Le Troquet des Glaces

The 11th arrondissement is studded with the sort of bars that attract mobs of hipsters and repel everyone else; so it's refreshing to find, nestled among them, a snug little joint that has no pretensions to high fashion. Le Troquet des Glaces hasn't been here long – it opened in early 2013 – yet it has all the charm of an established neighbourhood bar.

True to its name, the bistro welcomes you with a convivial bar area surrounded by mirrors. If you find that your own reflection makes for a disconcerting drinking buddy, you can repair to a 12-seat outdoor terrace (heated in winter). Incredibly, we've never had trouble finding a seat in either area – though that may change as word of mouth spreads. Fine wines and gourmet sandwiches are the order of the day, though it's worth shelling out for one of the divine cheese and meat platters. But what elevates Le Troquet above its neighbours is Yassin, the impossibly charming owner, who's treated us like long-standing regulars since our first visit. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy: now there's nowhere in the area we'd rather go.