6 brasserie rooms worth the trip across France, editor-ranked. All cuisines in France.
Brasserie Georges ★ 4.2 · Lyon
2e · 30 Cours de Verdun Perrache, 69002 Lyon
Brasserie Georges in Lyon's 2e on Cours de Verdun is the 1836 brasserie that has served choucroute and the sole meuniere lunch grid for almost two centuries.
Tip: Open daily until 23:00; the dining hall takes walk-ins after 21:00.
Bouillon Pigalle ★ 4.1 · Paris
18e · 22 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris
Bouillon Pigalle in Paris reopened the bouillon model in 2017 and now seats 300 with no reservation, no shortcut, a mains-under-€12 daily menu.
Tip: Queue from 19:00 for dinner; the line moves and tables turn every 45 minutes.
Le Square Trousseau ★ 4.1 · Paris
12e · 1 Rue Antoine Vollon, 75012 Paris
Le Square Trousseau in Paris's 12e is the kind of belle-époque brasserie a fashion editor uses for a long Saturday lunch on the Marché d'Aligre side.
Tip: Open daily; no booking required for the terrace, reserve indoor seating in winter.
Le Cafe de la Banque ★ 4.0 · Marseille
6e · 24 boulevard Paul Peytral, 13006 Marseille
Le Cafe de la Banque in Marseille's 6e in the Estrangin former banking district is a Haussmann brasserie with a wide terrace running the day's specials.
Tip: Open daily from breakfast through aperitif tapas to dinner; reservations for evening only.
Bouillon Chartier ★ 4.0 · Paris
9e · 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris
Bouillon Chartier has run a workers' canteen of a brasserie in Paris's 9e since 1896. The menu still puts œuf mayonnaise on for less than €3.
Tip: The queue moves; arrive at 11:30 for lunch or 18:30 for dinner and you sit fast.
Le Petit Bouillon Pharamond ★ 4.0 · Paris
1er · 24 Rue de la Grande Truanderie, 75001 Paris
Le Petit Bouillon Pharamond in Paris keeps the 1879 dining room intact and the carte true to its Norman roots: tripes à la mode de Caen, Calvados sorbet.
Tip: The room is listed Historic Monument. Sit on the upper level for the tile mosaics.