République and Oberkampf: the ultimate area guide for 2025

Taken over by Florent Ciccoli (of L’Orillon fame) – a bistro alchemist who turns zinc into gold – this little spot serves up good vibes, great wine and cracking food. Recoin is the kind of place where you feel at ease from morning till night, whether you’re inside surrounded by blue mosaic tiles, vintage bistro furniture and a wooden counter, or sitting at one of the few tables out on the quiet Rue Saint-Sabin. The daily menu, scribbled on a loose sheet of paper by chef Julie della Faille, delivers dishes that are simple, spot-on and full of flavour. It might be found in a hidden corner, but this spot is anything but gloomy. 

Address: 60 Rue Saint-Sabin, 75011 Paris

After making its name in Paris’s 13th arrondissement, Galerie Magda Danysz moved in 2007 to a spot near the Cirque d’Hiver in the Haut-Marais, a stone’s throw from Place de la République – with the same mission as ever: to make contemporary art accessible, with a strong focus on street art and digital creation. Loyal to a crew of up-and-coming artists, the gallery’s walls have showcased major names in urban art, and it’s also proudly multidisciplinary, exhibiting everything from Mark Ryden’s surreal pop art to the hybrid experiments of the Ultralab collective, which sit somewhere between animation, science, and design. 

Address: 78 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris

Clément Brossault made the switch from accounting to Comté when he opened this brilliant little local cheese shop Fromagerie Goncourt, as blue as a well-veined Roquefort. Everything here is made with raw milk, in season, and with a staunchly artisanal touch. Don’t miss the monumental Morbier with its irresistible ash line, creamy crottin from the Pyrenees, a satisfyingly crunchy Beaufort, or, for something a bit different, Herve – the Belgian cousin of Maroilles.