Hotel La Tamise Review, Paris, France

Breakfast is served in the small dining room with original red-marble fireplace, stained glass windows and glossy fashion books to browse. A simple coffee-and-croissant petit dejeuner guarantees speed, or indulge in a more copious Continental, Detox or La Tamise breakfast menu that includes a mix of freshly squeezed juice, yogurt, gluten-free muesli and cereals, eggs cooked to order, charcuterie and fruit salad. 

French cuisine (mains €15-20 or £14-18; lunch only Monday to Friday, closed August) is bistronomique: dishes such as braised beef with cabbage, truffle raviolis and aubergine gâteau with parmesan-dusted cherry tomatoes enjoy some lovely wine pairings. End on a sweet note with aromatic vanilla rice pudding and strawberry jam, silky-smooth crème de citron (lemon cream) or a simple seasonal fruit salad.

For dinner, reserve a table well in advance at Balagan, one of Paris' relentlessly fashionable addresses across the street at No 9. Cuisine is an on-trend mix of Lebanese, Middle Eastern and Israeli; service is spot-on; and the club-like vibe and adjoining cocktail bar are both irresistible. Alternatively, for traditional French bistro fare partaken on a summertime pavement terrace, walk 10 minutes to Café Mademoiselle.

Chocoholics, do not leave Paris without sampling the legendary hot chocolate and signature Mont Blanc cake at Angelina, a tea room dating to 1903 a few doors down on rue de Rivoli.

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