The oldest restaurants at a glance
| Restaurant | Address | Date put forward | What is documented |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Tour d'Argent | 15 quai de la Tournelle, 5th | 1582 | The house claims 1582 and a visit by Henri IV, but no document supports it; the Terrail family has owned it since 1912 |
| À la Petite Chaise | 36 rue de Grenelle, 7th | 1680 | An inn-restaurant that presents itself as one of the oldest tables in the capital; the date comes from the house |
| Le Procope | 13 rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, 6th | 1686 | Founded as a café by Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli; the original café closed in 1872 and the present restaurant opened in 1957 |
| Lapérouse | 51 quai des Grands-Augustins, 6th | 1766 (building) | The building was bought in 1766 by a royal limonadier; Jules Lapérouse took over around 1850 |
| Le Grand Véfour | 17 rue de Beaujolais, 1st | 1784 | Opened under the Palais-Royal arcades as the Café de Chartres |
Why "the oldest" is hard to prove
A restaurant in the modern sense, a place where you choose from a menu and eat at your own table, only appeared in Paris in the second half of the 18th century. Before that, travellers ate at inns and at a host's table. So a date earlier than about 1760 usually describes a building, an inn or a café, not the restaurant you can book today. That is why the claims of La Tour d'Argent (1582) and À la Petite Chaise (1680) are best read as the age of the address and of the legend, while Le Procope and Le Grand Véfour can show more of a paper trail.
Le Procope is the best-known case. The café opened in 1686 on what is now rue de l'Ancienne Comédie and became a meeting place for writers, actors and philosophers, with Voltaire, Diderot and Benjamin Franklin among its famous customers. The original café closed in 1872, the premises served other uses, and the present restaurant opened in 1957, refurbished in an 18th-century style in 1988-89. A plaque calls it the oldest continuously operating café in the world, which is not strictly true given the 1872 closure.
The five houses one by one
La Tour d'Argent looks over the Seine and Notre-Dame from the quai de la Tournelle. Its pressed duck is served with a numbered certificate, a tradition started in the 1890s. It lost its third Michelin star in 1996, fell to one star in 2006 and completed a renovation of its premises in 2023. Expect a gastronomic menu price, and book weeks ahead.
À la Petite Chaise is on rue de Grenelle in the 7th arrondissement and presents itself as one of the oldest restaurants in the capital. The date of 1680 comes from the house itself, so read it as a tradition rather than a proven fact.
Le Procope is the easiest to visit: the dining room is decorated in 18th-century style and the menu is French classics. It is a restaurant for history, not for bargains, and it is busy at weekends.
Lapérouse sits in an 18th-century mansion on the quai des Grands-Augustins, with small private salons that were once famous for discreet dinners. It earned a third Michelin star in 1933, lost it in 1969, declined, and was revived after 2012. It is worth the visit for the rooms as much as the plate.
Le Grand Véfour is under the arcades of the Palais-Royal, where it opened in 1784 as the Café de Chartres. The setting, a historic garden arcade in the centre of Paris, is the main reason to go.
How to choose
- For the oldest claim: La Tour d'Argent, with a clear sense that the date is the house's own.
- For the easiest history lesson: Le Procope, open to anyone who books.
- For rooms and atmosphere: Lapérouse or Le Grand Véfour.
- For a smaller, calmer table: À la Petite Chaise.
- For a lower budget: lunch menus, which the houses publish on their own sites. Prices change, so confirm on the site before you come.
If you prefer historic decor at brasserie prices, see historic brasseries of Paris.
Booking tips
Book evenings and weekends as soon as your dates are known. Check opening days on the restaurant's own website, since several houses close on Sundays or at lunch. Dress codes are rarely strict but smart casual is the norm at the grand houses. Ask about allergies when you book. If you plan to dine on a Sunday, see which restaurants and shops are open on Sunday in Paris.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest restaurant in Paris? It depends on the definition. La Tour d'Argent claims 1582 and À la Petite Chaise 1680, but neither date is fully documented; Le Procope (1686) is the oldest of the famous houses with a documented history, though its original café closed in 1872.
Is Le Procope really the oldest café in the world? Its plaque says so, but the café closed in 1872 and the present restaurant opened in 1957, so the claim is not strictly accurate.
Which old restaurant has a Michelin star? La Tour d'Argent holds one star as of its latest listing; check the Michelin guide for the current status of the others.
Do I need to book? Yes for dinner, and a few weeks ahead for La Tour d'Argent.
Is there a cheaper way to taste old Paris? Yes: a guided food walk or a lunch menu in a historic house.
The Paris Authority editorial team, 12 November 2026.
