At the foot of the Place de la Bastille, opposite the new Opera, the Café Français is easily one of the top ten best Parisian brasseries. Elegance and tradition are the by-words here, with its contemporary décor and hushed atmospheric light. The cooking is sophisticated and the pastries are exceptional. It’s the perfect mix of cosmopolitan chic and old-world charm where one could easily imagine calling the waiter “garçon” and having someone like the debonair Yves Montand appear. Lunch and dinner offer choices of 1 appetizer, 2 main dishes and 3 desserts of the day. Wines are suggested according to the monthly specials. The classic brasserie menu is rich in great recipes. For those on the run, an express lunch menu includes a quiche of the day, pastry of choice and coffee: 16.50€. Breakfast menu for 11.50€ is fine and brunch is on offer every day: scrambled eggs with salmon, cherry tomatoes and shallots, soft chive cream cheese, French toast, fruit salad, fresh pressed juice and a hot drink all for just 22€. Afternoon snack time sees the French lining up to feast on pastry chef Thierry Leveillé’s exceptional millefeuilles, éclairs, etc. The reputation of this exceptional dessert spot extends far beyond the doors of the Marais. Come see for yourself!