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.
Address: 30 Rue de la Folie-Méricourt, 75011 Paris
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.
Aux Lyonnais in Paris is Alain Ducasse's Lyonnais annex on Rue Saint-Marc. Quenelle de brochet, saucisson chaud and a Beaujolais list that respects the cru wines.
Why locals love it: Alain 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.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The €40 set lunch midweek is the same kitchen at half the dinner price.
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 love it: Raquel Carena's Belleville bistro is the room every Parisian chef calls their favourite when no one is listening; the address is unsigned.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday, often Saturday too. Phone bookings only; no website, no walk-ins.
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 love it: The 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.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book a week ahead for dinner; lunch is easier walk-up.
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.
