Breizh Café Le Marais

Breizh Café was founded by Bertrand Larcher, a Breton who opened his first crêperie in Japan before bringing the concept to Paris, and the Marais address on Rue Vieille du Temple is the best-known branch of a small group. Its aim is to treat the galette, the savoury buckwheat pancake of Brittany, with the same care as any other regional French dish. The batter is made from organic buckwheat flour, the butter comes from the Breton producer Bordier, and the fillings use carefully sourced ingredients.

The galettes are thin, crisp at the edges and folded into squares around their fillings. The classic complète, with ham, cheese and an egg, is a good benchmark, and there are seasonal options with smoked fish, mushrooms, andouille sausage or vegetables. For dessert, the sweet wheat crêpes come with salted butter caramel, lemon and sugar, chocolate or seasonal fruit. Drinks include a long list of farm ciders from Brittany and Normandy, served in traditional bowls or by the bottle, plus perry and buckwheat-based drinks. The style is relaxed and modern rather than rustic.

The restaurant suits couples, families and anyone wanting a light, good-value meal in the Marais, and the galettes are naturally gluten-free because they are made with buckwheat alone, although cross-contact in the kitchen is possible. It is open every day from 9am to 11pm, apart from occasional annual closures listed on the website, which makes it a handy option for a late breakfast, lunch or an early dinner.

The dining room is small and popular, so booking is wise, especially at weekend lunchtimes. Reservations are taken online through the restaurant's website. Without a booking, arriving at opening time or mid-afternoon gives the best chance of a table. A meal of one galette, one crêpe and a glass of cider is filling for most people, and an hour is usually enough. Next door, the group's épicerie sells butter, flour, cider and other Breton products to take home.

Saint-Sébastien–Froissart on metro line 8 and Filles du Calvaire are both a short walk away. The restaurant is in the Haut-Marais close to the Musée Picasso, the Marché des Enfants Rouges and the independent boutiques of Rue Charlot and Rue de Poitou.