La Terrasse des Archives

On a lovely tree-shaded corner just across the street from the side entrance to Les Archives, the national archives, sits this local's cafe and restaurant. The fancy isn't in the food but in the setting and there's really nowhere else like it in Paris. You can sit out on the large covered patio, "la terrasse" which occupies nearly the whole street corner and is graced even further by a last-century - and still working - stone water fountain. In addition to serving a light Parisian breakfast of cafe/croissant/orange juice, they do brisk lunch and dinner services mainly catering to the many loyal patrons who work in the trendy shops and Marais businesses surrounding this location. An evening glass of wine during happy hour out on the sidewalk patio is unrivaled in terms of soaking up some true Parisian atmosphere.