Bouillon Chartier

It is rare that you don’t have to queue at Bouillon Chartier, sometimes even extending past the small courtyard onto the sidewalk of Rue du Faubourg Montmartre. This is despite the large dining hall that can accommodate up to 320 people. The waiters spare no effort; they are quick, efficient, and always chic in their black-and-white uniforms!

If the crowd is large, it is simply because Bouillon Chartier combines many qualities: with its lamps, wooden furniture, and Art Deco ironwork, the place has been classified as a Monument Historique in 1989 and impresses with its style and size. It is a mythical place, full of history, where you can see the small numbered drawer furniture where regulars in the early 20th century stored their napkins.

The menu is extensive and offers simple but always delicious dishes, thanks to fresh ingredients, sauces, and seasonings. The prices are low, probably the lowest in Paris for this ambiance and these dishes.

Many appetizers are starting at 1 euro, main courses from 7 euros, and desserts from 2.50 euros. The homemade whipped cream is divine... You can order a bowl for 2.50 euros.

In short, Bouillon Chartier is a must-visit!

However, you also must enjoy noisy environments, be ready to leave the table fairly quickly after paying the bill, and, if you are a party of three, two, or alone, accept that one or more strangers might be seated at your table.

At lunchtime, the guests are from the neighborhood; in the evening, they come from all over the world. It is the last true bouillon in Paris, from the 380 that the capital counted in the second half of the 19th century.

Bouillon Racine, not to be confused with Bouillon Chartier, was founded by the same family and has retained its splendid decoration, but the atmosphere there is decidedly more formal and the value for money less appealing.

Restored in 2009 but unchanged since the first rush in 1896, Bouillon Chartier remains an absolute must!