If I could give La Closerie des Lilas more than five stars, I would. It had been 26 years since my last visit, and after returning, I realized one thing: 26 years was far too long to wait. This iconic Paris institution in the 6th arrondissement continues to deliver everything that makes classic French dining so special: exceptional cuisine, impeccable service, and timeless elegance. Our evening began with a beautifully prepared amuse-bouche of marinated tomatoes, artichokes, and shallots, followed by oysters from the impressive raw bar. We enjoyed both Gillardeau and Fines de Claire oysters. The Gillardeau were large, sweet, and buttery, while the Fines de Claire were smaller, brighter, and wonderfully briny. Both were outstanding. My wife, our two daughters, and I each ordered something different so we could share. The restaurant's famous Hemingway-style steak was perfectly cooked and served in the pan with a rich, unforgettable sauce. The bluefin tuna was flawless, the veal loin was tender and beautifully prepared, and my sole meunière was one of the finest fish dishes I've ever had. The highlight of the evening was the tableside preparation of the sole. Our captain expertly filleted the fish with remarkable precision, removing the entire backbone in one motion without leaving behind a single bone. Watching that level of craftsmanship was as memorable as the dish itself. It was a reminder of the artistry that defines great French service. Dessert was equally impressive. We shared the Napoleon, profiteroles, and the house specialty, Crêpes Suzette, flambéed and prepared tableside. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable meal. La Closerie des Lilas isn't simply a wonderful restaurant. It is part of Parisian history. Once a favorite of Ernest Hemingway and other literary legends, it continues to honor that legacy with extraordinary food, gracious hospitality, and an atmosphere that feels both elegant and welcoming. I promise I won't wait another 26 years before returning. If you're looking for an authentic Paris dining experience that combines history, tradition, and world-class cuisine, La Closerie des Lilas belongs at the very top of your list. read more

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I absolutely loved this place! It's sophicated and classy without feeling pretentious or stuffy. It's quite large and beautifully decorated with many different seating areas. Even the bathrooms are gorgeous. And of course there is the lure of Hemimgway who frequented here and spent his time writing many of his works. We sat in the dining area right outside of the bar and enjoying seeing people come and go. And even though Hemingway and many famous others frequented this establisjment, it does not seem at all touristy. We heard mostly French being spoken. We started off with some foie gras and we of course had to try the filet "Hemingway" a dish Hemingway would eat. It's on the expensive side, but it was very tasty! We enjoyed the food, drinks, the service, and the whole experience! read more

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La Closerie is a magical place , a Parisian landmark. Great ambiance and wonderful location . Service is good not great. Food is good not great read more

Every was absolutely amazing from the time we walked in the door to when we departed. The food, service and knowledge of the wines were a big hit. Cozy and loved the dining experience. read more

La Closerie des Lilas - Bar area! - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

Rude management. They had over 5 more tables available but the well-dressed white manager did not want to switch us to another table. The guests next to us were very loud. This is a Tourist Trap. Looks nice but they don't care. Talked afterwards to Hostess and she didn't care either. We left without ordering. There are many places in Paris with nice people. read more

La Closerie des Lilas - Sitting outside recovering from their rudeness. - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

