Hôtel Marais de Launay

In the timeless atmosphere of the Place des Vosges, this famous restaurant is decorated with antique mirrors, a huge tapestry, black and white marble flooring and striking contemporary wall panels lit by red LEDs. It was here that Bernard Pacaud, a meticulous artisan, worked for so many years, indifferent to passing trends and uncompromising about the excellence of his ingredients. After training many chefs, he handed over the reins to Shintaro Awa, who was Eric Frechon's right-hand man at Le Bristol for over 10 years. The Japanese chef humbly perpetuates the spirit of the establishment (eg la

The Pavillon de la Reine, a magnificent residence in Place des Vosges, is named after Anne of Austria, Queen of France and wife of Louis XIII, who once lived here. The refurbished dining room sports a plush, sophisticated vibe, while the patio is idyllic in fine weather to sample a carpaccio of golden grey mullet or monkfish à la meunière. Their oeufs à la neige meringue extravaganza is out of this world.

The "H" is for Hubert Duchenne, a chef hailing from Normandy, whose CV includes stints working for Akrame Benallal and Jean-François Piège. Behind the discreet, elegant façade, the intimate space done out in a chic yet cosy style accommodates fewer than 20 diners. The dishes are deftly done and always on point, whether razor clams with parsley (their signature dish), pollack with amaranth seeds – puffed and as a risotto or barbecued Jersey beef with creamy carrot and activated charcoal: almost every plate enchants the palate thanks to a remarkable balance of roasted and tangy notes. The chef's

FIEF is a play on words, meaning Fait Ici En France (Made Here In France) and HQ, because its chef, Victor Mercier, who rose to fame in the French Top Chef TV show in 2018, ONLY uses 100% French produce. Sichuan pepper from Gers, Soustons peanuts, Poitou pigeon, Brittany fish, Montpellier yuzu, French satay, Burgundy miso, even the ice cream is flavoured with sweet clover instead of vanilla. On the basis of this culinary ethos, the virtuoso chef flawlessly crafts flavoursome dishes flanked by gutsy sauces rich in character and personality. Take a seat at the counter to enjoy the experience clo

A stone's throw from the Marché d'Aligre, the navy-blue façade of this restaurant conceals a vintage interior strewn with Art deco details that is reminiscent of a Parisian apartment and which is the work of Argentinian architect Marcelo Joulia. A talented couple is at the helm: Frédéric Lorimier in the kitchen and Camille Gouyer who graciously supervises the front of house. After honing his talent with the greats (not least Arnaud Donckele in Saint-Tropez), the chef crafts a meticulous, almost surgical score. Think seasonal produce, virtuoso technique and exquisitely aromatic sauces, e.g. lin

Geosmin is the wonderful aroma that rises from freshly ploughed or wet soil. Maxime Bouttier's restaurant, in the Oberkampf area of Paris, is located in a two-storey townhouse that has the distinctive feel and decor of the eastern districts of Paris. Hailing from France's Sarthe département, this young chef organises his distinctive, pared-back dishes into a tasting menu that follows the seasons and steers clear of the trap of over-complexity. The wine list will certainly pique your interest with its natural and biodynamic wines, as well as fine Italian, Spanish and Austrian labels.

Bruno Verjus's approach is to select the finest ingredients and cook them with humility and the utmost respect. This remarkable character was previously an entrepreneur, blogger and food critic. Behind the counter (where diners are seated on comfortable bar stools), he waxes lyrical about his suppliers and the desire to take a back seat to the artisans who produce what he then cooks – on that note, when it comes to either the recipes or the ingredients, the chef considers himself to be a "middle man". Everything is made to order, with garnishes and sauces designed with just one thing in mind: