A slice of Paris

Paris—one of the world’s most vibrant and fascinating cities, where rich history meets striking architecture, great shopping, and endless culinary adventures. Boredom simply doesn’t exist here.

Countless blogs and articles have been written about Paris, of course. So rather than attempting yet another “complete guide,” I’ll simply share the experiences I’ve personally enjoyed and would wholeheartedly recommend.

Food

Onze à Table

The name Onze à Table is, of course, a nod to its location in the 11th arrondissement. It’s a cosy, informal restaurant with a small but varied menu featuring delicious fish, seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes. The compact wine list offers a well-chosen selection of French bottles, and the cheerful, friendly service instantly makes you feel at home

Tradional Steak Tartare

Poêlée de Couteaux - Razor clams

Brioche Façon Pain Perdu

Comme chez Maman

In the trendy Batignolles neighbourhood, you’ll find Comme Chez Maman, which literally means “Like at home with Mother.” The restaurant is run by Belgian culinary star Wim van Gorp and offers both set menus for lunch and dinner as well as an extensive à la carte selection. Expect imaginative dishes such as “scallop carpaccio with lemon, leek fondue, black picholine olive coulis”, “free-range chicken in a Parmigiano crust with celeriac, chanterelles, mashed potatoes and a lemon–tarragon broth” or “braised beef chuck Burgundy style, semi-dried carrot, grilled charred meats, crispy gnocchi”. And deserts such as “poached pear, light chocolate caramel, pear sorbet with Jamaican pepper”.

The wine list is equally impressive, featuring bottles from all major French regions—from crisp Sancerre to full-bodied Bordeaux. As you might expect, you won’t find any wines from outside France. In addition to bottles, around ten wines are available by the glass, priced between €8 and €18.

Scallop carpaccio

Braised beef chuck Burgundy style

Poached pear,

Cinq Mars

Tucked away on a quiet little street just behind the Musée d’Orsay—the very street where French icon Serge Gainsbourg once lived—you’ll find Cinq Mars. It’s a laid-back, unpretentious bistro with relaxed, informal service.

The menu sticks to classic French bistro fare: rustic pâté de campagne, saucisse de chez Conquet and boudin noir. But let’s be honest—that’s not why you’ll be dreaming of this place long after you leave.

The real reason to come (and to return, again and again) is the chocolate mousse. It’s outrageously good: dense, rich, impossibly creamy, and dangerously addictive.

The kind of dessert that makes you slow down at first, then suddenly realize your spoon can’t keep up.

Unsurprisingly, it’s won second prize in a regional chocolate mousse competition—though one bite might make you wonder how it didn’t take first.

Terrine de Campagne

Hachis Parmentier