Whether you live in Philadelphia or just visit occasionally, everyone knows this city is perfect for trying new foods and flavors.
When you’re looking for an elegant spot to enjoy a meal, I recommend trying a French restaurant.
These spots are usually more sophisticated and upscale, making them perfect for a special occasion or whenever you want to indulge a bit.
I’ve put together a list of my favorite French cuisine spots in town so you don’t have to guess about where to go.
This list has it all, from spots with full bars to restaurants with BYOB policies, you’ll have the perfect bistro in mind for your next night out. Keep reading to learn a little bit about each spot!
Best French Restaurants in Philadelphia
Parc
227 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 545-2262
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Another classic bistro spot is Parc. Serving French cuisine in a quaint spot, this is the perfect place for a nice meal with friends or family.
The traditional bistro layout will make you feel like you’ve flown to Paris.
Offering brunch, lunch, and dinner, Parc is great for any meal of the day. Try out the roasted salmon, steak au poivre, pasta jardiniere, or lobster frites.
Make sure to sip on some wine, a beer, or a cocktail while you eat!
Bistrot La Minette
623 S 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (215) 925-8000
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Looking for a charming spot to grab some French cuisine? Check out Bistrot La Minette in Philadelphia.
This local bistro opened in 2004 and has been pleasing its patrons ever since. Using fresh and seasonal ingredients, you can count on this food being high quality.
Bistrot La Minette serves a modest menu of traditional French dishes to choose from. We recommend the blanquette de veau, quenelle natures, coq au vin, lapin roti a la moutarde. Be sure to grab some dessert or a glass of wine while you’re there!
Laurel Restaurant
1617 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Phone: (215) 271-8299
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Another BYOB spot you have to try is Laurel Restaurant. This locally-owned spot serves American cuisine with a French twist.
With a focus on local and seasonal ingredients as well as sustainability, you can feel good about spending your money here.
For $125 per person, Laurel Restaurant offers a six-course tasting menu. With a seasonally changing menu, we suggest taking a look online before you visit.
Make sure you bring some wine or champagne to complete your meal!
Caribou Cafe
1126 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 625-9535
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Taking inspiration from 15 regions across France, Caribou Cafe is the perfect spot to really get a taste for this country. With hundreds of reviews praising the food and excellent service, it’s no wonder this place is so popular.
With a fairly extensive menu full of three-course meals, a la carte dishes, and even several vegetarian options.
We recommend the quiche du jour, double pork chop, chicken pesto on ciabatta, pappardelle. Be sure to try brunch on the weekend on happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday!
Townsend
1623 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Phone: 267-534-4175
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Townsend is an elegant French-dining restaurant in the heart of Philadelphia. They are known for their fantastic French menu designed with a modern diner in mind.
They also have a bar, the Townsend Bar, that’s open till 2:00 AM and serves pre-dinner cocktails and more.
Their menu features a wide range of incredible French dishes. These include Beef Tartar (with green peppercorn aioli, toasted brioche, and more), the classic Escargot, Potato Gnocchi, Seared Lamb Loin, and more.
I was stunned by how amazing this food was, especially as it arrived in three incredible courses. I highly recommend taking a look at the menu before you go, as the three courses include a few different options.
J’aime French Bakery
212 S 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 267-928-317
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J’aime French Bakery is a French-style bakery that’s located on S 12th St in Philadelphia. The bakery offers a variety of high-quality French pastries and baked goods for sale.
It’s a very cozy, well-designed cafe with limited indoor and outdoor seating.
The menu includes classic cafe drinks, like mattes and mochas, as well as hot chocolate, tea, and juice. From the food menu, you can choose from some amazing options like eclairs, apple tarts (my favorite), flan, berry, and lemon tarts, as well as cakes, bread, and more.
I highly recommend going early in the morning when the cafe opens so that you can get the freshest version of their always amazing bread.
Forsythia
233 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19105
Phone: (215) 644-9395
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An additional charming spot serving delicious French food is Forsythia. With a 4.6 star rating, it’s obvious people love this spot.
Reviewers especially appreciate the efficient service here as well as the chic decor.
Forsythia has small plates as well as larger ones so you can share with your company or keep it all to yourself.
Be sure to try the mahi mahi, rack of lamb, burger royale, escargot, or foie gras mousse. Don’t forget to take a look at the cocktail list!
June BYOB
1911 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
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When you’re hoping to try a spot that’s BYOB, head over to June BYOB. This local restaurant serves French cuisine in an upscale setting perfect for date night or a special occasion.
This spot is operated by a chef with a French culinary background and a level 3 sommelier.
June BYOB offers a regular menu as well as a Sunday tasting menu with four courses. We recommend the veal blanquette, wild mushroom fricassee, trio of duck, or cod.
Be sure to bring a bottle of your favorite wine!
Lacroix at The Rittenhouse
210 W Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 215-790-2533
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Lacroix at The Rittenhouse is a renowned French-style restaurant located within Rittenhouse Square.
They are known for only using the highest quality of ingredients and choosing the best seasonal items year round.
The dining room is very upscale and quite elegant, so you’ll likely want to dress up just a bit to come here. From the tables, you can look out into the historic Rittenhouse Square as well, adding to the overall experience.
They offer an extensive beverage and food menu. The latter includes everything from French onion soup to oysters, ponies anna, and escargot tartine.
Royal Boucherie
52 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: (267) 606-6313
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Completing our list of French restaurants is Royal Boucherie. This restaurant is arguably one of the most beautiful spots to eat in town.
With two floors and a hidden garden, you’ll be able to enjoy company and scenery while you eat.
With shareable plates to larger entrees, Royal Boucherie is perfect for any occasion or hunger level.
We recommend the prosciutto cotto, charcuterie board, chicken cassolet, or steak frites. Be sure to try a cocktail or beer while you eat!
Spring Mill Cafe
164 Barren Hill Rd, Conshohocken, PA 19428
Phone: 610-828-2550
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The beautiful Spring Mill Cafe is one of my favorite French restaurants in Philadelphia. It’s located in a rustic, out-of-the-way setting, specifically, within a building that dates back to the 1830s and was once used as a general store and post office. The cafe opened in 1978.
Today, you can visit for brunch and dinner, choosing from a wonderful array of menu items, like Rillettes de Saumon, Truffled Chicken Liver Pâté, and Pâté Campagne.
Their menu also features lamb, pork dishes, and some delectable sea scallops.
Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro
129 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-922-3095
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Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro lives up to its name! It’s a wonderful place to get a drink in Philadelphia if you want a slightly elevated experience with French cuisine.
In addition to its over 60 wine options, it offers a spectacular food menu that features everything from small plates to the most decadent of entries.
Some of the standout dishes include the Vintage Burger, Steak Frites, Smoke Marinate Baby Beets, and Steak Tartare.
If you’re in the area, I recommend checking it, especially if you’re on a plant-based diet, as this is one of the only French restaurants in the area offering vegan dishes.
If one thing is for sure, it’s that Philadelphia’s French cuisine options are endless. Though there are many places to choose from, these ten are the best of the best. You may even have to try all of these spots.
Looking to try out more European dishes? We recommend you try Italian cuisine. It also happens that Philadelphia has a lot of incredible Italian restaurants. If you’re planning on visiting one, you should check out our list of the best Italian restaurants in Philadelphia.
Which restaurant will you visit first? Let us know! Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you tell us about it and we’ll check it out!