Great Restaurants in Paris – Crêperie Josselin

Restaurants in Paris Series
Crêperie de Josselin

To commence our Restaurants in Paris series, we bring you our review of the fabulous Crêperie de Josselin.

When you’re looking for affordable food in Paris, your options are slim. You could end up just eating a sandwich.

Charming crêterie de josselin

Well, weren’t we in for a happy surprise the first time we dined at this crêperie! Unassuming and tucked down a side street in the 16th arrondissment– at 67, Rue du Montparnasse to be exact – you could easily miss Crêperie de Josselin. But luckily, this place is getting written up everywhere, at least judging by the “guidebook recommended” stickers all over the front window.

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To start, the décor – as you can see from above – is charming and could probably be termed as adorable. You feel as though you took a trip to the French countryside, or you’re being hosted at your best friend’s French grandmother’s home.

Crêperie de Josselin may have a homey décor, but boy, is it bustling. We went in for lunch and the place was packed. Always the sign of a good Parisian restaurant.

The menu is filled with all types of traditional crêpes. You can sample basic crêpes at 6€ each, or more complex varieties for 10€ – savory on buckwheat, or sweet with traditional flour. Wait – this is in Paris! 6-10€ at a sit-down restaurant? These prices are unheard of! As you choose just the right type of crêpe to savor, don’t forget to order a bottle of delicious cider, too. It’s the culturally “correct” companion to wash down your meal in Bretagne,  where crêpes famously come from.

After squabbling about who should order what, we settled on each of us getting a savory crêpe and splitting them between us. Even if you’re an independent person, don’t forget this hidden benefit of a travel buddy – guaranteed food-sharing. We got our crêpes quickly, and after evenly dividing them up we are happy to report that one savory crêpe each was more than enough to fill us up. With one crêpe complète – ham, cheese, sunnyside-up egg (deliciousness!) – and another packed with succulent eggplant, we were two happy diners.

Crêperie Josselin has been well-traversed by visitors, and so the menu is conveniently in English and French. You’ll be able to learn new terms while still keeping your pride intact (“I did not mean to order crêpes soaked in liquor!”). Naturally, the crowd inside the restaurant is quite international. You’ll bump into French, Russians, Italians, and Americans in the bathroom queue. This doesn’t mean the place has lost its local charm, however. The crêpes here are still just as authentic and special as ever. The one pitfall of Crêperie de Josselin? It’s cash only.

Restaurants in Paris Series
Crêperie de Josselin
67, Rue du Montparnasse
16^th Arrondissement
Average crêpe: 8€
Special Notes: Cash only, great décor

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Nearby
There are plenty of great attractions within walking distance, despite the restaurant being a tad off the beaten path. Within 15 to 20 minutes you can walk to the beautiful gardens and park at Jardin de Luxembourg, with the heart of the Quartier Latin, Sorbonne university, and its towering Pantheon monument just nearby.  Also within a few minutes’ walk (in the opposite direction) you’ll reach the Tour de Montparnasse, a skyscraper with some of the most beautiful views of the city.

The Pantheon is just 20 minutes by foot

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If after trying these crêpes you want nothing more than to see them in their natural habitat, take a local’s car just outside Paris to Bretagne where these delectable treats come from. We have Bretagne travel recommendations here.

Happy Eating!