Château d'Orleix

This contemporary bistro is near the Arsenal, a neighbourhood in the throes of renovation. The couple at the helm includes a chef with a wealth of Michelin-star experience and Laura, a former nurse who has retrained as a maître d' and sommelier. Succulent cuisine in the zeitgeist: beef tartare, smoked potatoes, trout roe and beurre noisette; confit hake, fregola sarda, burnt leeks and cashew notes... The chef takes a savvy approach to cooking, especially when it comes to the bargain-priced lunchtime menu (which changes weekly). The wine list stars wines from independent winegrowers. Bookings e

Near the city centre, this vintage bistro is now the lair of Mathieu Espagnacq, who has taken over from his father, who opened the establishment back in the eighties. Mathieu, a seasoned chef with stints in Paris working with top chefs under his belt, crafts food in the zeitgeist that respects tradition and stars premium country produce (farm-reared pork cheeks braised in red wine, vegetables confit in thyme and gnocchi in a smoky cream sauce). A treat for your tastebuds from start to finish – remember to book!

This pair of Japanese chefs cook lovely creative, Japanese - inflected cuisine, in which broths, seaweed and seasonings show off good - quality ingredients. The interior, in keeping with the presentation on the plates, is elegant and contemporary.