When you're feeling homesick, what could be better than finding a little piece of home here on your doorstep? If your heart is longing for a slice of Italy, MisterBilingue has the best spots in Paris to make you feel right at home!
Whether you're Italian by blood or Italian by love, everyone knows that Italian culture is considered to be something special all over the world. And here in the French capital, home to countless Italians for centuries, it's no exception.
In this article, we'll be treating you to the best Italian spots in all of Paris to get your fill of good traditional cuisine and authentic produce direct from nonna's kitchen – you won't be disappointed! These places are the closest you can get to the real Italy without getting on a plane, all you have to do is simply wander around the streets of Paris!
We hope you're not reading this on an empty stomach, because there's no way you'll make it through this top 10 bursting with the best of Italian flavours and culture without needing a little sustenance. Forza, andiamo a mangiare !
Restaurant Passerini: the best pasta dishes in France
There's no other way to kick off this top 10 of the best Italian spots in Paris than with… the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy!
Passerini in the 12th arrondissement was voted the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy by the 50 Top Italy guide, and we can see why! Chef Giovanni Passerini (best chef of 2017 according to Le Fooding) offers a menu that showcases the best of pasta, whether it's tagliatelle al ragù, pasta all'amatriciana or a hearty bowl of spaghetti alla putanesca made with smoked eel.
No effort is spared to tantalize your taste buds in this gastronomic gem, and even if it's a little pricier than other places (expect to pay around €35 for a three-course meal), we think it's well worth it!
If your heart is set on chowing down on some of Passerini's finest, we recommend making a reservation in advance as Paris' gourmet community is already rushing for a taste of the dishes that have earned this spot its world title.
Amici Mei: friends and pizza
You say Italy, we say pizza. Pizza is a truly Italian institution, so to recommend a pizza restaurant in France, it must really be something special…
At Amici Mei, a renowned pizzeria in the 11th arrondissement, you can enjoy some of the best pizza in the city. No small claim. In this Sardinian trattoria, you can find a variety of dishes made with the best ingredients from sea and land. And even if pizza is the star on this menu, there's still a delicious choice of fresh pasta and risotto dishes to keep everyone at the table happy.
And what if I want to take a pizza home with me? Not a problem! But it has to be said, we recommend eating in to soak up the waiting staff's authentic Italian accents when they take your order and offer you advice on the menu. Come early to be sure of getting a table!
Nonna Clelia: thecucina domesticaof your childhood
Is it a real cucina domestica that you're looking for? You know, the one that takes you all the way back to the sweet smells of grandma's kitchen as she lovingly prepared you a tasty homecooked meal?
Venture a few streets away from Porte de Clignancourt in the 18th arrondissement and step through the door of the Nonna Clelia restaurant!
That's it, you're home, and it'll only take one waft of air from inside the kitchen to convince you that this is a meal that will definitely live up to expectations.
On the menu: polenta served on a board with a deliciously gooey serving of gorgonzola; a divine porcini risotto; pasta made fresh every day (papardelle, tagliatelle, gnocchi...); and, of course, all the Italian desserts you would expect (tiramisù, panna cotta, chocolate "salami"…).
For authentic, soulful Italian cuisine at a reasonable price, this is the place for you.
La Osteria Ferrara: Italian delicacies in all their splendour
An authentic Italian trattoria set inside an old French bistro? We know just the place, it's the Osteria Ferrara!
A former haunt of Italian anarchists, this small bistro with a simple yet refined decor offers a menu thought up by chef Fabrizio Ferrara, and it's well worth a visit!
Octopus and black rice salad with courgette and Nocellara olives, sun-dried Vialone Nano "Melotti" risotto, ricotta and eggplant ravioli, dark chocolate ganache and gianduja… need we go on? And that's just a taste of their menu, which changes with the seasons and according to the ingredients and inspirations of their Italian chef.
If you fancy treating yourself to a sumptuous meal cooked by a renowned Italian chef in a charming setting, the Osteria Ferrara is the place for you!
