Restaurant in Paris, France
Casual, eco-focused spot with real character.
La REcyclerie is a converted railway station turned urban farm café on Boulevard Ornano in the 18th arrondissement. It suits curious visitors who want to see a different side of Paris food culture — casual, ecologically minded, and worth a warm-weather afternoon. Not a destination for fine dining, but a genuine change of register from the city's more formal restaurant circuit.
La REcyclerie sits at 83 Boulevard Ornano in the 18th arrondissement, occupying a converted former railway station on the Petite Ceinture line. That address alone tells you something about the crowd it draws: curious, neighbourhood-loyal, and less interested in white tablecloths than in a space that does something genuinely different with its surroundings. If you are visiting Paris primarily for fine dining, this is not your stop. If you want to understand how a younger, more ecologically minded Paris eats and drinks, it is worth your afternoon.
The venue operates as a multi-use urban farm café, meaning the experience changes depending on when you arrive. The kitchen draws on produce grown on site or sourced through short supply chains, which gives the menu a seasonal, low-waste character that is more substantive than the usual green-washing most casual venues apply to their branding. Right now, in the current season, the outdoor garden space is one of the better reasons to make the trip — the setting is visually unlike anything you will find in the city's more conventional café circuit, with reclaimed materials, planters, and the exposed bones of the old station structure framing the whole scene.
On the question of whether the food travels well for takeout or delivery: the kitchen's strength is in honest, casual preparation , think composed salads, grain-forward dishes, and seasonal soups rather than anything that relies on precise plating or heat retention. These formats hold up reasonably well off-premise, but the setting is a substantial part of why people come. Ordering for delivery removes the main draw. If you can sit on site, do.
Booking is easy. This is not a reservation-pressure venue. Walk-ins are realistic outside peak weekend hours, though the garden fills quickly on warm afternoons. For a solo visit or a pair, showing up mid-week is low-risk. Groups should check ahead given the shared-space nature of the layout.
For the explorer visiting Paris with an interest in how the city's food culture extends beyond its three-star circuit, La REcyclerie offers genuine context. Pair a visit here with a broader look at the 18th's independent food scene using our full Paris restaurants guide or consult our full Paris bars guide for evening options nearby.
If your Paris itinerary is focused on destination dining, you will find more to consider at Arpège, Kei, or Le Cinq at the Four Seasons George V. For a broader picture of what France's leading tables look like outside Paris, Mirazur in Menton and Flocons de Sel in Megève are the strongest cases for a detour.
Quick reference: 83 Bd Ornano, 75018 Paris. Walk-ins feasible. Garden seating fills fast on warm days. Food travels adequately but the setting is the main reason to visit in person.
See the comparison section below for how La REcyclerie sits relative to the city's broader restaurant options. For hotels, use our full Paris hotels guide. For experiences beyond dining, our Paris experiences guide covers the 18th and beyond.
Further afield in France, Troisgros in Ouches, Bras in Laguiole, Auberge de l'Ill in Illhaeusern, and Paul Bocuse in Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or represent the country's most historically significant kitchen destinations. For international reference points, Le Bernardin in New York and Lazy Bear in San Francisco share La REcyclerie's interest in ingredient sourcing, though at a very different price point and format. Our Paris wineries guide is worth checking if natural wine is on your agenda during the same trip.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La REcyclerie | Easy | — | |||
| Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen | Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Kei | Contemporary French, Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| L'Ambroisie | French, Classic Cuisine | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Le Cinq - Four Seasons Hôtel George V | French, Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Pierre Gagnaire | French, Creative | €€€€ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
La REcyclerie occupies a different tier entirely from formal Paris dining. If you want a similarly casual, neighbourhood-rooted experience in the 18th, explore the cafés and bistros along Rue des Abbesses. For a step up in ambition, Kei in the 1st blends French technique with Japanese precision at a mid-to-high price point, while L'Ambroisie on Place des Vosges is the benchmark for classical French at full luxury spend.
Probably not if your definition of special occasion means a formal dinner with white tablecloths. La REcyclerie's setting — a converted Petite Ceinture railway station with an urban farm — suits low-key celebrations, birthdays with a relaxed crowd, or a distinctive date rather than a milestone anniversary dinner. For the latter, Le Cinq at the Four Seasons George V or Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen are the appropriate calls.
The venue operates as an informal café-bar space given its converted station format, so counter or bar seating is part of the natural setup rather than a special arrangement. It is a reasonable solo or drop-in option for drinks and a bite without committing to a full table booking.
The open, industrial-style space at 83 Boulevard Ornano is well-suited to groups — the layout does not punish larger parties the way a tight bistro would. For confirmed capacity limits or private event hire, check the venue's official channels, as specific group policies are not documented in available records.
Yes. The casual, drop-in atmosphere at a converted railway station means solo visitors do not feel conspicuous. It works well for a working lunch or an afternoon coffee with no social pressure attached. The 18th arrondissement location on Boulevard Ornano also gives you a genuine neighbourhood feel rather than a tourist-circuit setting.
The concept is built around sustainability and urban ecology — there is a working urban farm on site, and the ethos shapes the food and drink offer. Expect a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere rather than a polished restaurant experience. It is at 83 Boulevard Ornano in the 18th, close to Porte de Clignancourt, which is a practical detail worth noting for getting there. Come for the setting and the concept rather than a destination meal.
Given the venue's documented eco and sustainability focus, plant-based and vegetarian options are likely well-represented, but specific dietary accommodation policies are not on record here. Raise any restrictions directly with the venue before visiting rather than assuming coverage.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
