Best French Restaurants in NYC for the World Cup

Bistros, brasseries, and wine bars -- where to eat before France faces Senegal at MetLife on June 16

Best French Restaurants in NYC: World Cup 2026 Guide

French cuisine has deep roots in New York's dining culture -- the city has excellent French restaurants across every price point, from corner bistros in the West Village to the world great seafood restaurants in Midtown. For the World Cup, France fans have the advantage of a city that takes French food seriously and has venues that understand what it means to watch a major France match with the right wine in hand.

The Best French Restaurants for World Cup Watching

Balthazar -- 80 Spring St, SoHo

New York's most famous French brasserie. The space -- mirrored walls, leather banquettes, the noise of 300 people eating and talking simultaneously -- is the closest thing to a Paris brasserie in the city. The menu is comprehensive French brasserie: steak tartare, moules marinières, steak frites, onion soup gratinée. The wine list is built around French producers. For the June 16 match, Balthazar's bar and bar-adjacent tables show major sporting events when the occasion demands. Make a reservation for the match window; the bar takes walk-ins but fills fast for big events.

Pastis -- 52 Gansevoort St, Meatpacking District

Keith McNally's beloved Paris café reincarnation in the Meatpacking District -- rattan chairs, zinc bar, tiled floors, and a menu of French classics that are as good as anything in the city. Pastis opens early and has multiple screens for major sporting events. The France community in New York knows this is the place. For June 16, arrive for a pre-match lunch (the croque monsieur is excellent) and stay for the match. The Meatpacking District is close to the High Line and Hudson Yards -- you can walk to the fan zone afterward if you want to extend the day.

Buvette -- 42 Grove St, West Village

An intimate wine bar serving French and Italian small plates -- charcuterie, cheese, tartines, eggs in every form. Not the right place for a packed match-watching crowd, but one of the best places in the city for a French pre-match meal. The wine list focuses on natural French producers. Come for dinner after a fan zone afternoon, before heading to a bar for the match itself.

Café Luxembourg -- 200 W 70th St, Upper West Side

A longtime Upper West Side institution serving classic French bistro food in a space that hasn't changed much since the 1980s and doesn't need to. Steak frites, duck confit, excellent French wine list. For France fans staying on the Upper West Side or Upper East Side, this is the neighborhood option. Less atmosphere for match watching than SoHo or Meatpacking, but better food than most sports bars.

Essential French Dishes

• Steak Frites -- Grilled steak (usually hanger or bavette) with thin fries and béarnaise sauce. The definitive bistro main course. Order it medium-rare.
• Moules Marinières -- Mussels steamed in white wine, shallots, garlic, and herbs. Comes with frites for dipping in the broth. Order two orders.
• Soupe à l'Oignon Gratinée -- French onion soup with Gruyère melted on top. Rich, deeply savory, warming even in summer. Order it if you see it on a lunch menu.
• Croque Monsieur -- Ham and Gruyère toasted on bread with béchamel. The French café sandwich, done properly, is something extraordinary. Add a fried egg for the croque madame version.
• Steak Tartare -- Raw hand-cut beef with capers, cornichons, shallots, mustard, and egg yolk. Served with toast. A test of any French kitchen.
• Bordeaux -- The wine to drink with French food. A glass of Médoc or Saint-Émilion with steak frites is one of the great simple pleasures of French cuisine.