"You could skip visiting Versailles or a performance at the Opéra Garnier and still get your fill of over-the-top aristocratic decor by having lunch or dinner at Le Chardenoux. The hundred-year-old marble bar is just one of the remarkable relics inside this restaurant in the city's gourmand quartier, Village Faidherbe. There’s also the hand-painted leaf motif ceiling, etched glass windows, and ornate crown moldings. The fish-focused menu changes seasonally, but regular standouts include the crunchy crab galette with avocado and curry, and the citrus salmon crispy rice topped with chipotle. Service is surprisingly attentive and almost downright friendly, and while the vanilla mille-feuille will be tempting, if you’re there during the day, consider a detour across the street to the chef’s bakery or the chocolate shop." - sara lieberman, lindsey tramuta