I have been here a couple of times over many years--the first time being in 1981. It's a beautiful place and the service was--to our group of native French speakers, mind you--friendly and efficient. Where they fall flat on their face is the absolutely abysmal food. Understand that most of the Brasseries in Paris make only semi-acceptable food. It's classical (i.e. unimaginative), rich (it relies on butter and veal glace for most of its flavors), French food. But that's fine if the preparation is done skillfully and with good ingredients. Here, the quality of the ingredients are borderline suspect. My scallop carpaccio was a weird gray slime of scallops with an equally weird crumble of truffle on top of it (I've never in my life seen truffles presented this way and there is a reason--it's disagreeable both visually and flavor-wise). My piece of Saint-Pierre (which was not Saint-Pierre from what I could tell--wrong shape) was tired and covered with completely lifeless and flavorless truffle slices. And to add insult to injury, the fish was badly overcooked--indeed, it tasted like it had been cooked in advance and them microwaved. The unseasoned cream sauce had clearly been sitting in a bain-marie long enough to begin breaking and the leeks were a sad mush. The foie-gras on my friend's tournedos rossini was unseasoned and minuscule and his potatoes were sitting on a mixture of mushrooms that had a strange and nasty bitter burnt ingredient in them. So yea. Don't eat here. If you want to dine in a place mentioned by one of the most overrated authors of all times (i.e. Hemingway), then grab a drink at the very pretty bar. Otherwise, skip it. Even La Coupole is better and that's saying a lot. read more

Seafood Tower Part Four. We read of La Closerie des Lilas from Hemingway's Moveable Feast, so we wanted to try it. Arrived at noon and were warmly greeted and seated on the Brasserie side (no reservation.) The higher end Restaurant side accepts reservations. La Closerie is gorgeous. You have a choice of sitting on the plant filled terrace where Hemingway wrote much of "The Sun Also Rises", or inside in a stunning room, beside the beautiful bar. If you are an oyster lover like us, look to your left as you walk through the terrace for the day's offering. We ordered three different oysters, six each and six Madagascar head-on prawns. Spectacular. We followed it with shrimp and scallop rice paper wrapped tempura dumplings with a black garlic mayonnaise. Very tasty. Taking a break on wine for the day. Finished with a couple of cafe cremes. Many other options for all appetites of classic brasserie fare. The service was excellent, attentive and kind but never hovering. La Closerie, while not far from the center of the tourist area of Saint Germaine, the Brasserie was devoid of loud talking Americans, maybe because there are no real "attractions" close by, with the exception of a beautiful park. (Our idea of the perfect Paris afternoon.) Indeed, we were the only English speakers in the room of French locals, talking with their inside voices -- very serene. Note: while we were one of the first to be seated when they opened at noon, both inside and the terrace were full by 12:45, so best to arrive early. La Closerie is a Classy, Gorgeous, Wonderful Brasserie. We highly recommend it. read more

A friend of mine took me there and I wasn't disappointed!! We went rather late and had some delicious cocktails and the grilled cheese sandwich!! Who knew I would like that sandwich so much ! Very interesting crowd as well . read more

Steak Hemingway for the win. Amazing Oysters also fantastic. The service is impeccable and the venue feels upscale but warm and green read more

I really enjoyed this restaurant - service was very kind and the food was delicious! I had french onion soup, my dad had the lamb special and mom had the haddock. All was tasty! We also started with some shrimp croquettes and salmon - delicious! This restaurant is also gorgeous this time of year - so many beautiful flowers blooming its obvious why it has its name! read more

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Posh and classy atmosphere, delicious food, and live music.. What else could you ask for?! We loved everything we ate. Our favorite dish was the escargot. The whole sole was flavorful and light, the steaks were amazing. Also the bathrooms were really cool! read more

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Best meal I had during my most recent trip to Paris. We arrived a little early, so we went to the bar and had some excellent cocktails prepared. Then we were escorted to our table where we had, no less than six different servers pamper and assist us. Nothing that was tried, from the foie gras to the sole to the veal was average. All of it was exceptional. Each course of the meal built upon the last and we left extremely satisfied with our meals. This restaurant isn't cheap, but great food and service aren't. A definite meal to remember. read more

Beautiful service and dining experience. Ask how big the steak is before you order. Size definitely varies.

