Marché d'Aligre on weekend mornings, classic bistros on Rue Paul Bert, and the working-class east-end edge of the centre.
Table Bruno Verjus in Paris's 12e cooks ingredient-first: produce sourced by name, fish breathing that morning, no dish served twice in a row.
Signature: Langoustines, Sea bream
Order: The 7-course tasting menu and a pairing of growers' wines.
Tip: Two Michelin stars and number 8 on The World's 50 Best 2025. Book eight weeks out for dinner, four for lunch.
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.