle tarama (€15), kefta skewers (€16), roasted royal sea bream with braised fennel and pastis aioli (€26), and orange blossom mille-feuille (€11). Only the cicadas and locals are missing.

Brasserie Cézanne, 45 avenue Kléber, Paris 16th. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 2 am. Info and reservations online or at 06 49 86 36 30.  

© Jean-Baptiste Mossa

Baieta means "kiss" in Niçois dialect. It's truly a declaration of love that Julia Sedefdjian offers Parisians by reconciling haute cuisine with Niçoise cooking. The young Michelin-starred chef has made the Bouillabaieta, an irresistible couture bouillabaisse, her signature dish. A must-try once in a lifetime, along with her aioli, available in her 3-course (€60), 4-course (€95), or 7-course (€110) menus.

Baieta, 5 rue de Pontoise, Paris 5th. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 12 pm to 2:15 pm and from 7 pm to 10:15 pm. Info and reservations online or at 01 42 02 59 19.  

© The Travel Buds

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