Grand Rapids Restaurants with a French Flair

If you’re not going to Paris anytime soon, but you’re craving a French experience, look no further than Grand Rapids! Many chefs in West Michigan pay homage to the complexity of French cuisine, decor, ambiance, and model their dining experiences after those in different regions of the country.

We have identified 10 locations to transport you and your tastebuds:

Classic French Restaurants

Grand Rapids is home to several restaurants whose focus is classic French cuisine. These places will have your tastebuds saying, “voilà!”

The Euro Bistro

Specializing in classic French and other European cuisines, The Euro Bistro is tucked behind an unassuming storefront on busy 28^th Street in Cascade. Inside, guests are greeted by cozy, contemporary décor and the tantalizing aroma of impeccably prepared entrées, small plates, salads and wood-fired pizzas.

The Euro Bistro was ranked Grand Rapids’ fifth highest rated fine dining restaurant in 2024, according to a survey of Yelp data, but the prices are surprisingly affordable. It’s open for lunch and dinner Mondays-Fridays, and dinner on Saturdays.

Good to know: The Euro Bistro boasts a 20-person bar and a broad selection of wine, beer and spirits.

Margaux

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Grand River within the JW Marriott Grand Rapids, even a seat inside Margaux feels like a treat. The tables are intimate, yet the high ceilings and variety of seating make the open concept impressive.

Menu categories are written in French, but item descriptions are in English, which is helpful if you haven’t tried French cuisine before. Superb plats principal (dinner entrees) – such as Pacific halibut, Loin of Lamb, Roast Chicken, Braised Octopus and Prime Tenderloin – range from $36-$64. Mise en bouche (appetizers) range from a Chicken Liver Parfait to Steak Tartare to Charcuterie & Fromage (artisanal cheeses). The plating is a work of art. Menu categories are written in French, but item descriptions are in English, which is helpful if you haven’t tried French cuisine before.

Margaux serves seven days a week and lunch Monday-Friday, but the French bistro menu is solely available at dinner. Reservations are not required, but you can make one at OpenTable.

Good to know: If you’re not staying in the hotel, the restaurant will validate your valet or self-parking in the JW Marriott Grand Rapids parking garage upon request!

Mertens Prime

Mertens Prime  opened in 2017 in the dining room of the original New Hotel Mertens, which debuted in 1914 and served guests through the 1960s. Mertens Prime incorporates elements of a classic French steakhouse and French quarter style dishes, offering such traditional dishes as Escargot, Steak Frites and Salad, and Chateaubriand. More recently, the restaurant has added dishes from other global cuisines, from Duck a l'Orange to Cajun Shrimp Beignets.

Begin your meal by tasting the authentic cheeses from the cheese trolley. Then, move on to a Roasted Beet & Chevre Salad or steaming bowl of French Onion Soup before enjoying your main course. Complement your meal with a French wine or liqueur.

Pricing on Mertens Prime's menu is flexible, with entrees ranging from $25-$65. You can use Mertens Prime’s OpenTable option to reserve a table for dinner, which is served seven days a week.

Good to know: Mertens Prime’s rooftop patio, Mertens Rooftop, boasts one of the best views of the Grand Rapids skyline and serves cocktails and small plates. 

Vivant Brewery + Spirits

Vivant Brewery + Spirits is not only known for their Northern France/Southern Belgium-inspired craft beer, but also their French eats. Vivant, which translates to “living”, has a constantly changing menu as chefs incorporate local ingredients into daily and weekly specials. Menu constants include bone marrow, duck confit nachos, poutine and pomme frites, all made fresh in-house to rave reviews.

Dinner entrees range from $16-$24, but don’t forget to sample their tasty appetizers as well. The ambience in Vivant Brewery + Spirits is as unique as its menu: located in a century-old funeral home, the stained glass, wooden beams, and original lighting sets Vivant apart as a brewery and restaurant destination.

Vivant is open for dinner seven days a week and lunch Fridays-Sundays. Be sure to check in with your Beer City Brewsader Passport app when you visit!

Good to know: Vivant Brewery + Spirits was awarded the first ever LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for a production brewery in the United States in 2012, and it continues to prioritize sustainability throughout its operations.

Brown Butter Creperie & Cafe

What started as a beloved food truck in 2015 has now become a wonderful staple of the Uptown neighborhood. Brown Butter Creperie & Cafe brings the taste of France to their dining room, or as event catering.