This was the warmest and loveliest of the brasseries we tried. I can't say everything we had was "the best", instead I would call it solid brasserie fare with loads of seafood. But we were just moved by the warmth of the staff, absent at places like Le Dome. Even La Rotonde wasn't as warm, though I would give La Rotonde the edge in cuisine. Nevertheless a first rate gorgeous brasserie, I would go here just for the experience. read more

An intimidating place to walk into, with monied people having hushed conversations over a glass of wine, and someone even playing piano at 4 pm. We were only there for drinks, an already expensive task after glancing at the menu. Cocktails were average 16 euros, and wine was almost the same so we went for the stronger stuff. Fortunately, both of our cocktails were excellently done: my friend had the Moveable Feast in honor of Hemingway, and I asked for a special Hot-Blooded (spicy scotch drink). The presentation was impeccable, and execution near perfect (mine wasn't spicy, but I don't think I'll ever find spice in Paris/France). Our server brought olives as a snack on the side, a small but nice gesture. Whenever I sit on a terrasse, I like to people-watch, but the area is shielded from the sidewalk with tall green plants. So I suppose come here if you want quiet time with a friend or date, but not if you want liveliness on a summer afternoon as I did. We definitely came here as part of a Lost Generation walking tour, and it was exhilarating to sit where Hemingway read the manuscript of The Great Gatsby. It's worth going for that fact alone, even if I don't have the wallet to come again. read more

La Closerie des Lilas - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

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In all the times I've been to Paris, I've never had the courage to dine at La Closerie des Lilas, even though I have always wanted to since Hemingway wrote so lovingly about it. I was intimidated by the fact that it is one of the traditional Montparnasse restaurants and my French is pretty nonexistent. However, after a day of walking around the Latin quarter, down to the I'lle Saint Louis and Louvre, I had worked up an appetite. I chose the brasserie section since I was casually dressed and it was time for a late lunch. I was seated immediately by a young waiter who was friendly. I started with oysters and a glass of Pouilly-Fume which paired perfectly. The waiter then convinced me to try the pike quenelles---which came in a wonderful crayfish sauce. I'd always wanted to try quenelles since they were mentioned in the movie Tampopo. They were delicious. I finished with profiteroles, upon which the waiter poured a lot of chocolate sauce. There were three profiteroles but I finished them all! What a great lunch! Not cheap but I did not need dinner. Now I know what Hemingway was talking about. read more

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One of my favorite places in Paris for the history alone. Maybe a little pricey but wonderful staff, great food and drinks, and an atmosphere that can't be beat. read more

Quite literally the best meal I've ever had. Always recommend to friends who are visiting Paris.

This place is so beautiful. The garden terrace is just lovely. The service here sucks. And the food is underwhelming. Our waiter was rude, for no fucking reason, he brought and charged us for a large water that we didn't order. We had Bloody Marie's, they were weak and bland, we also had beef tare tar and it was basic. We also had burrata that was paired with peas and asparagus... terrible combination. Ughh. Would I come back here again... not likely for good. Do I think you should... maybe... but only for a cocktail these people can't duck up... like a glass of champagne... read more

One of the more interesting stops on the Hemingway Pub Crawl. I did not eat the food here, but you find out that from other reviews. We came here to drink and soak in the Parisian life. Atmosphere: It was pretty dead when we where here and not as lively of an area as other spots on the pub crawl. But the bar/restaurant did have a cool layout and vibe to it. Service: Service was nice, beer was cold, and the we enjoyed sitting outside in the courtyard space away from the passing cars. Tip: Come by for a beer. If you want more, read other reviews. Sorry. read more

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I dined here during a recent trip to Paris and it was fabulous. The wine ,steak, potatoes , fish (I forget the name) and creme brulee were all delicious . The restaurant is beautiful and the service was excellent. read more

La Closerie des Lilas - I fell in love with this restaurant! My steak was being prepared tableside - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

Go to this restaurant. The history, the food, the service and all top notch. I had the asparagus and the sole. Both delicious. My wife had the iberico ham and the Hemingway steak. Delicious. The steak gets flambé at the table. They debone the sole at the table. Cannot say enough good things about this place. Thanks Langousta for recommending it to us. read more