Au nouveau Nez: the popolare _ spirit of the south**
A Tuscan chef, a Neapolitan sommelier, good wine and a menu that changes every day. What else needs to be said about Au nouveau nez?
A former wine cellar transformed into a restaurant, this establishment located in the 11th arrondissement offers traditional recipes and products from small local producers, all at a very generous price.
And if you just so happen to be the type to enjoy a little wine with your meal, we're delighted to inform your taste buds of a long list of natural wines available by the glass, all kindly explained by your Neapolitan host!
Grom: the gelataria where only good things happen
"Ice cream as it once was." So goes the motto at Grom, one of the best places to taste Italian ice cream in the French capital.
It all started in Turin in 2003, when two friends with a passion for good ingredients decided to make the best ice cream possible. A few years later, that decision seems to have paid off with shops open all over the world, including half a dozen throughout Ile-de-France. The recipe for success? Homemade ice cream made with good quality products.
Classic gelato, sorbets on a stick, affogato, pan gelato and even gelato sandwiches – whatever you choose to satisfy your craving, your stomach will thank you for this sweet treat!
RAP: the little deli for big Italian products
Do you dream of preparing your family's recipes yourself and ordering top quality ingredients straight from Italy? The answer to all your dreams and more is waiting for you at the RAP delicatessen!
Fish products (tuna, bottarga, anchovy sauce…), tinned tomatoes (San Marzano, Corbarino, Piennolo…), flour, cheese, pasta, rice and more. You get it, the list of possibilities is endless, and you'll almost feel like you're at a real Italian market with more choices than anywhere else you could find on this side of the Alps.
We recommend trying their panettone, a delicacy that is just as moreish at Christmas as any other time during the year. And if you want to taste some products on site, you might get lucky and be offered a taster while you're there. Whether it's wine or cold meats, you won't leave RAP without a bag full of goodies for your kitchen!
Au village italien: a traditional deli and food to go all in one
Whether you're looking for a bite to eat on the go or simply to stock up on your Italian produce, think about giving the Village Italien in the 11th arrondissement a visit!
Inside this spacious deli, you'll find a wide selection of products, including top quality cold meats, wines made from Italian grape varieties, gnocchi, regional cheeses, more breadstick varieties than you even knew existed, and more…
While you're there, you'll also have the opportunity to take a check out their takeaway options. You'll find a choice of traditional dishes that are equally delicious whether it's a meal for one or a feast with friends. Stuffed ravioli, tiramisù, and small homemade pizzas, you won't go hungry after paying a visit to this gem of a deli just a stone's throw away from République!
La Tour de Babel: Italian culture at your fingertips
Passionate about Italian language and culture? Tired of reading Umberto Eco and Casanova in translation? Head straight for the La Tour de Babel in the 4th arrondissement!
Open from Tuesday to Saturday ever since 1984, this French-Italian bookshop offers a wide choice of books in Italian and French. Whether it's children's books, tour guides, literary reviews, audio books or just a good read written in the language of Dante Alighieri, you can rest assured that even the most insatiable reader will get their fix here.
Finally, if you're looking for an obscure item or merely fancy a chat with experts in Italian culture, the Tower of Babel also hosts regular meetings with Italian researchers and students from Paris.
L'institut italien de Paris
Run by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris is responsible for disseminating and promoting Italian language and culture.
In addition to language courses, here you can participate in various cultural events geared towards promoting Italy and its exceptional culture. And when we say exceptional, we really mean it. We're talking literature, theatre, contemporary art, concerts, cinema, scientific exhibitions, and much more.
The Italian Institute is a cultural paradise for anyone eager to learn more about the country that has given birth to countless artists and cultural giants.
We can't finish without mentioning that the library at the Italian Institute in Paris boasts more than 50,000 books on Italian culture, as well as thousands of cassettes, DVDs and CDs. There's an idea for losing yourself in Italy for a few hours… or years!
So, are you hungry yet? We hope our best picks have given you some fresh inspiration for life in Paris and you'll be keen to stay here with us a little longer! It's not too shabby in Paris, don't you think?
