L'Ami Jean

If getting a close-up of the Eiffel Tower is on your agenda, then booking a spot at the nearby L’Ami Jean should be too. It’s a lively, rickety bistro with mismatched furniture and crooked artwork where the food is excellent and hearty—think roasted veal cheek and beef bourguignon. The tasting menu includes smaller portions of the greatest hits, plus seasonal standouts like stuffed butternut squash in the winter and a foie gras-stuffed tuna belly “sandwich” topped with marinated melon in late summer.

No matter what, don’t leave without trying their famous rice pudding, which comes in a wooden bowl with a big serving spoon that you’ll be tempted to use as your own personal utensil. Go for lunch so you have the rest of the day to pleasantly digest, and make sure to book a few days, if not weeks, in advance.