Paris - Alastair Sawday

These places stand out from the crowd. The selection here is broad, from a 'Pension de Famille', a French institution that is definitely only for those who know and want exactly that kind of homely simplicity, to some rather grand establishments where superior comfort comes with genuine attentiveness. This title includes Special Places from the old and 'new' neighbourhoods: the Marais, the Bastille, the Canal Saint Martin and all the way up to Montmartre; bars with warm fires and deep sofas, flea market finds, 8th-century staircases, Empire antiquities, home-made jams and croissants, and country-house style; and, where to find a private chauffeur or a bicycle rental.