Where to Eat Near the Musée d'Orsay: Lunch Spots a Local Actually Recommends
Updated: Oct 15
On the fifth floor of the Musée d'Orsay, behind the face of one of the old station's giant clocks, the light comes through backwards: you see the Seine, the Tuileries and the roofs of the Right Bank through the numerals, while the smell of coffee drifts over from the café next door. After two hours with Monet and Van Gogh, it is the moment everyone asks the same question. Where do we eat now?
The best places to eat near the Musée d'Orsay are the museum's own Restaurant du Musée d'Orsay and Café Campana for convenience, the classic bistros of rue du Bac and quai Voltaire for a proper French lunch within five minutes' walk, Au Pied de Fouet for a budget meal, and L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Saint-Germain for a special occasion. Book ahead, and avoid the 12:30 to 13:30 rush.
Can you eat inside the Musée d'Orsay?
Yes, and it is one of the few museum restaurants in Paris worth planning around. The Restaurant du Musée d'Orsayoccupies the dining room of the old Hôtel d'Orsay, built with the railway station for the 1900 World's Fair. Painted ceilings, gilded mouldings and crystal chandeliers: you lunch in the Belle Époque without leaving the building. The cooking is classic French, with a menu that often echoes the current exhibition.
For something lighter, Café Campana sits on the fifth floor near the Impressionist galleries, with whimsical furniture designed by the Brazilian Campana brothers and that view through the clock. It is perfect for a quiche, a salad or coffee and cake between rooms. Remember that the museum is closed on Mondays and stays open late on Thursday evenings, which is the most peaceful time for a visit followed by dinner.
Where to eat near the Musée d'Orsay on a budget?
Au Pied de Fouet, on rue Saint-Benoît in Saint-Germain, about twelve minutes away, is a tiny, cheerful bistro with shared tables, a short handwritten menu and prices from another era. Arrive early, because it fills up fast. Another very French option is the formule déjeuner, the set lunch menu, that most bistros of rue du Bac and rue de Beaune offer on weekdays: usually a starter and main, or main and dessert, for far less than the dinner menu. If French menus intimidate you, here is how to read a French menu with confidence, and for more ideas across the city, see how to eat well in Paris on a budget.
On a fine day, you can also put together a picnic from the food halls of La Grande Épicerie de Paris and eat it by the Seine on the quays below the museum.
Where to go for a special lunch near the Musée d'Orsay?
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Saint-Germain, on rue de Montalembert, about eight minutes' walk, is the address for a memorable meal. You sit at a long counter facing the open kitchen and watch the cooks at work, a format Robuchon pioneered, with small tasting plates and the famous potato purée that made his name. Book well in advance.
Where to have coffee or a pastry after the museum?
Cross the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor, the footbridge just in front of the museum, and in about ten minutes you are at Angelina on rue de Rivoli, for its thick hot chocolate and Mont-Blanc. In the other direction, Café de Flore on boulevard Saint-Germain, about fifteen minutes away, is touristy but irresistible, a coffee there is a small piece of literary history.
Quick guide: where to eat near the Musée d'Orsay
Place | Walk from the museum | Best for |
Restaurant du Musée d'Orsay | Inside | A Belle Époque lunch without leaving the museum |
Café Campana | Inside, 5th floor | A light lunch or coffee with a view |
Les Antiquaires, 13 rue du Bac | About 5 minutes | A classic, lively brasserie lunch |
Le Voltaire, 27 quai Voltaire | About 5 minutes | Old-school Left Bank elegance |
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, 5 rue de Montalembert | About 8 minutes | A special occasion |
Au Pied de Fouet, rue Saint-Benoît | About 12 minutes | A cheap, cheerful bistro meal |
Angelina, 226 rue de Rivoli | About 10 minutes, across the footbridge | Hot chocolate and pastries |
My own favourite after a morning at the Orsay is probably Le Voltaire. It is classic and it never misses: the food is always good and the service is excellent, the kind of attentive, unhurried service that has almost disappeared in Paris. I order the steak tartare with homemade fries, or, when the occasion calls for it, the sole meunière, which is worth every euro.
Heading to the Eiffel Tower next? Here are the best restaurants near the Eiffel Tower.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a restaurant inside the Musée d'Orsay?
Yes. The Restaurant du Musée d'Orsay serves classic French cuisine in the gilded dining room of the former Hôtel d'Orsay, and Café Campana on the fifth floor offers lighter dishes and coffee. You need a museum ticket to access both.
What is the best place for lunch near the Musée d'Orsay?
For convenience, the museum's own restaurant. For a classic French lunch, the brasseries of rue du Bac, five minutes away, such as Les Antiquaires. For a budget meal, Au Pied de Fouet in Saint-Germain.
Do I need to book a restaurant near the Musée d'Orsay?
For lunch on weekends and for special restaurants like L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, yes. For a weekday brasserie lunch, arriving before 12:15 or after 13:45 usually works.
What day is the Musée d'Orsay closed?
Mondays. It stays open late on Thursday evenings, a quiet time to visit before dinner.
If you would like help planning a day at the Musée d'Orsay with the right table at the right time, or a whole week of Paris eating, I would love to put it together for you.
You can also browse our Paris food tours and tastings. And if you would like help planning a day at the Musée d'Orsay with the right table at the right time, or a whole week of Paris eating, I would love to put it together for you.
