It doesn’t take long to feel at home at popular bar and restaurant La Mangerie du Marais. As you arrive, a jolly barman might ask your name, another hurry up your table or another rustle you up a drink on the house.
Inside, moving from one room to the next is like rummaging through a forgotten wardrobe in Grandma’s attic. Wooden tables and chairs are lit by ‘vintage’ lamps, surrounded by crates disguised as bookshelves and covered with plants and candles. Pretend vegetables hang from the walls and orange tree branches appear to emerge from the building’s foundations.
From 7pm the bar is full, so don’t come after then if you’re after a peaceful meal for two. Still, the waiting staff are always helpful, taking plenty of time to explain how the menu works (it’s a bit like a multiple choice questionnaire where you tick what you want to eat and drink).
Prices are high (a special house cocktail is €12, a pint €8, a selection of tapas to share €10-€15), but the selection is littered with interesting dishes like the finely sliced beef with risotto, the salmon gravlax tataki and fresh cod ceviche. Overall, the excellent food and the incredibly friendly service just about justify the bill.