Top 5 Seafood Restaurants in Paris

If you can’t get away for a seaside escape, Paris has plenty to offer when it comes to the catch of the day. Most of the city’s food markets and neighbourhoods have a trusty poissonier, or fishmonger. These fish shops are great resources for finding out what’s in season and how to prepare your fresh fish at home. If you’re feeling like taking a night off from the kitchen, treat yourself to one of Paris’s excellent options for seafood.

Some of the cities newest seafood restaurants are dedicated not only to using fresh, prepared ingredients, but they are also pairing their dishes with innovative and exciting cocktail, wine, and beer menus. While the city streets are no replacement for sandy beaches, eating seafood in Paris is still a delicious option, and may even trick your subconscious into thinking its gone coastal.

Here are a few restaurants to check out to get your seafood fix in Paris:

Le Mary Celeste

Taking its name from an abandoned American merchant ship, this restaurant and bar embraces all things nautical. When it opened a few years ago Le Mary Celeste caused a splash with its fabulous oysters sold for a euro each. The oyster prices have since gone up, but the quality and innovation in the cuisine remain the same. While there’s always something for vegetarians and carnivores on the menu, the seafood usually steals the show. Enjoy the best of what’s seasonal, from an entire crab (be ready to wear a bib when eating that dish!) to delicate shellfish and other poisson (fish) oriented small plates. The open, airy dining room with its wooden tables and benches all maritime vibe complement the seafood menu. The aperitif style cocktails pair with fresh fish, making for an all-around seafaring fun time.

L’Avant Comptoir de la Mer

This seafood-specializing sister restaurant is a must for fans of fresh fish. Let the friendly staff guide you through your order as they tell you about the specialties of the season. Dishes are served as easy-to-share small plates, making it easy to try a little of everything. Get there early as the small space fills up fast, and the continued desire to try one more small plate means that table turnover is slow.

Clamato

The specialty here is shellfish and seafood in all kinds its incarnations. You’ll find dishes like fresh oysters and razor clams to comfort food like the restaurant’s take on the Filet o’ Fish sandwich or the Cod Fish Croquettes.

Fish la Boissonerie

Located in a former poissonerie, this restaurant has kept the former tenant’s charm. With the beautiful tiled fishy façade and a slight change to the name (the “P” became “B” – Poissonerie to Boissonerie). The spirit of the space remains the same, with fresh fish figuring at the center of the menu and daily specials. The welcoming bar makes this a great spot for solo dining. Or you can enjoy a drink and snacks before you head off to explore Paris by night. With a nice selection of natural wines and a consistent commitment to sourcing high quality seafood, Fish never fails to please.

La Méduse

A relative newcomer to the scene, La Méduse is gaining in popularity, thanks to the booming cocktail scene in the city. Although this Canal St Martin side bar is labeled a “bar à cocktails”, the seafood focused menu is also very much on point. Enjoy a negroni or classic martini with fresh-from-the-sea selections prepared and presented. The space still attracts more of the cocktail crowd, so be sure to get there early, grab a table and order a side of shellfish to go with your cocktail hour.

Learn to cook the freshest seafood in a French cooking class in Paris