Because sometimes, Paris wears Aperol lipstick and sings in Italian.
There are nights in Paris when the city doesn’t feel French—it feels decadently Italian. The chatter gets louder, the pasta arrives al dente and unapologetically saucy, and the wine flows like gossip at a Roman wedding. Whether you’re in the mood for a mozzarella moment, Milanese flair, or the comforting embrace of Nonna-style cucina, The Socialites have twirled their forks across the city to bring you the most authentic, stylish, and dolce vita-worthy Italian spots in Paris.
These are not your average trattorias. These are gastronomic love letters to Italy, filtered through the refinement of Paris.
Passerini (12e) – Where Rome Marries Paris
Chef Giovanni Passerini is the name in new-wave Italian in Paris. His ever-changing menu elevates Italian classics with a contemporary French twist—homemade pastas, slow-cooked meats, bold wines. Elegant but not stiff, this place is where food critics and chic locals gather to worship the sauce.
📍 65 Rue Traversière, 75012
🍝 Must-order: Pappardelle with wild boar ragù, or anything involving duck
🎯 Insider tip: Book far in advance—it’s a cult.
Caffè Stern (2e) – Venetian Glamour in a 19th-Century Print Shop
Designed by Philippe Starck and helmed by chef Massimiliano Alajmo (of 3-star Michelin Le Calandre), this hidden gem in the Passage des Panoramas feels like a Fellini dream. Vintage chandeliers, baroque walls, and a touch of theatrical excess—dining here feels like dining inside an opera costume trunk.
📍 47 Passage des Panoramas, 75002
🍷 Try: The saffron risotto or creamy cacio e pepe
💫 Why it’s magic: You’re eating spaghetti… in a palace of ghosts.
Amici Miei (11e) – Neapolitan Soul, Parisian Charm
Lively, unpretentious, and beloved by locals, Amici Miei serves Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and desserts that make you say “porca miseria!”. Everything tastes like it came from someone’s Italian grandmother—with just enough Parisian mood lighting to make it feel date-worthy.
📍 44 Rue Saint-Sabin, 75011
🍕 Best bite: The Pizza Mortadella e Stracciatella
🎉 Mood: First dates, last-minute group dinners, laughter until midnight
Ristorante National (2e) – Milanese Gloss, Parisian Precision
Tucked inside the Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers, this is fashion-week Italian—sleek, sexy, and utterly cosmopolitan. The menu features grilled octopus, chic tagliolini, burrata so fresh it glows. Think aperitivo under the chandeliers, followed by tiramisu worth committing sins for.
📍 243 Rue Saint-Martin, 75003
🍸 Start with: A Negroni Sbagliato and burrata with citrus zest
💄 Who goes: Editors, DJs, and everyone who says “ciao” as a greeting
🇮🇹 Ober Mamma (11e) – Big Mamma’s First & Still the Loudest
Yes, it’s popular. Yes, there’s usually a line. But Ober Mamma is where the Big Mamma empire began, and it still captures that “I just kissed someone in Rome” energy better than most. The truffle pasta is legendary, the cocktails flirtatious, the staff magnetic.
📍 107 Boulevard Richard-Lenoir, 75011
🍝 Don’t skip: Truffle tagliatelle and the burrata pizza
🎯 Go early or late—or just commit to waiting with a Spritz.
Giulia (1er) – Power Lunch, Italian Edition
A stone’s throw from Place Vendôme, Giulia is sleek, white-tablecloth Italian with impeccable service and Milanese attitude. It’s quieter than the Big Mamma crowd, but the food—think veal tonnato, silky pastas, pistachio semifreddo—is chef’s kiss.
📍 41 Avenue de l’Opéra, 75002
👜 Best for: Client lunches, quiet flirtations, mid-week indulgence
👠 Vibe: Tailored suits, heels, discreet diamonds
Epoca (7e) – Roman Warmth Behind Invalides
Led by Italian chef Diletta Sisti, Epoca is feminine, luminous, and filled with floral plates and unapologetic butter. From the focaccia to the carbonara, every bite is romantic—but never heavy. The décor? Soft colors, marble, terrazzo, and olive oil everywhere.
📍 17 Rue de la Tour-Maubourg, 75007
🌿 Order: The lemon linguine and finish with the panna cotta
🧺 Lunch tip: They do an “Italian picnic” set in summer—takeaway heaven.
Iovine’s (Louvre + Hotel de Ville) – The Pizza the Locals Fight For
Their slow-rise Neapolitan pizza dough is legendary. Iovine’s isn’t flashy—it’s about clean, rich ingredients, 48-hour fermentation, and buffalo mozzarella that hums. The Louvre location is prime post-museum dining, but locals flock to the original near Hôtel de Ville.
📍 7 Rue du Colonel Driant, 75001 or 7 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004
🥄 Don’t skip: Pizza Parmigiana and the Limoncello tiramisu
🕊️ Mood: Elegant, unfussy, feels like a well-kept secret
Racines (2e) – Franco-Italian Wine Bistro Heaven
Hidden in Passage des Panoramas, this bistrattoria serves seasonal plates and a massive natural wine list. It’s less about pizza and more about fresh gnocchi with sage butter, veal cheek braised in white wine, or squid ink linguine. The kind of place where chefs go on their nights off.
📍 8 Passage des Panoramas, 75002
🍷 Wine nerds: You’ll cry at the cellar
💫 Secret weapon: Sit at the bar for impromptu dish recommendations
BONUS: Gelato Like You’re in Florence
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Il Gelato del Marchese (3e): Elegant, aristocratic, and made for slow licks.
📍 3 Rue des Quatre Vents, 75006 -
Pozzetto (Marais): Pistachio that melts your soul.
📍 39 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004
The Socialites’ Rules of Italian Dining in Paris:
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Always say “buonasera” to the staff—it gets you better everything
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Order one pasta, one plate to share—Italians don’t overload the table
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Linger—dessert is not optional, and neither is another glass
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If you leave without a little oil on your lips or a story in your eyes, you’re doing it wrong
Because sometimes, the most Parisian nights come with Italian endings.
—The Socialites