Au Coco de Mer

‘The Seychelles in Paris’ says the website. When it’s time for a change of scenery, Au Coco de Mer cuts a ten-hour flight to the Indian Ocean to a ten-minute Metro ride to the 5th. Discover Seychelles specialities in a perfect setting, beneath a palm tree on a sturdy cream wicker chair on a sandy ‘beach’ (the colourfully cosy dining room floor is covered in sand), ice-filled rum cocktail in one hand. A native of the paradise island, the chef/owner of Coco de Mer - insisting on bringing as much as possible of his home to central Paris - has fish and fruit flown in directly from the Seychelles. These include red snapper, smoked swordfish, choko, yellow-fin tuna, spanner crab, and octopus for the must-try house curry.