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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.
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French regional
Aux Lyonnais in Paris is Alain Ducasse's Lyonnais annex on Rue Saint-Marc. At 32 Rue Saint-Marc. Booking recommended. Cash and card accepted.
Why locals goAlain Ducasse's Lyonnais bouchon-style annex sits unmarked behind a curtain on Rue Saint-Marc; the chef name brings the food, the lack of branding hides it.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. The €40 set lunch midweek is the same kitchen at half the dinner price.
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Argentine
Le Baratin in Paris's 20e is the Argentine-French intuition bistro Raquel Carena has cooked at since 1992. The chef's favourite chef's restaurant, locals say.
Why locals goRaquel Carena's Belleville bistro is the room every Parisian chef calls their favourite when no one is listening; the address is unsigned.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday, often Saturday too. Phone bookings only; no website, no walk-ins.
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French bistro
6 Paul Bert in Paris is the unsigned annex of Bistrot Paul Bert two doors down. Seafood and natural wines, 20 seats, the same group's quieter sister room.
Why locals goThe unsigned second restaurant of Bistrot Paul Bert two doors down; a 20-seat seafood-and-natural-wine room where the same group cooks fish and shellfish.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Book a week ahead for dinner; lunch is easier walk-up.