A foodie’s guide to rue du Nil

Tables are in notoriously high demand at this tiny neo-bistro, which won chef Grégory Marchand his first Michelin star. You’ll have to book ahead, but rest assured it’s worth it – especially if you’re here for the five-course tasting menu. At €88, it’s something of a treat, but always holds a few surprises: pomegranate-laced scallops, perhaps, or duck with candied kumquats.

Frenchie’s more casual offshoot doesn’t take reservations – just roll up early, as its shared tables soon fill up. Built around top-notch ingredients, its small plates are restlessly creative, running from sweetbread nuggets to smoked-eel agnolotti. Look out, too, for playful nods to Marchand’s training in London, from golden-yolked Scotch eggs to the handsome, all-British cheeseboard.

The team at Terroirs d’Avenir have a nose for first-rate produce, from Corsican lemons to authentic jambon de Paris. They started out supplying some of the city’s best chefs, before opening a series of shops on rue du Nil – including a butcher’s, fishmonger and deli. Drop by the boulangerie for an heirloom-grain baguette, then find some cheese to go with it at the compact but well-stocked crèmerie.

Follow the aroma of coffee beans to this bijou specialist store, owned by former historian Hippolyte Courty. His grand cru coffees showcase exceptional, hand-picked beans, sourced from a global array of independent, sustainable growers. Not sure whether to go for the Columbian Manana or fruity Ethiopian Aricha? Staff are happy to offer advice – or make you a note-perfect espresso.

This pared-back bean-to-bar chocolate shop is the latest addition to the street. Working with a handful of plantations in Belize, Peru and Venezuela, it’s wowed local foodies with its glossy, single-origin bars. The cakes – made by an ex-Ottolenghi chef – are not to be missed, from chocolate-dipped sablé biscuits to nutty financiers, filled with a swirl of velvety ganache.