Autumn half-term in Paris: where to eat with the family during the Toussaint holidays?

In autumn, Paris changes pace. The days grow shorter, museums fill up and families make the most of the Toussaint holidays to discover a different side of the capital. For many British visitors, this period also coincides with autumn half-term, an ideal opportunity to spend a few days in Paris with the children.

Between sightseeing, a walk or a Halloween outing, a meal soon becomes a welcome pause. It is a chance to come together, slow down and discover another side of Paris: the one experienced around a table.

In the 9th arrondissement, near the Opéra Garnier and Galeries Lafayette, À Côté offers French cooking centred on beef and an emblematic speciality: côte de bœuf to share.

Paris with the family during the autumn holidays

Paris offers plenty of possibilities during the Toussaint holidays. Museums, monuments, department stores, shows and walks make it easy to plan several days with the family.

For visitors from abroad, this time of year also offers a chance to discover Paris in an atmosphere different from summer. There is more time to pause, seek out good places to eat and enjoy lunch or dinner as a real part of the trip.

Around the Opéra, Grands Boulevards and Galeries Lafayette, there is plenty to do. This central location makes it easy to fit a meal into the day without travelling back and forth.

À Côté, a steakhouse in the heart of Paris

À Côté is, above all, a steakhouse, at 16 rue La Fayette in the 9th arrondissement.

The spirit is that of a welcoming Parisian bistro, with cooking focused on the ingredients, a French wine cellar and attentive service. You can come as a couple, with friends or with the family, ready to share a proper meal.

For visitors who are not fluent in French, the approach stays simple: choose a cut, its weight and its doneness, then let the team guide you. The experience remains approachable without losing the restaurant’s French identity.

French beef chosen with care

Before the cooking comes the beef.

À Côté works with Limousin beef raised in France and fed on grass and hay. Origin, breed and feed give the ingredient an identity before it even reaches the plancha.

Then comes the craft. The rib of beef is seared on a hot plancha, rested, carved and finished in the oven. This way of preparing the beef respects the ingredient and allows the doneness to be adapted to the table’s preferences.

For a family visiting from abroad, it is also a simple way to discover a French restaurant specialising in beef, through a recognisable ingredient, minimally processed and prepared with precision.

Côte de bœuf, a French speciality to share with the family

At the heart of the À Côté experience is the côte de bœuf.

This large cut of beef on the bone is firmly part of the image of French dining. It evokes leisurely meals, large gatherings and the pleasure of sharing the same dish.

At À Côté, each rib of beef is weighed and its weight written on a slate. Guests choose the cut that best suits the number of people and their appetites. Once selected, it is crossed off and reserved for the table.

The côte de bœuf then returns to the centre, accompanied by homemade fries, salad, sauces and a marrow bone. Everyone helps themselves and puts together their plate as they please.

For a family on holiday in Paris, this naturally creates a convivial moment.

A French tradition that British visitors can enjoy

For a British family staying in Paris, eating out is also part of the journey.

You discover neighbourhoods, visit monuments, then sit down at a French table. Côte de bœuf lets that discovery continue without overdoing it: the tradition comes directly from the dish, the way it is cooked, the sides and the time spent around the table.

For visitors used to Sunday roasts, large cuts of meat or shared family meals, the spirit may feel familiar. The customs are different, but the idea is similar: a fine cut in the centre and several people gathered around it.

It is this blend of familiar reference points and discovery that makes a meal interesting during a stay abroad.

Halloween in Paris: a pause after a day out

During autumn half-term, Halloween can easily become part of a family day in Paris. Decorations, activities and outings bring a different feel to the end of October.

After several hours walking or sightseeing, dinner offers a change of pace. Everyone sits down, the children talk about their day, the adults take a breather and the meal takes centre stage again.

À Côté stays true to its identity: French beef, a côte de bœuf in the centre and the pleasure of sharing.

A central address near the Opéra

À Côté’s location makes it easy to include in a day in central Paris.

The restaurant is on rue La Fayette, near the Opéra Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Chaussée d’Antin and Grands Boulevards. It is easy to stop for lunch after a morning of shopping or for dinner after a visit.

For families from abroad looking for somewhere to eat in Paris without straying far from the most visited neighbourhoods, this location is particularly convenient.

A French table to share during the holidays

Holidays are also made for those moments when you slow down.

After several hours discovering Paris, a meal around a côte de bœuf offers another way to come together. The cut arrives in the centre, the sides make their way around the table and the conversation continues.

For French families and British visitors in Paris during autumn half-term alike, À Côté offers a simple way to discover the city through its food: French beef, an emblematic dish and the pleasure of sharing a meal together.

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Discover a French Tradition. Share a Côte de Bœuf.