Sometimes, all you want to pair with whatever you’re drinking (which, in France, should take the form of a crisp white wine or champagne) is a tower of oysters which you can satisfyingly swallow whole before turning the shells back over onto the ice. This vest-pocket-sized bar in Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a charming place to do just that after a long day perusing the shops. There are just a handful of charming tables with white table cloths, white chairs, and walls in white brick. The waiters speak English here, and are very kind—a rare feat in a Parisian restaurant. The oysters are the main draw, and some of the freshest in the capital, but don’t miss the prawns or the sea urchin, either. —Elena Clavarino

Elena Clavarino is the Senior Editor at AIR MAIL