Le Siffleur de Ballons

White stone walls, a long gilded wooden bar, tightly-squeezed-together tables, a peaceful terrace… At this wine bar located off the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Denis Teixeira, who used to work over at L’Ébauchoir across the street, offers up around 300 bottles that are just waiting to be drunk! Pop one open in house (for a €8 corkage fee in addition to the bottle price), or take one to go… As for the food, Le Siffleur de Ballons also wins over bellies with its mouthwatering plates, like marinated artichoke hearts, oyster mushrooms and melted leeks plated over an anchovy cream, or an excellent chocolate mousse topped with a spoonful of whipped cream, spotted on the next table over. You can also sink your teeth into a croque monsieur made with bread from the nearby Rémy bakery (ours was Catalan inspired, with Bellota chorizo, ricotta and arugula), unless you give into the temptation of one of the carefully sourced but pricey cheese and charcuterie boards (Iberian chorizo, Parma ham, cheeses from La Crémerie Parisienne). // Daphné Miller

FEELING THIRSTY? Low-intervention wines galore: Mimmo by La Voluta (€29 a bottle), a Riesling from Christophe Lindenlaub (€7.50 a glass) or Regain, a surprising carignan from SinPrisa, Sin Pause, available only in Paris (€27 to open up in house).
PRICE: Croque sandwiches €10, plates €7-16, cheese and charcuterie boards €7-15, desserts €7-8.