Christmas Eve dinner ideas in Paris

Hi there, I have a feeling the reservations aren’t open yet for Christmas Eve. I even looked at January and I’m sure it’s not full. I’d check back in a couple weeks! My family and I have been contemplating that restaurant as well since we will be there for Christmas too. Another traveler recommended it! Bonne chance et bonne journée!!!

I agree - the reservations look like they are only open up until mid-December.

My husband works in a fancy Paris restaurant and I know they haven’t even decided yet what they will offer for Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, so this sounds normal to me.

It surprises me that they don’t take Christmas Eve reservations much earlier. They did in London where it was very difficult to get them. A local friend helped us a lot.
Do you know anyone who lives there?

The train Bleu booking calendar is blocked after Dec 15. Either they haven't opened bookings yet, or they will be closed for refurbs. The second option seems less likely to me.

In 2016, we had Christmas Eve dinner at D’chez eux and Christmas Day dinner at Le Violon d'Ingres. Both were quite good. A few weeks before departing for Paris, it was quite the jockeying of experiences to get reservations at any restaurant for those two days: some restaurants decided at the last minute that they wouldn't be open and rescinded our reservation. On Christmas Day, as we went from Notre Dame to Sacre Coeur, down the Champs, etc.--all over Paris, we did notice quite a few food carts that hadn't been there before. People were just strolling around, grabbing a crepe and walking. It was a lovely, laid-back experience.

Too early to make reservations, look again in late October, about 2 months out.

In 2016, I made reservations for XMAS Eve in Paris a couple of months in advance, and about a week prior to the date, they cancelled them with no explanation (similar experience to what Lindy reported about restaurants not deciding holiday schedules and opening/closings until closer to the dates).

I had no problem finding another place to reserve for a very nice meal.

Some of the elegant large brasseries are open. Try La Coupole or Le Dôme on boulevard de Montparnasse. We were able to pop into La Coupole for oysters and wine only one Christmas as all the tables were reserved, but the people we saw arriving were greeted as regulars. They get a lot of tourists and business clients, but there are a lot of regular diners, too.

That is what personal messages are for.