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Basque
Stéphane Jégo's L'Ami Jean in Paris's 7e is the Basque bistro on Rue Malar where the chalkboard menu changes daily. At 27 Rue Malar. Booking recommended.
Why locals goStéphane Jégo's basque-bistro hidden on Rue Malar in the 7e, with no chalkboard outside; locals book three weeks ahead for the daily-changing menu.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Book three weeks ahead for dinner; the lunch set is the easier ticket.
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Wine bar
La Grande Crèmerie in Paris's 6e is the small natural-wine room on Rue Grégoire-de-Tours with charcuterie plates and a 600-bottle cellar. Booking recommended.
Why locals goA 14-seat natural-wine room on Rue Grégoire-de-Tours in the 6e with no menu board outside; the wine cellar runs to 600 bottles.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Phone bookings only; the cellar holds the deeper natural list.
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Seafood
Clamato in Paris is Septime's no-reservation seafood little sister at 80 Rue de Charonne. Oysters, ceviche, grilled hake from 19:00; walk-in only, 24 stools.
Why locals goSeptime's no-reservation seafood little sister; even regulars queue from 18:45 for the 24 stools and never know whether they'll sit.
TipArrive at 18:45 for the first seating or after 21:30 for the second wave. No phone reservations.
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Wine bar
La Cave de l'Insolite in Paris's 11e is the natural-wine cave-and-bistro on Rue de la Folie-Méricourt. At 30 Rue de la Folie-Méricourt. Booking recommended.
Why locals goA natural-wine cave-and-bistro on Rue de la Folie-Méricourt with no street sign; the two-room dining floor sits past the bottle shop and the proprietor's desk.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. The €25 cheese-and-charcuterie sharing plate feeds three; phone only.
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Cafe
Chez Aline in Paris's 11e is the sandwich counter Delphine Zampetti runs on Rue de la Roquette. Twelve seats, daily-rotating fillings, queue forms at 12:00.
Why locals goA 12-seat sandwich counter on Rue de la Roquette where Delphine Zampetti rotates daily-fresh fillings; locals queue, tourists walk past.
TipGet there by 12:30 or the morning batch is gone. Closed Sunday and Monday; cash and card both work.
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Wine bar
La Buvette in Paris's 11e is Camille Fourmont's 16-seat wine bar putting white beans and fish rillettes on every editorial radar. The list is electric.
Why locals goCamille Fourmont's 16-seat wine-and-snack room hides at the back of the 11e; the white-beans-in-citrus-oil dish moves the room every weekend.
TipClosed Monday and Tuesday. Arrive at 18:00 or after 21:30 for a counter stool.