The story
Just a few steps from the Seine, Café César brings the spirit of the French bistro to Clichy. Charles & Baptiste run this welcoming address with a clear philosophy: homemade cooking, fresh seasonal produce, and a deep respect for terroir. The restaurant earned a Michelin Recommended distinction in 2026, a nod to its consistent, honest cooking and convivial atmosphere.
The dining room is bright and unfussy, with a terrace that opens onto the quiet rue Chance-Milly. Inside, the mood is relaxed yet attentive — the kind of place where lunch stretches into afternoon coffee and dinners hum with conversation. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible and offers Wi-Fi, making it as practical as it is pleasant.
Café César describes its cuisine as “bistronomique” — a style that marries bistro informality with refined technique. The menu changes with the seasons, built around market-fresh produce and traditional French preparations. Everything is made in-house, from starters to desserts. While the exact dishes rotate, the commitment to honest, flavorful cooking is constant. Separate lunch and dinner menus are available.
Behind the stove and the dining room are Charles & Baptiste, whose hands-on approach defines the restaurant’s character. They oversee everything from the daily specials to the wine list, ensuring each meal feels personal. The restaurant also hosts private events — baptisms, weddings, birthdays — and can be privatised for special occasions.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am, with lunch service from 12:00 to 2:30 pm and dinner from 7:00 to 10:00 pm, Café César is a steady presence in Clichy. Whether you stop by for a midday meal or an evening out, the message from Charles & Baptiste is simple: “À très vite !”
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
Hail César, all those who dine at this café salute you! After 17 years of loyal service in France’s fine dining world (Robuchon, Le Squer, Gagnaire, Frechon), Charles Boixel decided to found his own little empire in Clichy – with the help of Baptiste Guegan, his front-of-house foot soldier (ex-Monsieur Aristide), and Robin Fayet, his faithful centurion in the kitchen. From this hall of mirrors (floor-to-ceiling glazing, a Mediterranean blue tile counter), the conquering trio is seeing double: a short prix-fixe lunch menu that changes weekly, and another menu that’s more extensive and precise, updated each season – available at both lunch and dinner. The day we went, we opted for the latter: a classic pâté en croûte (veal, foie gras, pistachios); thinly sliced beef cheeks served warm with a punchy sauce ravigote; flash-seared scallops served with tender gnocchi, all swimming in whipped satay butter and a creamy butternut squash velouté. It was all so delicious that we skipped dessert entirely: a tropical fruit pavlova with coconut sorbet, cream puffs or a decadent XXL cookie. In addition to all that, Café César also serves breakfast, and when the weather’s nice, the terrace overlooking the cemetery can seat up to 40 guests – luckily, the neighbors don’t mind the noise! // Tino Rôti
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