Restaurants

L’As du Fallafel
34 rue des Rosiers
Paris is not exactly a city known for its street food, but the fallafel sandwich here makes for a transcendental vegetarian experience. Piled into a pita is the requisite super-crisp, garlicky chickpea fritters, with creamy hummus, lightly pickled red cabbage, cucumbers, fried eggplant and just-hot-enough harissa. Grab one to eat in the street with the locals and watch the people pass by. You have to order from and pay the cashier on the right before offering your receipt to the guys in the window who produce your sandwich.

Au Fils des Saisons
6 rue des Fontaines du Temple
A newly renovated restaurant with a menu composed of seasonal specialties. The chef composes the menu according to what is found in the market: on the menu foie gras roasted in honey, tartar of red radish with marscapone and balsamic vinegar, pan-grilled Perch, homemade sorbets, bread uniquely presented on a skewer and coffee served with caramels. Warm service.

Benoit
20 rue St-Martin
If you loved Benoît before it became the property of Alain Ducasse and Thierry de la Brosse -- the pair that revived Aux Lyonnais -- chances are you'll adore it now. Without changing the vintage 1912 setting, which needed nothing more than a minor dusting, the illustrious new owners have subtly improved the menu with dishes such as marinated salmon, frogs' legs in a morel mushroom cream sauce, and an outstanding cassoulet served in a cast-iron pot. Hardworking young chef David Rathgeber, formerly of Aux Lyonnais, keeps the kitchen running smoothly and the waiters are charm incarnate. It's a splurge to be here, so go all the way and top off your meal with tarte Tatin that's caramelized to the core or a rum-doused baba.

Bofinger
5 rue de la Bastille
Opened in the 1860s, Bofinger is the oldest Alsatian brasserie in town and one of the best. It's a Belle Epoque dining palace, resplendent with brass and stained glass. Affiliated with La Coupole, Julien, and Brasserie Flo, the restaurant has updated its menu, retaining the most popular traditional dishes, like sauerkraut and sole meunière. Recent additions include roasted leg of lamb with fondant of artichoke hearts and parsley purée, grilled turbot with brandade of fennel, and stingray with chives and burnt-butter sauce. Shellfish, including fresh oysters and lobster, is almost always available in season. Weather permitting, you can dine on an outdoor terrace. In light of the restaurant's rich history, they've designated an in-house staff member, Jean-Pierre, to conduct brief complimentary tours of the place for interested diners. During the course of your meal, if you're interested, make your intentions known, and a brief French-language tour will probably evolve. If you don't speak French, the gist of the tour will be delivered, in English, on a pamphlet.

Café du Trésor
5 rue du Trésor
Within the picturesque Marais area, discover one of the favourite places of trendy young parisians. Gorgeous girls and dashing young blokes - gay and straight - attend this trendy bar. Partying is the done thing and the place generally gets packed-up at weekends. A warm and friendly place with colored walls and comfortable red leather armchairs, fun nights are animated by crazy DJs.

Georges
Centre Pompidou, 6th floor, 19 rue Beaubourg
The Centre Pompidou is again in the spotlight; all of artsy Paris is talking about this place. Georges is in a large space on the top floor of Paris's most comprehensive arts complex, with views through bay windows over most of the city. The decor is minimalist and postmodern, with lots of brushed aluminum and stainless steel. Tables are made from sandblasted glass, lit from below, and accessorized with hypermodern cutlery. Menu items are mostly Continental, with hints of Asia. Some combinations surprise -- macaroni with lobster, for example. Others seem exotic, including roasted ostrich steak. Aside from these dishes, some of the best items on the menu are roasted scallops with lemon butter and tuna steak spiced with coriander. There's also a luscious version of sole meunière (may that dish never go out of style!). To get here, head for the exterior elevator to the left of the Pompidou's main entrance. Tell the guard you have a reservation; otherwise, you might not be allowed up.

L’Ambroisie
9 place des Vosges
One of Paris's most talented chefs, Bernard Pacaud, draws attention with his vivid flavors and gastronomic skill. Expect culinary perfection but a cool reception at this 17th-century town house, where the decor resembles an Italian palazzo. Pacaud's tables are nearly always filled with diners who come back again and again to see where his imagination will take him next. The dishes change seasonally and may include fricassee of Breton lobster with chestnuts, served with purée of pumpkin; turbot braised with endive, served with julienne of black truffles; or one of our favorite dishes in all Paris, poulard de Bresse demi-deuil homage à la Mère Brazier (chicken roasted with black truffles and truffled vegetables in a style invented by a Lyonnais matron after World War II). An award-winning dessert is tarte fine sablée (a delicate small biscuit) served with bitter chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

Ma Bourgogne
19 place des Vosges
Tucked under the 17th-century stone and brick arcades of the Place des Vosges featuring red and white checked table cloths and old fashioned wooden tables, Ma Bourgogne has a nice country air about it, which would make it feel right out of Burgundy were it not for the typical Parisian wait staff in their white aprons and black vests. The fare is hearty, with huge servings of lentils and pork, foie gras, steaks, and enormous salads full of cheese and ham. The terrace seats, heated with gas parasols, are highly coveted even in the winter.

Le Coude Fou
12 rue du Bourg-Tibourg
The perfect ending for a day wandering the streets of the Marais is a great authentic meal in a lively atmosphere. Excellent wine menu which features a special selection of the month. Le Coude Fou serves a great soup as a starter which is served in half a crusty loaf of bread. Lively music and staff, with great artwork on the wall.

Le Petit Marché
9 rue du Béarn
This bistro attracts a fashion-conscious crowd. The wood-decorated interior is warm and welcoming, the menu short and modern with Asian touches. Start with refreshing raw tuna flash-fried in sesame seeds and served with a Thai sauce; then why not try pan-fried scallops with lime or a vegetarian risotto rich in basil, coriander, cream and green beans.

Le PetiThai
4 rue de roi de Sicile
One of the best places in town for a good Pad Thai (and other delectable Thai treats), located just around the corner from 7 rue Malher. Their Pad Thai is served with chicken or shrimp and has the perfect blend of spice and sweetness. The space is dark and intimate and the service is warm, friendly and attentive.