The Best Spots to Stay Slim and Eat Well

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!

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: Share the rainbow organic egg starter in full violet mode, jazzed up with wild garlic mayo, toasted buckwheat, and pickled mustard seeds (€16) and the beautiful green asparagus with Thai vinaigrette, little gem lettuce, slow-cooked egg yolk, and pickles (€18). Then dig into a super sexy healthy bowl that you’ll want to recreate at home (quinoa, marinated salmon, grilled broccoli, pomegranate, sesame, coriander… €27), fusilli al limone (€26) or the “Star” Carrot steamed and oven-roasted with lemony green yogurt chimichurri and black rice (€25). Cool: Beauty Drinks featuring lattes and detox juices, with optional collagen, spirulina, or CBD boosts (+€5).

Café 52, at the Hôtel Grand Powers, 52 rue François Ier, Paris 8th and at the Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, 4 rue de Valois, Paris 1st. Open daily from 7am to midnight non-stop.

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 a pencil to tick off your selections. Highlights include Wagyu, Black Cod, Bottarga, or Yellowtail and Fried Tofu handrolls (€7–19), toro uni (tuna and sea urchin), King Crab or Aburi Wagyu nigiris (€8–16), and a beautifully fragrant miso soup (€7). Our tip? Go for the handroll menus with three to six pieces (€19–45) to keep your budget in check. But oh, it’s so good... Finish off with a genmaicha ice cream, that roasted rice green tea (€6), or matcha and black sesame mochis (€8).

Hando Handroll Marais, 14 rue de Bretagne, Paris 3rd. 01 86 04 57 49. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
© Pierre Lucet-Penato

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: LaLa Cuisine serves fresh seasonal products and delightfully light homemade dishes.

Light pleasures: To start, a velvety carrot and potato soup with curry and paprika (€9) might just be the best soup of your life. Craving the Mediterranean? Try the octopus salad with quinoa, buckwheat, pomegranate, and orange (€13). For the main course, the Fisherman’s Sushi won us over: a sea bream chirashi on vinegared rice, with avocado, coriander, and pickled ginger (€28). Club sandwich fans will love the gluten-free veggie version with avocado, carrots, and perfectly seasoned feta, all guilt-free (€24). With a meal this good for your heart and figure, you can treat yourself to a gourmet coffee or tea (€13) or a pistachio praline cookie (€6).

LaLa Cuisine, 6 place des Petits Pères, Paris 2nd. Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 6pm. 01 40 13 75 75.

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 spinach shoots (€9), "Toro" tuna temaki (€18), green maki with tuna, avocado, arugula, and mint (€24), shiso bomb maki with salmon, avocado, shiso, nori, and yellow radish (€17). The stars of the menu: Gatsby maki with seabass, shrimp, avocado, white tarama, red onions, lemon, and nori (€28). For a treat: non-alcoholic Matcha Lychee cocktail (€12). For the gourmands: one of the delicious homemade mochi in black sesame, matcha, yuzu, or chestnut (€8). Note: for dinner, try the exhilarating Discovery Menu for two, with three courses of isakaya, makis, nigri, and three signature mini desserts (€75 per person).

Blueberry, 6 rue du Sabot, Paris 6e. 01 42 22 21 56.

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: Green Provence asparagus with miso (€30), citrus-marinated fish on bombesque crispy rice (€26), lacquered eel and avocado makis (€18), an addictive crispy galette with crab, Madras curry, and avocado (€30), filet beef with satay spices and lime condiment (€42), or an assortment of sashimi (€32). For dessert: icy mochis (€16) or the extraordinary matcha chiffon cake drizzled with chocolate sauce (€14). Orgasmic.

Le Bar des Prés, 25 rue du Dragon, Paris 6e. 01 43 25 87 67.

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: Vibrant salads packed with fresh ingredients, like the one with eggplant, hummus, and pomegranate (€11.90); roasted cauliflower with zaatar (€11.90); comforting soups, including the must-try tomato and green barley chorba (€7.90); vegetable patties (€11.90), and even vegetarian couscous (€13.90). For dessert, dive into the Ispahan rose yogurt (€3) or the orange-flavored mouhalabia with orange blossom (€3). Don’t skip the delicious Matlouh, a traditional Algerian bread made on-site and served warm: pure bliss!

Yoummah, 33 rue de Vivienne, Paris 2e.

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: the Tuscan ribollita soup with vegetables and bread (€11), the breaded shiitake mushroom tonkatsu-style served with Japanese rice and broccolini (€20), the stunning tacos with oyster mushrooms, matcha salsa, and pickles (€20), or their ultra-comforting pumpkin spice cake with brûléed meringue (€10).

Mesa Restaurant at Hotel Hoy, 68 rue des Martyrs, Paris 9e. 01 77 37 87 21.

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, a delightful mix of quinoa, shrimp, burrata, roasted butternut, avocado, zucchini, radish, red onions, goji berries, and lime teriyaki sauce, also available in a vegan version (€28); the lively avocado toast topped with a soft egg and sunflower seeds (€14); and the velvety pumpkin soup with hazelnuts and a milk foam as soothing as a caress (€14). For dessert, the fresh fruit salad with aloe vera is savored like caviar (€14). Want to indulge? Go for the coffee duo with a madeleine adorned with a hint of praline chocolate, fresh hazelnut, and flower petals (€18).

Rosy, Maison de Beauté Carita, 11 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris 8e. 01 44 94 11 11.

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 menu star? An açai bowl made with açai cream, banana, crunchy homemade granola, house-made peanut butter, and a mix of seeds (chia, pumpkin, goji berries), topped with your choice of fruit: strawberry, blueberry, mango, or pineapple-coconut. Add optional house-made hazelnut cream (starting at €11). For an all-day brunch vibe, pair it with a well-seasoned toast featuring eggplant caviar, burrata, or guacamole, alongside a smoothie or matcha latte (+€3 for a brunch menu).

Açaí & You, 78 rue de Maubeuge, Paris 9e. 09 81 97 49 57.

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), royal sea bream tiraditos with herbs (€21), and for vegans, the veggie bowl with avocado, cilantro, sweet potato, and red onions (€16).

La Cevicheria, 14 rue Bachaumont, Paris 2e. 09 80 88 58 05.

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 super bowl with fruits and spirulina (€12.50), orange, olive oil, and white chocolate cake (€7), vegan meat super banh mi with Chinese cabbage and cucumber (€12.50), or the homemade choco-coconut bounty (€3.20). Don’t miss their 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. Full list of Parisian locations here.

She caters to Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton for their private lunches. Healthy lifestyle guru Angèle Ferreux-Maeght feeds fashionistas with highly photogenic snacks.

Light Pleasures: Lunchbox with beluga lentils, roasted squash, parmesan shavings, toasted almonds, basil, parmesan sauce, and romaine heart (€16); hot dish of vegetable couscous with pomegranate and slivered almonds (€16); cold butternut soup (€12.50); or dark chocolate and mandarin tartlet.

La Guinguette d’Angèle, 34 rue Coquillière, Paris 1er. 09 82 41 03 63.

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