Magdalena
8th arrondissement, Paris
Restaurant in Paris, France
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Magdalena is worth considering when you need an easy, central Paris meal around Madeleine rather than a high-ceremony destination booking. Cross-shop Akrame or Marie Akaneya for a more defined splurge; choose Magdalena for flexibility, location, and a lower-pressure plan.
About Magdalena
Magdalena is a Paris option with broad daily opening hours and a smart casual dress code. For comparison, consider other dining choices such as Akrame, Caviar Kaspia, Le Bistrot Mavrommatis, Le Grand Café Fauchon, and Marie Akaneya.
The most reliable planning signal is timing: Magdalena is open daily from 8 AM, until 12 AM most nights and until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday. Beyond that, Magdalena is best treated as a practical Paris choice rather than one defined by a specific cuisine, menu format, signature dish, chef, price point, or seating style.
Choose it for flexible hours, not for a defined tasting-menu brief
The smartest use case is a low-friction Paris visit when timing matters and the group wants a smart casual setting. Magdalena is easiest to evaluate on the basics: it is in Paris, it opens daily, and it keeps later Friday and Saturday hours. If the night needs a more deliberate comparison, cross-shop Akrame, Caviar Kaspia, Le Bistrot Mavrommatis, Le Grand Café Fauchon, or Marie Akaneya.
Do not rely on this listing for off-premise details, a specific cuisine, a signature order, or dietary guidance. If those details matter, confirm directly with Magdalena through its official channels before making plans.
Where it fits in a Paris food day
Magdalena is most useful when its opening hours solve the schedule: Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 12 AM, Friday and Saturday from 8 AM to 2 AM, and Sunday from 8 AM to 12 AM. For broader planning, use Our full Paris restaurants guide, then pair the area with Our full Paris hotels guide or Our full Paris bars guide.
If this is part of a wider itinerary, keep Magdalena in the practical Paris slot and compare it with other dining options based on hours, dress code, and the level of planning your group wants.
Planning details
- Location
- 16 Pl. de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- magdalena-paris.fr
- Phone
- +33153810817
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Magdalena presents itself as a distinctly historic, formal Parisian table anchored by its Place de la Madeleine address. The copy leans into the neoclassical surroundings and a long local tradition in which food and provisioning read as high culture. Service and pacing are described as precise, and the restaurant operates within a register of expectation common to the 8th arrondissement’s established maisons. The overall tone is serious and composed: the dining room privileges measured elegance over informality and invites diners who appreciate ritualized, classic French service in a setting that feels embedded in the city’s culinary history.
Best For
This is a restaurant built for evenings that matter. The neighbourhood’s formal dining culture and the description’s emphasis on a familiar, formal table make Magdalena an obvious choice for date nights, special-occasion dinners, and business meals where service and wine selection are as important as the food. Brunch is also noted as part of the venue’s repertoire, but the strength of the writing rests on the evening experience: expect a paced, attentive service that supports multi-course, classic French dining in the heart of the 8th arrondissement.
Ordering Tips
Order from the classics: the beef bourguignon and sole meunière signal the kitchen’s commitment to traditional technique, while the linguine au homard shows a willingness to handle richer shellfish preparations. Given the text’s emphasis on a serious wine selection, ask the sommelier for pairings that reinforce the dish’s lineage—robust, structured reds with the bourguignon and crisp, mineral whites with the sole. Allow the restaurant’s measured pacing to guide a multi-course meal rather than rushing through plates; the service is described as precise and intentionally paced.
Venue details
Ambiance
Refined and majestic ambiance with sophisticated lighting evoking Parisian palaces.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- beef bourguignon
- sole meunière
- linguine au homard
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 16 Pl. de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France
Planning details
Location
16 Pl. de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, France · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Akrame, French, Creative, €€€€
- Caviar Kaspia, Caviar-French, Caviar-French
- Marie Akaneya, Japanese, €€€€
- Le Bistrot Mavrommatis, Notable alternative
- Le Grand Café Fauchon, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How Magdalena compares in Paris
Akrame is the clearer splurge choice if the brief is creative French cooking and a more serious dining agenda. Magdalena is easier to fit into the day and better for a lower-pressure plan around Madeleine, but Akrame gives the meal a sharper purpose.
Caviar Kaspia is the more occasion-coded Paris pick, especially for diners who want the caviar-French lane and the social charge that comes with it. Magdalena is the practical alternative when location and booking ease matter more than a luxury ingredient focus.
Marie Akaneya is the better cross-shop for a high-spend Japanese dinner, while Le Bistrot Mavrommatis and Le Grand Café Fauchon are the more useful alternatives if the group wants a different Paris mood without committing to the €€€€ tier. Pick Magdalena when the Madeleine location is the deciding factor.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Magdalena guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Magdalena
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magdalena | Paris | , | , | No published awards |
| Akrame | Paris | French, Creative | €€€€ | Michelin Guide France & Monaco 20262026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Gault & Millau Prestige Restaurant2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Classical in Europe Ranked · #942024 Michelin 1 Star2023 OAD Classical in Europe Highly Recommended |
| Caviar Kaspia | Paris | Caviar-French | , | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #6172023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended |
| Marie Akaneya | Paris | Japanese | €€€€ | Michelin Guide France & Monaco 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| Le Bistrot Mavrommatis | Paris | , | , | No published awards |
| Le Grand Café Fauchon | Paris | , | , | No published awards |
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How Magdalena Paris compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Magdalena handle dietary restrictions?
Ask Magdalena directly before you go, especially if anyone in the group has strict requirements. You can also compare with Marie Akaneya or other dining options and confirm their current policies.
Can I eat at the bar at Magdalena?
What are alternatives to Magdalena in Paris?
Other venues to compare include Le Grand Café Fauchon, Le Bistrot Mavrommatis, Akrame, Caviar Kaspia, and Marie Akaneya. Use hours, dress code, and your preferred level of planning to choose between them.
Is Magdalena good for a special occasion?
It can work if the occasion fits a smart casual Paris setting and flexible timing. Magdalena is open until 12 AM most days and until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday. For more specific occasion needs, confirm the current format and availability directly with the venue.
Is lunch or dinner better at Magdalena?
The safest planning point is the opening schedule rather than a lunch-or-dinner recommendation. Magdalena is open daily from 8 AM, until 12 AM most nights and until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday. Confirm current service details with the venue before you go.
What should a first-timer know about Magdalena?
Treat Magdalena as a practical Paris option with smart casual dress and long daily hours. It is open every day, with hours running from 8 AM to 12 AM most days and to 2 AM on Friday and Saturday. If you need details on cuisine, menu, seating, or dietary accommodations, check directly with the venue.
