Four new tables for friends to reserve as a group

“Where shall we meet?” When it comes to dinners with friends, it's hard to find THE table that pleases everyone! It's understandable: we need large tables, a cozy spot where we can chat for hours, good food, and, most importantly, great wine... The criteria are many, and we’re sometimes (often) disappointed by last-minute choices. Good news: these four new spots are perfect for a group feast, guaranteeing delicious dishes and intoxicating drinks. Friendly places that will welcome your lively crew with enthusiasm!

The place : nestled just steps from Sacré-Cœur, Bombarde is the kind of table we wish we had right downstairs! After a mutual love for the restaurant world, Henri and Romain, an ultra-close duo driven by the same passion for celebration and the art of hosting, realized their restaurant dream. Behind an eye-catching terracotta-colored storefront, they designed it as a dining room with vintage flooring, an open kitchen, couches full of cushions, wooden tables, vintage crockery, candles, and an abundance of dried flowers. Depending on the mood, tables are pushed together or pulled apart to accommodate groups of friends (up to 50 people), and the volume is cranked up to make the walls shake, even on a weekday! Casual, authentic, and sincere, Bombarde checks all the cool boxes. We love it.

The food : cuisine that matches the mood—naturally shareable and Mediterranean at heart, created by chef Enzo Lelaure, who loves good flavors, seasons, and quality products. On a crowded evening, we dive straight into the roasted camembert with honey, accompanied by a fresh spinach salad drizzled with shallot vinaigrette: could it be more convivial? (14 €) We continue with eggs mayo, pistachios, and chives (9 €) before enjoying a phenomenal tuna tataki with avocado, black sesame, herring caviar, and coriander that refreshes the palate! (25 €) We try the vegetarian lasagna (23 €). And to avoid having to choose, we finish with the two signature desserts: the wild chocolate mousse with olive oil and sea salt (10 €) and the delicate rice pudding like crème brûlée (11 €). Now it's time to get up and dance!

The bonus : at Bombarde, there’s a culture of fine wine. Henri, a wine collector, offers exceptional small bottles, organic or natural, carefully sourced from friendly producers. The red Les Frangins, Montagne Saint-Emilion organic (7 € per glass) is delightful. Bottles start at 34 €.

Nota bene : To celebrate the arrival of spring, Bombarde is hosting a daytime party on Sunday, March 30, from 12:30 pm to 9 pm, featuring a DJ and roast chicken/ potatoes on the menu!

Bombarde, 33 rue Lamarck, Paris 18e. 01 71 37 99 95. Open Monday from 6 pm to midnight, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday from 11:30 am to midnight, Thursday from 11:30 am to 1 am, and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 1:30 am.

The place : a charming bistro-gastro in the Batignolles district with an industrial aesthetic jazzed up by romantic touches, featuring tables for five or six people. Neither fully French nor fully Italian, Vinello aims to create a marriage between these two cuisines for a so-called "transalpine" experience. In the kitchen, chef Roberto Cubeta is hard at work in his open kitchen, while the two passionate co-owners warmly welcome guests. Open since late 2024, Vinello is a promising newcomer that has won us over, perfect for savoring unique wines and enjoying great food with friends, bridging the two sides of the Alps.

The food: a delicious vitello, tonnato mousse, and veal jus (14 €) or a yellowtail carpaccio with turnips and Asian vinaigrette (18 €), fresh pasta with clams (23 €), yellowtail with white butter sauce and a trio of carrots (35 €), or pork belly with Swiss chard, apricots, and a rich jus (29 €). For dessert, Italian cheeses (12 €) and a divine tiramisu (10 €).

The bonus: a warm atmosphere and impeccable service, with a waiter eager to take us on a journey through the Alps and introduce us to wines from other places, with artistic bottles decorating the walls.

Vinello, 106 rue Nollet, Paris 17e, 01 42 26 01 02. Open Monday to Friday from 12:15 pm to 2:30 pm and from 7:15 pm to 11 pm.

The place  : with its clear bistronomic spirit and retro-chic vibe, Magnolia is the table of the moment created by restaurateur Maxime Vaudin, electrifying the Pigalle neighborhood. From the sidewalk, Magnolia is instantly recognizable with its beautiful white facade and candlelit tables visible through lovely linen curtains. Inside, a stylish décor with stone walls, large mirrors, paintings, a marble bar, and ochre velvet banquettes. At the back, near the kitchen, a more intimate space perfect for settling in with your group of friends. For four? Go for the table tucked to the right of the entrance. The ambiance? Joyful.

The food : a carte blanche for British chef Jack Bosco Baker (ex-Cave Paul Bert, Robert), who offers cuisine inspired by French terroir with a touch of English audacity! That evening, we started with a chestnut and sunchoke velouté with foie gras, which opened the meal with smoothness (15 €). For freshness, a dish of raw bonito, blood orange, and black radish: perfectly balanced in flavors (20 €). Then, we aimed for sharing with a pork chop, artichokes, Swiss chard, and anchovy paste (27 €) and gave in to the gratin of endives, chanterelles, and truffles (22 €). For dessert, even though the banana ice cream with rum-soaked raisins tempted us (6 €), the guests at the table next to us and the house strongly recommended not missing the profiteroles with vanilla and Armagnac (11 €). They were right! For drinks, cute cocktails following trendy recipes (Espresso Martini, 15 €), refined soft drinks (fig leaf kombucha, 7 €), and a great selection of wines and bubbles (from 7 € per glass).

The bonus : each week, on the chalkboard titled “SPECIALS,” a large piece of meat is featured, cooked from start to finish by the chef. This time, a milk-fed lamb from the Pyrenees offered as a leg (95 €), shoulder (75 €), chops (45/65 €), or neck (55 €)… to share, of course.

Magnolia, 5 rue Henri Monnier, Paris 9e. 01 86 04 45 37. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 7 pm.

© Léo Kharfan - Matteo Verzini

The place : a beautiful offshoot of the bar Les Amoureuses, located just a few meters away, this spot, half-wine cellar, half-restaurant, offers a more refined setting than its elder sibling. At the helm are the passionate duo Alena Iampolskaia and Benjamin Leroy, who create a space for sharing and exchange, offering refined cuisine to accompany their wine selection. Their clear intention is embodied by the majestic wooden cajou table that sits at the heart of the space. The design and poetic décor, with suspended vines and soft lighting, set a delicate atmosphere. Fun fact: at Les Amoureuses Bis, you can reserve the large table for a lovely feast with friends (up to 16 people).

The food : small, elegant bites that follow the seasons and are designed to be eaten with fingers while keeping your glass in hand! Magnificent eggs mayo, prepared to perfection with precise cooking, homemade mayo spiced with piquillos, and shredded cabbage for a touch of color (7 €). A surprisingly light cheddar/pastrami croque (12 €). Octopus carpaccio with radish, dill, and lemon: all delicacy. And tuna makis that win the excellence award : we could come back just for them (17 €). For dessert, the airy chocolate mousse elegantly closes the meal. And because wine is at the heart of the experience at Les Amoureuses Bis, note that their list features over 200 cuvées, carefully selected by Alena. Bubbles, reds, and whites can be ordered by the glass, bottle, or magnum, accompanied by the house's expert advice (from 8 € per glass and 35 € per bottle).

The bonus : each month, the restaurant hosts meetups with winemakers. Check the Instagram @lesamoureuses.bis for dates.

Les Amoureuses bis, 3 rue des Tournelles, Paris 4e. 01 40 33 00 97. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 6 pm to 1 am. 01 42 26 01 02.