5 Parisian restaurants where to dine before or after going to the theater

For a successful Parisian evening, restaurant and theater are a perfect pairing, provided you follow certain rules. First, find a table as close as possible to the performance venue, then make sure that the restaurant's opening hours are long enough to make the most of the evening. Here are a few addresses that meet these criteria.

Le Minet Galant

Literally a stone's throw from the Bouffes Parisiens, this Minet Galant is in itself a tribute to the theater, since it refers to the Minet-Galant hotel in Feydeau's play "La puce à l'oreille". In a modernized Parisian brasserie setting, you could start the evening with a glass of wine and a nice portion of Père Jeuss's green pepper terrine (the father of owner Jérôme Jeusselin), head off to see his play (until December 31, La Note with Sophie Marceau and François Berléand) and come back for a braised chuck of beef bourguignon style.

• 8 rue Monsigny, 75002 Paris
• Pre-theatre from 6.30pm. After-theater, service until 10:30 p.m.
• www.leminetgalant.com

©RochedeBache

Café de Luce

A Parisian café. That's how Amandine Chaignot defines this place opened in 2021 by the chef and Eleni Group on the Montmartre square where the Théâtre de l'Atelier is located.

The menu is just as Parisian, offering the great classics of the bistro repertoire in both summer and winter: œufs mayo, cuisses de grenouilles, crêpes Suzette... With performances at L'Atelier starting at 9pm, there's plenty of time to enjoy them before, for example, the evening's main event.before, for example, applauding Laetitia Casta and Roschdy Zem in Ettore Scola's "Une journée particulière" (December 2 to 31, 2023).

• 2 Rue des Trois Frères, 75018 Paris
• Open every evening from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
• Further information on Café de Luce

©Anne-Claire Héraud

Auburn

Savvy Parisians know all about this little enclave of tranquility on the edge of the Grands Boulevards. For anyone going to the Théâtre Édouard VII or the Olympia, Auburn is the ideal place to rest. Attached to the Hôtel Indigo, it nonetheless enjoys an independent entrance, and thanks to its terrace, warm decor and above all its versatility, it attracts more than just tourists. From a coffee at 8.30am and a salad at 12.30pm, it becomes a wine bar at 5pm, ideal for pre-show refreshments.

From the charcuterie board to the sentimental readings of Frédéric Beigbeder presenting "L'amour dure 1 h 15" from November 9 to 26, it's only a few steps away.

• 2 Rue Édouard VII, 75009 Paris
• Open from 8 h 30 to 23 h
• Hôtel Indigo

©DR

Alesti

In a neighborhood where restaurants go toe-to-toe, there's no shortage of choice. But you still need to find a place on the day of your performance (especially if you're a large group) and at the right time. Not to worry, there's Alesti, next door to the Théâtre des Variétés and the Folies Bergère. A contemporary brasserie with vast volumes, populated by antique objects and furniture, with a classic menu - between brasserie and bouillon - and prices to please everyone.

• 13 rue du Faubourg Montmartre 75009 Paris
• Monday to Wednesday and Sunday, open from 7.30pm to midnight. And Thursday to Saturday, open from 7.30pm to 1am.
• www.alesti-paris.fr

TheTravelBuds, ©DR

Grande Brasserie Bastille

Just cross the Place de la Bastille to get from the Opéra to this restaurant and vice versa! And once again, it proves that the combination of show and brasserie works wonders, with its generous, assertive French cuisine and timeless dishes that, when done right, transcend clichés. A nice way to land after a trip to China for Puccini's Turandot, presented from November 06 to 29, 2023.

• www.grandebrasserie.fr
• Monday to Sunday, kitchen open until 11pm.
• 6 rue de la Bastille, 75004 Paris

SaloméRateau