5th arrondissement: where to eat well between the Panthéon and the Jardin des Plantes
The 5th arrondissement blends history and student spirit. Between ancient arenas, bookstores and gardens, it hides some surprising restaurants d’auteur. Here are four addresses where you can enjoy the Left Bank in style.
Hébé: discreet elegance and seasonal cuisine
Hébé appeals above all for its convivial approach to cooking. The concept is based on tasting menus for 2 or 3 people, which can be fully customized. In fact, customers choose the contents themselves, drawing directly from the menu, with no restrictions. Each portion is identical to those on the à la carte menu. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a lover of fine meats, fine fish or vegetarian.
During our visit, we were seduced by the pastrami-style beef tongue with carrot hummus, chimichurri and red cabbage pickles.
HEBE restaurant – Paris, 15 Rue Frédéric Sauton, 75005 Paris
Calice: live wines and free plates
Calice showcases young, free-spirited, product-driven cuisine. The place, a stone’s throw from the Jardin des Plantes, attracts a curious clientele. Light wooden tables, an open kitchen and an exposed cellar: everything is designed to be transparent.
The menu changes frequently. You’ll find roasted vegetables, smoked fish and fermented sauces. The bread is homemade, the butter fragrant. Natural wines accompany without overpowering. The staff know every bottle, every dish. The atmosphere is relaxed, but the rigor is there. Calice seduces with its sincerity and quiet audacity. We return to explore, taste and be surprised.
Calice, 5 Rue de Bazeilles, 75005 Paris
Atica: controlled modernity, French products
Atica is set in a quiet location between Cardinal Lemoine and the quays. The setting is pure contemporary. Dark wood, light walls, semi-open kitchen: nothing distracts from the food.
The chef’s cuisine is modern, local and demanding. The seasonings are precise, the cooking always precise. Each dish focuses on balance: acidity, fat, crunch. The tasting menu allows you to sample everything. Special mention goes to the sauces, which are both deep and light. The service is smooth, professional and passionate. A table for discreet gourmets who seek precision without rigidity.
Atica, 8 Rue Frédéric Sauton, 75005 Paris
Lava: masterful fusion and a hushed ambience
Lava plays the elegant fusion card. The discreet restaurant is tucked away near Rue des Écoles. Inside, subdued lighting, dark walls, volcanic touches. The décor announces the restrained warmth of the dishes.
Influences come from Asia, Peru and sometimes the south of France. Ceviche with coconut milk surprises, grilled octopus impresses. Fermented vegetables bring relief and energy. Dressing is precise, without mannerism. The house cocktails prolong the experience. The welcome is gentle and attentive. Lava offers a real moment, dense, meticulous, without unnecessary noise.
LAVA – Cuisine & Vin, 9 Rue de la Montagne Ste Geneviève, 75005 Paris
For other addresses between the Sorbonne and the Seine, explore our selection on parisselectbook.com.
