The Simple French Meal Ina Garten Can't Miss When In Paris

As Ernest Hemingway famously wrote, "Paris is a moveable feast." The French capital, also known as the City of Light, is consistently one of the top most-visited cities in the world, reaching the second spot in 2019, per World Economic Forum. Tourists flock to the left and right banks for good reason: The architecture of the city is stunningly beautiful, and there are seemingly endless options of delights to eat, including the world-famous croissants, macarons, and brasserie classics like foie gras, escargot, and steak frites. There are many French dishes you need to try at least once, such as more regional dishes like cassoulet or bouillabaisse.

On the restaurant front, Paris boasts over 44,000 establishments to choose from (via Caterer Middle East), which can make picking a spot for dinner an overwhelming task. However, celebrity chef and cookbook writer Ina Garten has one go-to Parisian dining spot where you can't go wrong for a classic French meal.

In an interview with Bon Appétit, Garten revealed her favorite Parisian dish: an omelette paired with a glass of champagne, served at Café de Flore, which is located in Paris' left-bank neighborhood Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Established in 1887, the long-running eatery — Garten's favorite restaurant not only in France but also in general — has a long history of being frequented by other illustrious figures, such as surrealist writer André Breton and philosopher Albert Camus.

According to The New York Times, James Baldwin also wrote his novel "Go Tell It on the Mountain" at Café de Flore, where he subsisted on coffee and cognac. Whether you want to follow in the footsteps of Garten and sample the omelette or pursue a writing dream like Baldwin, the free Wi-Fi available at the Parisian spot will allow you to set up shop with a laptop and get some work done (via The Luxury Lowdown). Or you can just enjoy the food and the view.