Brasserie€€12eDaily 08:30-01:00
Le Square Trousseau in Paris's 12e is the kind of belle-époque brasserie a fashion editor uses for a long Saturday lunch on the Marché d'Aligre side.
Signature: Steak tartare, Crème brûlée
Order: Steak tartare cut by hand, crème brûlée; a pichet of Sancerre at lunch.
Tip: Open daily; no booking required for the terrace, reserve indoor seating in winter.
French Bistro€€7eDaily 08:00-01:00
Le Petit Cler in Paris sits on Rue Cler, the embassy market street, and runs an all-day bistro carte of croque-monsieur, steak frites and Lyonnais salads.
Signature: Croque-monsieur, Steak frites
Order: Croque-monsieur at lunch, steak frites at dinner, a glass of Brouilly.
Tip: The terrace catches sun until 19:00 in summer; the back room is the warmer winter pick.
Café€10e
La Fontaine de Belleville in Paris is Belleville Brûlerie's day-long café-bistro: third-wave coffee, tartines, plat du jour, and a wine list past 18:00.
Signature: Tartine, Café crème
Order: A tartine at 11:00, the plat du jour at 13:00, a glass of Beaujolais at 18:00.
Tip: Open 08:00-22:00 daily; the back room is quieter for laptop work mid-morning.
French Regional€€3eMon 17:30-22:00; Thu-Fri 17:30-22:00; Sat 12:00-15:00, 17:30-22:00; Sun 12:00-22:00; closed Tue-Wed
Robert et Louise in Paris's 3e has grilled côtes de bœuf over an open log fire in the dining room since 1958. Booking required for the fireside tables.
Signature: Côte de bœuf grilled on log fire, Aligot
Order: Côte de bœuf for two grilled in the room, aligot from the Aubrac.
Tip: Two seatings only, 19:30 and 21:30. Closed Sunday. Sit close to the fire in winter.
North African€€3eMon-Sat 12:00-14:30, 19:00-23:30; Sun 19:00-23:30
Chez Omar in Paris has plated couscous royal under brass lanterns on Rue de Bretagne since 1978. Located in 3E. Kitchen leans north african.
Signature: Couscous royal, Tagine
Order: Couscous royal with merguez, lamb and chicken; baklava for dessert.
Tip: Cash only. No reservations; arrive before 20:00 to skip the line on Saturday.
French Bistro€€€1erTue-Sat 12:00-14:00, 19:00-23:00
La Poule au Pot in Paris's Les Halles cooks the Henri IV chicken-in-the-pot at its historical address. The menu of grand-mère bistro classics has not changed.
Signature: Poule au pot Henri IV, Soufflé Grand Marnier
Order: Poule au pot Henri IV for two, soufflé Grand Marnier to finish.
Tip: The room is small and warm. Book a banquette table over the centre seats.