On our last evening in Paris, my fiancee and our friends walked from our apartment on Notre Dame des Champs to La Closerie des Lilas searching for some good food and spirited conversation. We had both! La Closerie looks like it was trapped in time. I felt like I was transported to the 20's and that one of the ex-pats would be sitting by the bar, smoking, drinking. There are a lot of jewel tones throughout. There was a piano player near the front of the restaurant, but the music was audible throughout. For eating, there is an outdoor seating area, an area by the bar and the main dining room. The lighting was dim, but not too dark. The only thing that was missing was a thin cloud of smoke floating over the bar (which I'm not complaining about). The prices of the food that is served next to the bar area is probably half the price of the main dining room. We sat in the main restaurant. For the four of us, including drinks and dessert was a little over 400 euros. Ouch. The food was delicious, but you are really paying for the experience. Just get dressed up and go. read more

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Okay, this place gets the thumbs down in my books, namely because when I asked the waiter where Hemmingway used to sit he simply said somewhere inside. Also, the seemed to have a bit of a dress code here, not that they didn't let me in, or take my order, it was just that sitting here with my brother I felt as if I was being treated like one of the hoi poloi. I guess it was that experience that completely put me off the places, particularly since this place was no more or less expensive than the other Hemmingway cafes that I visited while I was in Paris. In the end it wasn't what they were charging for their drinks, it was the fact that they didn't seem to particularly care that Hemmingway used to frequent this place (and the fact that I was wearing shoddy jeans). read more

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Amazing Dinner at La Closerie des Lilas on the bistro side of the restaurant. The best part of the meal was the quinelles. Neither of us had ever had quinelles before and we ordered them on the recommendation of Yelp reviewers. They were fantastic and we agreed that they were one of the best things either of us had ever eaten. Listen to the Yelp reviews and order the quinelles. We also ordered escargots and profiteroles, both of which were delicious. We agreed that this was by far the best meal we ate in Paris and we will certainly return if we find ourselves in Paris again. The ambiance is a fantastic addition to the food. read more

For years, I've been taking clients to La Closerie de Lilas and it's always the culinary highlight of their theirs (and mine). Last year I took my fiancee to the restaurant and she was wowed by the food, service and ambiance. We dined at other fine Parisian restaurants during trip but La Closerie took the prize. read more

Through my Hemingway tour I came upon this place for a drink and a snack. The bar is beautiful with a plaque where Hemingway sat, though research will tell you he really did not sit on that spot as his regular place. The atmosphere was ok ish, with someone playing he piano. The service was kind but slow, I had to flag someone to pay. The prices were extraordinary expensive for the off peak time that I went. A small snack was between 12 - 18 Euros. Putting it into context of other Cafes Hemingway frequented this one is the biggest cash grab. I took the chorizo and Roquefort cake which was just ok. Would not recommend coming here unless a must that you should. read more

La Closerie des Lilas - Outside - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

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It was nice enough. We came for the Hemingway experience because he wrote a good portion of "The Sun Also Rises" here, which the atmosphere certainly lends itself to inspiration. The food was sadly bland - I had the Beef "Hemingway style", which had a decent sauce, but the meat itself was pretty sad - and for 48€ that's not a word I should be using for my experience. Our sommelier was an embarrassment. He recommended a "woman's wine" and brought out some crap bottle with a heart on the front of it. "See, women love hearts." No one came back to check on us. They brought us the wrong food. They brought is the wrong cutlery and when we walked in they basically told us we'd be more comfortable in the bistro rather than the dining area - which I didn't even try to figure out what that meant because they LITERALLY HAD A DOG SITTING AT A TABLE IN THE DINING AREA. I'm glad I went so I at least had a taste of the atmosphere Hemingway had, but I'll never need to go back. read more

La Closerie des Lilas - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

Surviving On Its Past Fame This place is grossly overpriced with mediocre food. We were surprised that the restaurant was practically empty for dinner on a Saturday evening. After we finished our mediocre meal, we understood why. Avoid. read more

