Best French Restaurants in Downtown LA
10 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Perch LA
Rooftop French bistro dining with one of DTLA’s best views.
Notable Picks
#1
Perch LA
8.6
A French-inspired rooftop bistro that pairs skyline drama with approachable brasserie staples. The kitchen leans classic—steak frites, mussels, roast chicken—executed reliably at high volume, while the real draw is the terrace energy and panoramic DTLA views. Come for golden-hour cocktails and stay for a lively, view-forward dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak frites, Moules frites, Duck confit
What Makes it Special: Rooftop French bistro dining with one of DTLA’s best views.
8.5
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Girls Night Out Approved
A grand, Belle-Époque-styled French room in the Historic Core that trades in romance and theatrical dining. The menu stays rooted in French classics—escargot, tartare, steak and seafood—supported by a deep cocktail and champagne program. After a recent return to service, it’s again a reliable pick for special nights when you want atmosphere to match the plate.
Must-Try Dishes:
Moules frites, Steak tartare, Escargot with herb butter
What Makes it Special: A revived Parisian dining hall where ambience is half the experience.
8.1
A Francophile wine bar and café tucked into the Spring Arcade, combining a small French market with a cozy bistro perch. The food is simple and well-done—charcuterie, croques, salads, pastries—meant to pair with an excellent French-leaning wine list. It’s a mellow, under-the-radar spot that feels like stepping into a tiny Paris lounge downtown.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charcuterie and cheese board, Croque monsieur, Seasonal tart or pastry
What Makes it Special: Wine-first French café-market hybrid with real bistro intimacy.
#4
Azay
8
A family-run Little Tokyo storefront where Chef Akira Hirose applies classical French technique to traditional Japanese morning plates — one of the few places in LA proper doing a dedicated Japanese breakfast. The tight, open-kitchen format keeps things intimate and unhurried, built for regulars who treat it as a weekend ritual rather than a one-off visit.
Must-Try Dishes:
Daily Bento, Japanese Breakfast, Omurice
What Makes it Special: Family-run Little Tokyo institution where Chef Akira Hirose merges classical French technique with traditional Japanese breakfast — one of the only dedicated Japanese breakfasts served in LA proper.
Worthy Picks
#5
L'Appart
7.9
A compact contemporary French brasserie and bar in the Spring Arcade corridor with a menu that moves from shareable starters to polished mains. Flavors stay familiar but thoughtfully updated, and the room feels more like a chic neighborhood hideout than a formal destination. Best for a relaxed dinner with a strong cocktail or wine backbone.
Must-Try Dishes:
French onion soup, Roasted chicken with jus, Steak frites
What Makes it Special: Downtown brasserie comfort with a cocktail-bar edge.
A French patisserie operating out of Smorgasburg and a private studio, specializing in hand-painted character macarons and seasonal custom desserts with clean, balanced sweetness. The made-to-order format means everything comes fresh, and the visual presentation — intricate macaron designs and themed boxes — gives each order a gift-like quality. Expect a market stall experience, not a sit-down café, with weekend mornings at Smorgasburg being the primary walk-up window.
Must-Try Dishes:
Assorted French macarons, Character/hand-painted macaron boxes, Seasonal custom cake slices
What Makes it Special: Studio-made, French-style macarons with playful, artistic finishes.
7.8
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Business Lunch Power Players
A French brasserie embedded in The Music Center that has built its rhythm around curtain times, pacing courses so theater-goers eat without clock-watching. The menu leans on brasserie staples like steak frites and burrata salad rather than chasing trends, which keeps it reliable for the downtown professional crowd. Expect a lively dining room on show nights and a noticeably calmer pace during weekday off-peaks.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Frites, Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts, Club Sandwich
What Makes it Special: French brasserie at The Music Center with service paced to curtain times, so you never miss the opening note.
7.8
A family-run French bakery and café near Pershing Square that anchors downtown mornings with serious bread and pastry craft. Croissants, baguettes, and tarts are the headliners, but the savory side—tartines, soups, salads—makes it an easy lunch stop too. Reliable, unfussy, and built for daily repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Almond croissant, Jambon-beurre baguette, Savory tartine
What Makes it Special: Classic French boulangerie execution in a downtown grab-and-go format.
#9
Camélia
7.7
A French-Japanese bistro from the Tsubaki team that reworks bistro staples with Japanese precision — pot pies built with abalone and snail butter, croque madames layered on shokupan with ham katsu. The Arts District room runs lively-to-loud on weekends, so weeknight reservations land closer to the date-night tone the cooking deserves.
Must-Try Dishes:
Abalone & Shrimp Pot Pie, Croque Madame, Bluefin Tuna Toast
What Makes it Special: French-Japanese bistro from the Tsubaki team where classic French dishes are refined with Japanese technique — pot pies get abalone and snail butter, croque madames are built on shokupan with ham katsu.
#10
TOUS les JOURS
7.5
A Korean bakery chain applying French pastry technique to a deep rotation of breads, cakes, and filled pastries—baked on-site daily with items like sweet potato bread and fresh yogurt cream cakes that lean into Korean flavor profiles. The Little Tokyo location draws a mix of quick-grab commuters and cake shoppers, though the 17% one-star rate across reviews signals uneven execution depending on timing and item selection. Works best when you know what you want and treat it as a reliable pickup counter rather than a destination bakery experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blueberry Fresh Yogurt Cream Cake, Sweet Potato Bread, Coffee Bun
What Makes it Special: Korean-French bakery baking 300+ items fresh daily, blending Seoul street-food fillings with French pastry technique in the heart of Little Tokyo