A relatively new brasserie on Avenue de l'Opéra that nails the classic Parisian look — stone façade, wooden chairs, distressed mirrors, and plush banquettes. The kitchen runs all day (8am to midnight, continuous service), turning out solid French brasserie fare that's better than you'd expect from such a tourist-heavy address. It's not reinventing anything, but it doesn't need to — the location alone sells itself, and the food holds up its end of the bargain.
Classic Parisian brasserie on Avenue de l'Opéra with continuous kitchen 8am–midnight and a Tarte Tatin worth saving room for.
Come outside peak hours — a late lunch around 2pm or early dinner at 6:30pm means a calmer table and much faster service.
Solid brasserie fare in an unbeatable location
If you've just exited the Louvre and need a proper meal without walking far, Café du Louvre is the obvious and surprisingly decent choice. Sitting right on Avenue de l'Opéra at number 3, this brasserie leans hard into the classic Parisian aesthetic — stone walls, wooden chairs, distressed mirrors, and comfortable banquettes that make you want to linger. The room is large and gets busy, especially around lunch and dinner peaks, so expect a bit of a wait during rushes. Google reviewers (4.4 stars across nearly 1,500 reviews) praise the generous portions and the quality of traditional dishes — think escargots, steak frites, and a genuinely good Tarte Tatin to finish.
The kitchen runs continuously from 8am to midnight every day, which is a real plus in this neighborhood where many places close between lunch and dinner. The menu sticks to brasserie classics done with care rather than ambition — you're here for reliable French comfort food, not a culinary revelation. Plates come out nicely presented, and the staff handles the high volume with reasonable efficiency.
Is it the best meal you'll have in Paris? No. But for the location and the convenience, it delivers more than you'd expect. Come outside peak hours if you can — a late lunch around 2pm or an early dinner at 6:30pm will get you a calmer table and faster service. The Tarte Tatin with its melting apples and refreshing ice cream is worth saving room for.