Paris Hotels

L'Opportun: Renowned for outstanding food and not too expensive. This bistro sources all their ingredients very well. They serve some excellent French cheeses and their fondant chocolate is quite heavenly. Moderately expensive 62 Boulevard Edgar Quinet Tel 01 43202689 Open every day 12.00-15.00 and 19.00-24.00

Le Guilvinec: A relatively new restaurant in a converted warehouse. The rooms are light and airy and the traditional French food excellent. Moderately expensive. 34 Cour St Emilion Tel 0144680135 Metro Cour St Emilion, Bus 24, Near Quai de Bercy and the River Seine

Café Cannelle: A Moroccan restaurant with an Algerian twist. They serve different variations of couscous and meat or fish tagines (ceramic pots with their own stew inside). Open from 20.00 to 24.30 Tuesday to Sunday. Moderate prices Tel 01 43704825 1 bis Rue de la Forge Royale 11e Metro Ledru Rollin

Au Bascou If you want to try Basque food, this is the place to go. This is a popular restaurant serving everything Basque from piperade (eggs, peppers, onions and pork) to a Basque version of Bouillabaisse. Moderate prices. Open for lunch during the week and in the evening until 2.30 from Monday to Saturday. Rue Réamur, Tel 01 42726925 Metro Arts en Métiers.

Aquarius This vegetarian restaurant is now almost thirty years old, but it still serves fresh, enticing food in a calm environment. Two courses for lunch cost around 10 euros and 15 euros for three course in the evening. Open 12.00 to 22.15 Monday to Saturday. 54 Rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie, Tel 01 48874871 Metro Rambuteau

Livingstone Vietnamese restaurant in 1e arrondissement, (why it's called Livingstone is a mystery). Strange décor, half-way between East and West but the waiters are attentive and the food good. The wine list is pricey, so this is a good night out for teetotallers who like cool music and Vietnamese nougat. Moderate to expensive. 106 Rue St Honoré, Tel 0153408050 Metro: Louvre/Rivoli

Le Mistral Named after the wind which blows through the southern region of Provence, and next to rue des Pyrenees, Le Mistral's main claim to fame is their freshly made, simple dishes. They do perfect cheese toasts, (Croque Monsieur) and omelettes and their grilled meats are influenced by cooking from the South West of France. There is a tiny garden, covered in vines to sit outside in summer. Le Mistral can be directly accessed from la cour de la Métairie (entrée 403 rue des Pyrénées). 'Fast food' around 11€, South Western French dishes from 13.€ and food from the Aubrac region 15€ Salads around 7€. 401, rue des Pyrénées Tél.01 46 36 98 20 Metro: Pyrénées

Le Bouillon Racine This extravagant Art Nouveaux restaurant was built in 1906 and is just as stunning today. They specialise in Belgian food and fish dishes, but have an impressive range on their menu, from fish soups to delicate concoctions dreamt up by their own pastry chef. The service is impeccable (and sometimes includes sophisticated theatrical interludes with songs). Beers offered include Greuze, Kriek, Faro and other Trappist and Abbey brews. They also have an extensive wine list and offer a set three course menu from around 29 Euros. Otherwise, this is an expensive location, but a real treat for diners. They also have an oyster bar known as Le P'ti Bouillon nearby. Tel 0144321560 3, Rue Racine 70065 www.bouillonracine.com email: bouillonracine@wanadoo.fr

Á la Banane Ivoirienne West African food is served in this friendly restaurant and African-Brazillian music is played on Fridays while you eat. Moderate prices. Open Tuesday to Friday 19.00 to 24.00 10, Rue de la Forge Royale. Tel 014370482590 Metro Ledru Rollin

La Ville de Jagannath There may not be many choices at a lot of French restaurants for vegetarians, but a few Indian establishments go out of their way to make live pleasurable for non-carnivores. This highly recommended restaurant is also open for lunch from Monday to Saturday. Indian vegetarian and Thalis (a range of small dishes on a tray, served with raita yoghurt and rice or chapatis. Moderate price range. 101 Rue Saint Maur Metro Parmentier

Le Pavillion Puebla A delightful restaurant is a former Second-Empire pavilion and is a lovely place to spend an afternoon outside in the summer. They serve sublime seafood dishes and simple French food and there are nice views of the park Buttes-Chaumont behind. Expensive Corner of Ave Simon Bolivar and Rue Botzaris 19e Tel 0142089262 Metro: Buttes-Chaumont

Bofinger This is apparently the oldest brasserie in Paris, and has been going since the 1860's. Look out for the Art nouveau glass, mirrors and brass . Alsatian dishes are on the menu as well as seafood and prix fixe menus start from about 16 euros. Open from 12.00- 15.00 and 18.30 to 01.00 weekdays and all day and night from 12.00 to 01.00 at weekends. 5-7 Rue de Bastille, 0142728782, Metro Bastille

Guen Mai An organic, macrobiotic restaurant which is a nice place to find some healthy food in a friendly location. Soups start from 5 euros and plats du jour from 10 euros. 2 bis Rue de L'Abbaye, 6e. Tel 0143260324 Metro Saint Germain des Pres or Mabillon