Café Breizh will hit the spot if you’re in the mood for a crêpe. Which in my case, is often. They’ve got them in spades, along with savoury galettes and buckets of cider. Mmmm. It was a popular spot so get in there early. The reason it made my favourites was the delicious (organic) fare. But more importantly (for me anyway) the lovely staff who brought my kid an extra plate with a sweet, for her toy ‘Doggle’. So Café Breizh—you’re ace. I would have taken some more useful pictures but I was distracted by the ‘Timbres Papiers Timbres’ tile typography outside.

You enter La Fidelity and will find a very classic Parisian Brasserie, probably almost empty. Maybe one or two people at the bar. In the middle of this place you will find the stairs that go down to the cave. Have fun!

Vintage store with super good selection

Opened in 2011 by the people at Magnum Photo Agency (their Paris bureau is a few streets away), Le Bal is an institutional exhibition space dedicated to the documentary image. For the most part that means lots of photography exhibits but they like to mix up the shows with videos and especially books. They hold conferences with a great line-up of guest speakers and screen documentaries and other films at the nearby Cinéma de Cinéastes. Be sure to check out the bookshop where you can browse through their connoisseur’s collection of high-end photo books and limited edition zines. Le Bal Café is a great place to meet friends for a quick drink or sit down and taste Anna and Alice’s Anglo-French cuisine. And if you’re wondering why it’s called Le Bal, the space was once a dance hall cum brothel in the roaring ‘20s.

The gallery and bookshop never disappoint a curious mind, but the café is worth the trip alone.