Jòia
An affordable restaurant from acclaimed chef Hélène Darroze? What’s not to like? There’s an oh-so casual wine bar downstairs with a simple tapas menu, but I recommend heading upstairs to the charming small-scale restaurant where the service is warmly welcoming, the food outstanding and the weekday set lunch a bargain at 38 euros.
Elizabeth Carter
WHERE 39 Rue des Jeuneurs, 75002 Paris, France
FOLLOW @joiaparhelenedarroze
BOOK joiahelenedarroze.com
Aux Crus de Bourgogne
While our proximity to France means we’ve always been familiar with classic French cuisine in Britain, it seems remiss not at least eat in a traditional bistro in Paris. On my most recent trip to the French capital, I had the chance to lunch at Aux Crus de Bourgogne, which pays homage to Burgundy. The restaurant has been around for nearly 100 years and while the menu changes regularly you can still get the sort of meal you expect in Paris - snails, terrine, steak frites… plus the wine list is one to linger over. Reminded me a little of Balthazar in New York.
Adam Hyman
WHERE 3 Rue Bachaumont, 75002 Paris, France
FOLLOW @auxcrusde.bourgogne
BOOK www.auxcrusdebourgogne.com
Chez Jeanette
Chez Jeanette is a great little relaxed bar de quartier with a retro feel on Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis and is open every day. It's perfect for a drink and a snack or you can make a whole meal out of it and order everything on the small, regularly changing menu as we did. Plates range from 10-20 euros and puddings are only 3 euros. It was full of young French locals spilling onto the street drinking when we went. You order at the bar, casual service but very friendly.
Alice Hale
WHERE 47 Rue du Faubourg St.Denis, 75010 Paris, France
FOLLOW @chezjeanette
Early June
This place is the name on everybody's lips these days but it was the best meal I had when I was in Paris for a month. They rotate their head chef so the menu changes regularly but the warmth, the energy, and the wine made the meal. I didn't experience service like I did there anywhere else in Paris - they were so attentive, keen to talk about wine, let us experiment, and brought out a little extra taster with one of the courses just for the heck of it.
Blair Millican
WHERE 19 Rue Jean Poulmarch, 75010 Paris, France
FOLLOW @earlyjuneparis
BOOK early-june.fr
Le Rigmarole
Plenty of restaurants offer a chef’s ‘surprise’ menu, but few do it quite like Le Rigmarole where Robert Compagnon and Jessica Yang deliver a succession of dishes uniquely tailored to your likes, dislikes and appetite on the day. It’s a logistically bonkers approach to running a kitchen and a seat at the bar offers a marvellous insight into Robert’s mental menu juggling and the Japanese grill which features heavily. Such a personal approach means it’s a hands-on business and, now with a young family, Robert and Jessica have pared things back to Wednesday - Friday lunch only. If you miss out, try their excellent wine and ice cream bar next door.
Chloë Hamilton
WHERE 10 Rue du Grand Prieuré, 75011 Paris, France
FOLLOW @lerigmarole
BOOK www.lerigmarole.com
