L'Esquisse

The story

L'Esquisse Paris – Modern Cuisine Bistrot in Montmartre, Recommended by Michelin

L'Esquisse, Paris: A Bistrot Sketch Drawn in Flavour

Perched on the heights of Montmartre, L’Esquisse is a true Parisian bistrot that draws crowds away from the tourist trail. With its wooden storefront, Tolix chairs, and open kitchen, the setting is classic and unpretentious—a place where the chalkboard menu sits on the counter and wine crates linger by the tables. The energy is genuine, the atmosphere welcoming.

At the stove is chef Laëtitia Bret, a veteran of Le Bristol and the Ritz. Her cooking is a confident blend of French roots and multicultural influences. A starter of veal tartare appears inside a spring roll; whelks get an Eastern spin with raz el hanout and tabbouleh; shredded oxtail finds its way into a steamed brioche with avocado and radish. Main courses like rabbit saddle with pistachio pesto and new turnips, or whiting fillet in a wasabi broth with romanesco and Jerusalem artichokes, show a chef who respects French terroir while pushing it forward. Even the sides—crispy pig’s trotter fries with parsnip purée—carry that same thoughtful touch. Desserts, such as a pear crêpe or a stracciatella mousse with chocolate, finish the meal on a light, sweet note.

This modern cuisine earned L’Esquisse a spot in the Michelin guide, a recognition that feels earned: the food is ambitious without losing its soul. The menu changes with the seasons and with the chef’s instincts, never fixed to a single movement. It is, simply, good cooking that evolves.