This is a solid 3 star overpriced place. Yes, you have the piano, and you have 6 waiters serving you, (although they are ignoring you just when you need them most )but the portions are tiny and the food is mediocre. Not bad. Just nothing special. Ok to order: Sea bass carpaccio (very good) Marrow bone (tasty) Oysters (we ordered a lot and they were good. ) Do not order: Prawn salad - cold. Mediocre grilled vegetables and 3 cold small prawns. Soup - original (asparagus) but not very tasty. Steak tartar (too much mustard) Creme Brûlée (you more taste the eggs than the cream) read more

La Closerie Des Lilas is a landmark restaurant not far from Notre Notre-Dame. It is the place where Hemingway. Ezra Pound, Henry Miller and other famous writers and artists ate and drank (to excess) 100 years ago. It oozes with charm. Gorgeous place with outdoor, semi outdoor, and indoor seating with a piano player. A can't miss spot when you visit Paris. The service is professional and impeccable. The kind of place where every waiter is dressed to kill and knows everything about every dish. Keep in mind there are 2 menus. One for the brassiere (pub) and one for the restaurant. You can afford this. You should do this! It's a rare and inspiring experience. By the way, the food was excellent. The sauce in the meat...exquisite. Don't miss it! read more

La Closerie des Lilas - Photo from outside covered brassiere - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

I was really excited to go here because I love Hemingway, and it was one of his regular spots, but I was semi disappointed with my experience. I had the pigeon and my boyfriend had the veal, and neither one was stellar. The only thing that was fantastic was the Lilac Cup, which we split for dessert. It was incredible, and I'd recommend that to anyone. read more

La Closerie des Lilas - Lilac Cup - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

Such a fun experience. My parents and I rolled in after a full day of touristy activities. I was in denim shorts and a tank top and we opted to sit in the restaurant. (The venue has a fancier restaurant that is more fine dining and the bistro, which is more casual and on the patio). The service was impeccable despite our casual appearance. The menu comes in English and French. For starters, we had the raw and cooked vegetables and something else I can't remember. My mother and I both had the beef filets Hemingway-style and my dad had the veal. We finished with the napoleon dessert. The appetizers tasted a bit funny and were not my cup of tea. My dad loved them, though, so I'm not going to dock the restaurant for my personal preferences. The steak was good and well-cooked and the presentation is obviously super fun as they light the pan on fire table-side for a bit of a show. The dessert was perfect and the pastry was perfectly flaky. Such a fun experience and I really enjoyed my meal here. I hope to make it a regular dining spot for each time I return to Paris! The food was great, service was impeccable and you can't beat the history. read more

My husband and I came here for dinner and drinks because we have a fascination with Hemingway and he frequented this brasserie. The food was maybe a 7/10 but it could have just been what we ordered (we were feeling adventurous). The drinks were great, and there was live music on the piano, and the atmosphere was perfect. After dinner we moved to the bar where I sat at the same place Hemingway supposedly sat (there is a little plaque there) and we got another drink and the dessert sampler platter, which was great! I think it was about 9 assorted fancy little treats. I will be back next time I'm in Paris, because the ambience was perfect! read more

Great atmosphere in the bar and brasserie. Expensive and the food is so so But it remains a Paris icon, with its piano bar read more

