The best French restaurants in Los Angeles

Walter and Margarita Manzke's award-winning, critically acclaimed La Brea bakery and restaurant is the one French(-Californian) restaurant that can't be stopped. Brave the lines for brunch on the weekends, or head here in the evening with a reservation—or a bit of patience—to dine inside the cathedral-esque space that once housed Nancy Silverton and the late Mark Peel's Campanile. Interiors aside, the food lineup here will blow you mind from morning to night, from beautiful, seasonal fruit-topped pastries like the mango-topped passionfruit cream pie to the beef tartare and corn agnolotti come dinner.

Oodles of butter, fluffy omelettes and a heart-stopping burger covered in bordelaise make Ludo Lefebvre's Parisian-style bistro (with a tiny strip mall location in Hollywood and fancier sibling in Sherman Oaks) the best place to head for decadent French bistro fare in the city. The menu's iconic French dishes—steak frites, mussels marinières and a wonderful daytime-only croque monsieur—display the kind of technical precision the hallowed cuisine requires, with an excellent wine list to match. Don't skip out on the Big Mec, undebatably one of the city’s best burgers, and leave room for one of Petit Trois's excellent seasonal desserts.

Local Michelin stars carry little weight in Los Angeles, but the sole exception might be Pasjoli. In basically every aspect, David Beran's one star Santa Monica eatery wows with a fairly small menu, flawless service and an eye-wateringly expensive signature pressed duck ($195 at the time of writing for two). This elegant fine dining eatery has a higher price point than most non-tasting menu restaurants on this list, but don't let this dissuade you from experiencing Pasjoli at least once; everything, from the antique French duck press to the hyper-seasonal dishes to the delectable chocolate soufflé, rises to the appropriate level of finery for your next special occasion. 

Walter and Margarita Manzke's traditional French bistro on Pico Boulevard has won our eyes, hearts, minds and stomachs with its charming all-wood interiors, excellent service and Parisian bistro fare. Unlike sister spot République, Bicyclette hews quite close to the annals of old French cooking. In practice, this means lots of wine, garlic, herbs, butter—including the must-order escargots en croûte and a beautifully layered caramalized onion tart. While Bicyclette’s reservations book out weeks in advance, solo diners or parties of two can typically find room at the bar. Don’t forget about dessert either: Margarita’s James Beard-nominated tarts and pastries are unforgettable.

The smaller, now-iconic Michelin-starred counterpart within the more casual (but still upscale) Citrin, Josiah Citrin's Mélisse still delivers one of the city’s top French tasting menus, with luxurious, detail-oriented dishes like caviar in chawanmushi topped with imported Hokkaido uni and a rich chestnut soup with even more decadent truffle foam. The larger Citrin space even accomodates walk-ins at the bar, for those who have  last-minute hankering for egg caviar topped with cauliflower mousseline, the chef's iconic lobster bolognese or a traditional Grand Marnier soufflé.

At Camphor, light-as-a-cloud French cuisine feels more than apt within the restaurant’s airy white and blue dining room, where old-school touches and a featherweight culinary approach combine in a stunning blend of elegant, yet nontraditional, fine dining. Inside the former Nightshade space, Alain Ducasse veterans Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George offer what looks like the usual French bill of fare, with one major twist: far, far less butter and oil. Combined with a few South Asian-inspired dishes—the must-order gunpowder baby shrimp among them—Camphor’s refined, slightly tweaked menu of classics puts the Arts District bistro in a class of its own. This extends to dessert, where a phenomenal savarin with passionfruit glaze and kiwi glacée hold their own next to a hot cocoa-inspired take on chocolate soufflé.

If you want amazing California-influenced French food and well-made cocktails, go to Gigi’s. If you want to see paparazzi attempt to snap photos of B-listers, go to Gigi’s. Though this sceney Hollywood bistro might dissuade more casual diners, the tightly executed French fare, intimate jewel box-like dining room and string-lit sidewalk patio make trying to make a reservation at Gig's more than worthwhile. Tip: Sit at their gorgeous bar for a smaller food menu and a round of drinks—a far better set-up for walk-ins or early arrivals.

Beautifully decorated with an eclectic mix of French antiques, this French-Californian brasserie in Century City is more than just a Hollywood agent power lunch spot. Chef Ramon Bojorquez's carefully executed bistro fare—including an excellent salad niçoise at lunch—and the staff's five-star service make Lumière worth a visit for anyone in search of a brief, luxurious respite from regular life. The restaurant’s charming, greenery-lined outdoor patio features an herb garden, stone fountain and repurposed spires from a French cathedral, while its indoor seating and bar areas (including an airy, sun-lit solarium) cater to a variety of moods.

Run by a Frenchman and his wife who couldn't find their favorite cheese, this long-running gourmet market and casual eatery is one of our favorite vendors at the Original Farmers Market (next to the Grove). In the winter, Monsieur Marcel offers cozy, gooey plates of raclette cheese, but the open-air bistro's solid lunch plates and slightly dressy dinner menu are our casual Mid-City go-to every day of the year. Try their quiche lorraine, beef bourignon or build your cheese and charcuterie plates for best results.

No matter how many new rooftops open, we always come back to Perch, one of the prettiest rooftop bars (and French bistros) in town. Patterned tile floors, potted trees full of twinkly lights and charming seating combine nightly for a scene full of Downtown locals, plus a few hundred of their closest friends. Though the boudoir-themed interior is often crowded, those who book earlier tables for dinner will find a much cozier atmosphere before the late night crowds set in, plus a menu of traditional French favorites like steak frites, French onion and a vegan-friendly plat provençale. 

Look for the pink neon beneath Metro’s Chinatown stop and you’ll find a little chic wine bar with some of the best French bistro fare. Run by the same people behind Los Feliz's Bar Covell, Oriel not only brings French wines and a modern, hanging-plant haven, but also offers some of the best French bistro fare on the Eastside. The French onion soup—rich without overt decadence—is worth a visit alone.

Since 1927, this family-run eatery has offered Angelenos a taste of the Basque countryside. While by no means the best French cuisine in town, this old school restaurant retains a certain kind of nostalgic appeal, particularly when one takes into account the affordable corkage fee and slightly more everyday menu prices. Slide into one of Taix's booths or take a seat at the bar for quintessentially French dishes like frog legs, trout almondine and a Saturday-only duck à l’orange.