La Villa d'Auteuil, Paris 16

How time flies! Frédéric Anton has been the chef of the Pré Catelan, the mythical Napoleon III lodge nestled in the Bois de Boulogne and refurbished by Pierre-Yves Rochon with lashings of designer furniture and a palette of green, white and silver tones, for almost 30 years. Born in Nancy into a working-class family, this Meilleur Ouvrier de France learned the ropes under Joël Robuchon. His tasting menu, which stars top-drawer produce (scallops, langoustine, salmon, caviar), is a masterclass of high-flying understatement and razor-sharp precision. The culinary score, which rises to a crescendo

This restaurant with an appealing façade and sleek interior (dark brushed-effect painted walls, wooden fittings, large window letting in plenty of natural light) was designed by a chef with a passion for produce. After working at Hiramatsu for 18 years, for 10 of which he was head chef, he now astounds diners with his dazzlingly modern, precise and coherent French cuisine. While casting a spotlight on premium-quality ingredients, he also does a beautiful job of staying true to the seasons. You will find no fixed menu here: the set menus change every day in line with the chef's inspiration. And

In an upmarket neighbourhood, this restaurant on a corner charms with its bright interior with contemporary lines, white concrete cladding and a pair of majestic Murano glass chandeliers. Breton chef Camille Saint-M'Leux (previously at Villa9Trois in Montreuil) named his venture after his grandparents' sailboat. The cuisine aligns with the tides and the seasons: poached langoustine with its "next-day" soup; red mullet with its scales, a jus made from the bones, and XO sauce; Breton blue lobster in a pastry-sealed casserole... Artfully structured dishes in which fish, seafood and vegetables sha

Most good food buffs agree that Japanese chefs can be relied on to produce truly outstanding French cuisine. At Ōrtensia, the Gallic menu is sprinkled with just the right dose of Japanese accents. Just like the flower after which it is named (hydrangea in English), the cuisine changes colour with the seasons and weather. A contemporary, minimalist vibe depicts the interior, in which light neutral shades and wood dominate, while mirrors on the walls create a feeling of space. Online bookings only.

Frédéric Anton presides over the fortunes of this emblematic restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, accessible by a private lift. The magic of this location 125m up from ground level instantly bewitches diners, who are further captivated by the high-flying cuisine. Every day, the teams pull out all the stops to elevate blue-ribbon produce and deliver delicate, perfectly judged dishes boasting flavour combinations that are always on point. For example, a sublime soufflé of scallops with a Dieppoise sauce and Oscietra caviar, or grenobloise-style caramelised calf sweetbread, perfect

After making a name for himself at Passage 53, Shinichi Sato has settled here beneath a corolla vault of interwoven wooden slats in a plush yet minimalist circular dining room. The starting point is top-quality produce, which is enhanced by means of high-flying technical skill, an almost surgical attention to detail and zero compromise: caramelised Roscoff onions and restructured Bellota chorizo or Galician beef cooked over embers and paired with cecina… A Burgundy-centric wine list and an impressive lineup of whiskies, that can be sampled at the softly-lit, hushed bar, complete the picture.

Transformed into a restaurant for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, Empire, Belle Époque and Art nouveau styles culminate in the charm of a rotunda dining room with a glazed roof and a superb terrace. The business clientele comes here to savour the spirit of a bygone Paris and the ‘country’ air of the Bois de Boulogne. Georges Menut lovingly maintains the image of a “grande dame”, but modernity is ensured with the cooking of chef Frédéric Robert, whose cv includes L’Ambroisie, Le Vivarois and Lucas-Carton, and the desserts of young pastry-chef Joris Vée.