Chez Julien in Paris's 4e sits on the Seine quai opposite Île Saint-Louis. A 19th-century painted-ceiling bistro, 15 seats, the most photographed room in the Marais.
Why locals love it: A 19th-century painted-ceiling bistro on the Seine quai opposite Île Saint-Louis with no street sign and 15 seats; the dining room sets a movie scene.
Tip: Open daily lunch and dinner. The riverside terrace is the seat; book a fortnight ahead for sunset.
Address: 1 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris
Stéphane Jégo's L'Ami Jean in Paris's 7e is the Basque bistro on Rue Malar where the chalkboard menu changes daily and the riz au lait dessert pours from a saucepan.
Why locals love it: Stéphane 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.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book three weeks ahead for dinner; the lunch set is the easier ticket.
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. Fourteen seats, no website.
Why locals love it: A 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.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Phone bookings only; the cellar holds the deeper natural list.
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 love it: Septime's no-reservation seafood little sister; even regulars queue from 18:45 for the 24 stools and never know whether they'll sit.
Tip: Arrive at 18:45 for the first seating or after 21:30 for the second wave. No phone reservations.
La Cave de l'Insolite in Paris's 11e is the natural-wine cave-and-bistro on Rue de la Folie-Méricourt. Two rooms past the bottle shop, charcuterie plates only.
Why locals love it: A 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.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The €25 cheese-and-charcuterie sharing plate feeds three; phone only.
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 love it: A 12-seat sandwich counter on Rue de la Roquette where Delphine Zampetti rotates daily-fresh fillings; locals queue, tourists walk past.
Tip: Get there by 12:30 or the morning batch is gone. Closed Sunday and Monday; cash and card both work.
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 love it: Camille 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.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday. Arrive at 18:00 or after 21:30 for a counter stool.
