Le Coupe-Chou

The ivy-covered façade hides the small wooden entrance door of this restaurant just next to the Collège de France, which serves up classic dishes under atmospheric wooden beams (parts of the building date from the 18th century).

There's a series of rooms inside, adding to the charm of the stone-clad walls in a restaurant where you feel a bit like you're visiting your grandparents. They don't skimp on comfort here – there are stuffed chairs, squishy sofas warm colours and even a fireplace – the kind of place where you forget what time it is, and if it's cold outside.

Opened by three actors in the ’60s, the restaurant used to be an evening hangout for celebrities. Today, it's an intimate venue serving generous, gourmet traditional dishes with barely a false note. Starters are priced between €9 and €19 (things like squash and chestnut soup or duck foie gras with port jelly) and mains from €17 to €24 (veal fillet, snails). We enjoyed a melting dish of cod with chorizo and courgettes, and tender lamb chops delicately scented with fresh mint and topped with a lovely mix of mushrooms. It'll be hard to fit in one of their gigantic, creamy vanilla millefeuilles, but you should, and take your time over it in front of the flickering flames.