The creperie menu has a wide variety of sweet and savory crepes, as well as a Belgian waffle section. With so many delectable options, your best bet is to go with people you like and try a bunch of different crepes!

Located in a historic building called the “Windmill” (pictured above), the cafe is cozy, but filled with natural light and clean finishes throughout the interior. It’s open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

Good to know: Brown Butter is available to host and cater wedding and baby showers, bachelorette parties, birthdays and whatever it is you’re celebrating.

Bistro Bella Vita

France, meet Italy! Bistro Bella Vita fuses two classic cuisine varieties into an exciting and consistently evolving menu. Dinner entrees range from $22-$64, and the dining and service experience is first class.

Bistro’s menu boasts homemade pastas, many locally-sourced ingredients, and excellent seafood. The chefs at Bistro Bella Vita are accommodating for guests with gluten or lactose intolerance, and also offer vegetarian and vegan menu items.

The restaurant is open for dinner seven days a week and lunch Monday-Friday. Make a reservation using Resy if you know you’ll be there during prime dining hours, as the restaurant is a fan-favorite among locals and tourists.

Good to know: Bistro Bella Vita is located downtown near some of the city's biggest attractions. There are many nearby parking garages and they offer valet service to make parking easy.

Gaby’s Gourmandise

Chef Jean-Gabriel Ferrandon, who was born, raised and schooled in the culinary arts in France, opened Gaby’s Gourmandise in the Grand Rapids Downtown Market in 2021. The restaurant menu features a mix of sweet and savory authentic French foods, including sandwiches, quiches, tartes, cookies and pastries.

Chef Gaby, as he’s called, makes all his own doughs from scratch, utilizing the freshest and finest ingredients from as many local sources as possible, supplemented by a few refined ingredients direct from France. His creations are as beautiful as they are delicious, reflecting his training in Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris.

Gaby’s Gourmandise is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and a 10am opening on Saturdays and Sundays is ideal for a late breakfast. Guests can enjoy their selections to go or in one of the Downtown Market’s public dining spaces (indoors and out).

Good to know: The Gaby’s menu includes both vegan and vegetarian items, so non-meat eaters can still enjoy a taste of classic French cuisine.

French-Inspired Restaurants

The French ambiance and menu items of these restaurants will make you feel as if you’re in the foreign country!

Le Bon Macaron

Step inside a small corner of Paris when you visit Le Bon Macaron in Uptown. Tucked between a local bookstore and boutique clothing shops, Le Bon Macaron is an afternoon oasis for a cup of tea, coffee, or something sweet.

The room is light and bright, with vintage touches, vases of roses on every table, and a glass case full of every color and kind of macaron you could desire. One of their most popular flavors, Marie Antoinette Cake Batter, is a beautiful teal with multi-colored sprinkles, and it tastes just like promise of its name.

The syrups for Le Bon Macaron’s specialty lattes and hand-crafted sodas are made from scratch in house. Hot chocolate and cold brew coffee are available seasonally. Stop in seven days a week for your sweet treats.

Good to know: Made of only sugar, almonds and egg whites, the French macaron is a simple yet complex cookie. Le Bon Macaron offers a rotating selection of 100+ macaron flavors, to be enjoyed on site or to go. 

The Cherie Inn

Just a half block from Le Bon Macaron is The Cherie Inn, a favorite for locals and visitors in search of a European-inspired breakfast or brunch. Some breakfast favorites include many variations of eggs Benedict and pancakes. Lunch items include a mixture of soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Good to know: The Cherie Inn is currently open Wednesday-Sunday. It’s a very popular destination for breakfast on the weekend, so be mindful of potential wait times if you plan on attending during prime breakfast hours.

Chartreuse Sisters

This sister-owned café opened its doors in January 2023. Owners Alyson and Mallory Callaud-Jones started Chartreuse Sisters to combine their French-American heritage with their French dining experiences.

Chartreuse Sisters is located in a restored 1960s drug store on Wealthy Street and offers a seasonal menu of pastries, non-alcoholic cocktails and variations of coffee and tea. It’s open Fridays-Sundays.  

Good to know: Chartreuse Sisters is a Flights of Flavor destination. Get the Flights of Flavor digital pass to earn points toward free merchandise when you order a rotating iced latte flight.

Grand Rapids has a multitude of restaurants and cuisine types to choose from. Whether you’re in the mood for French, Mexican, Italian cuisine, or more, visit the Restaurants page to view a list of restaurants that suit your taste buds.

Hours and prices are subject to change. Please visit restaurant websites to confirm current information. Bon appetit!