The closerie des lilas is a marvellous traditionally french restaurant. The place is very chic so don't expect to just walk in and order a quick burger! I would recommend suit and tie etc for clothing options. With this you can expect a higher price tag. Everything is very expensive but then again you wouldn't expect anything else from a high end Parisian restaurant. Now let's get to it. How is it? The food is very good and quite refined. I had the steak (which is cooked and its sauce is made in front of you - very cool) and was absolutely delicious. However, the fries that came with it weren't special at all and some kind of vegetables were also missing. It just felt like there was something missing with the steak. I'm no culinary expert but that's just how I felt about it. The tarte tatin for desert was good but I have to say that I've had better ones before. As for the atmosphere, it's got that quaint Parisian charm all the while not having that stuffed feeling. The tables aren't all squashed together as it is often the case in Paris. Thence, our evening was relaxed and enjoyable. As for the service, everything went more or less smoothly. The only thing that went wrong was that our waitor forgot the butter (a minor complaint really). The reason why I took off one star is because I don't feel comfortable giving a perfect rating given the few things that went wrong especially considering the price! For a bill that is so high there really isn't any room for mistakes even small ones like these. All in all if you're looking for a fancy but authentic restaurant in Paris, this is a good place to have that experience. read more

The restaurant and vibe itself is quite spectacular! It's definitely a French vibe which was something I was looking for. As for service I am impartial. The service was great in terms of what we wanted and just professional and friendly, however it did take a while for service in between. I do want to point that we had dinner on Christmas Day. We had a seafood tower. It was mostly good, the prawns however seemed to be a little overcooked because the meat was a little mushy. This could be the reason why they gave us two extra prawns for free. There was two types of uni. I love uni!! They literally cut it open fresh, which means they don't clean it all the way so you'll get some of the uni guts in there. We got the steak, which is cool cuz it's flambéed for you to see, the cognac sauce was delicious, the steak itself however is a different cut that we're not used to in the states and it was not that tender, quite chewy. The scallops were mediocre, I think a little under done. It was an over nice experience, but the food was okay. read more

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A lot has been said about the Closerie des Lilacs. It is one of my go-to places in Paris for lunch and bar action. It is stunning, first of all. I mean you know it's good when Ernst Hemingway was a regular. Also, that speaks to the drinks. I kid. My mother and I had an interesting absinthe experience (they do the whole fun setup) here, and she took over the piano and started playing ballads from "Les Mis", but that is a story for another time, perhaps. It is really nice to have a live piano player, even if it is your mother. (Sidebar: turns out my mother is allergic to wormwood, which is an ingredient in absinthe. So we also had a nice tour of French medicine, three cheers for free and impressive health-care). Here are some helpful hints. The brasserie at lunch is the time and the place to go. They don't accept reservations (only the main restaurant does). The brasserie is in a delicate garden and very chic Parisians frequent. The dish to get is the steak tartare. Je t'aime steak tartare. Remember this is only served at the brasserie. It is clearly one of the best steak tartares in the world. The locals dine on it as lunch is intended, slowly and gloriously, whilst looking glamorous, drinking and smoking. Boy, that's living. The restaurant is different. It is very elegant and has very classic French fair. No steak tartare, not as many Parisians, and higher prices. It is still a good choice, and it is great that they accept reservations, but I still prefer the garden of the brasserie. Clearly, you must stay and have a drink at the very famous bar! read more

Had the most amazing cassoulet here ever once. The kind of dish I think about a year later and crave...nobody else's cassoulet can compare :( My last lunch here was fairly average as far as food goes, but I still like the place. Service is above average. They have a really nice and large outdoor patio with a retractable awning. read more

Like other Left Bank institutions (namely Les Deux Magots and Le Café de Flore) the Closerie des Lilas was where the intelligentsia hung out in the early 20th century: A bust-up between André Breton and Tristan Tzara marked the end of the Dada movement here in 1922; then the Surrealist crowd moved in, along with literary expats like Miller, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, who said that the Closerie was 'one of the best cafés in Paris'. A bronze plaque engraved with Hemingway's name (in the piano bar) commemorates the author's patronage. The literary flame is kept burning too, thanks to the Prix de la Closerie des Lilas - an award for 21st-century, French-language, female authors. If you're hungry, try the well-prepared fare like smoked haddock and spinach (€25), and rib-eye of steak (€30) - all served to well-heeled crowds throughout the day. read more

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