This young French art duo have collaborated since meeting at art school in the 90s. Their work mixes together elements of pop culture, design and sculpture, using known forms which they distort and enlarge to the point of abstraction. In so doing they transform ordinary items of contemporary consumer society into objects of design: a sunglasses lens becomes an aesthetically pleasing mirror, a toast rack becomes a waist-high sculpture. Patrice Gaillard and Claude play with perception and reality, presenting a zoomed-in, abstract image of the world. KL

As the name suggests, this St Germain institution was once an old creamery but today enjoys a new life as a diminutive enoteca selling predominantly organic wines. Behind a pretty glass façade, the place is a gastronomic heaven, with the shelves groaning under the weight of the wine and produce served and sold in store. The walls are the wine list, showcasing a vast selection of exclusively French bottles available to take away or drink in with just a 6€ corkage charge. But don’t let the selection intimidate, Serge Mathieu will gladly assist in your choice. Sit down at one of the handful of tables and pick from the miniature chalk menu, which is said to boast Paris’s best burrata (22€), mozzarella’s cream filled sister from Italy’s heel. Try the rustic platter of Iberian cured meats including an exemplary chorizo for 15€ and, paying homage to the shop’s previous life, a good selection of cheeses, including a chèvre sec (7€) with luxurious chunks of preserved fruits. FU

The Paris-based fashion star from LA added a furniture line to his prêt-à-porter collections in 2005. Staying true to his gothic inspiration, the pieces - including chairs, benches, tables, lamps and vases – often come encrusted with snake vertabrae, human skulls or eggshells, turning the pieces into contemporary vanitas. Owens uses a range of materials including plywood, angora/cashmere upholstery, fiberglass and resin, glass, industrial foam and beaver fur, and references design icons including Corbusier, Joe Colombo, and Jacques Emile Ruhlmann. Jousse Entreprise who specialise in furniture by architects, including Prouvé and Perriand, weren't slow in seeing the potential.

If the prestigious 'Creator of the Year' at the Salon International de la Lingerie in 2004 wasn't enough to prove that Vannina Vesperini was back in business, then the opening of this new Paris boutique certainly is. Following the closure of her Right Bank store and the restructuring of her business, the company was relaunched in 2004 and now boasts swanky St Germain digs designed by Francois Murraciole. Vesperini has made a name for herself with her ‘Dessous-Dessus’ concept – making your lingerie a part of your outfit with underwear so chic it needn’t be covered up. Her winter collection dazzled the press with daring halter neck lace bras and coquettish silk hotpants, and more classic elegance in the form of shimmering dusty pink camisoles and corsets crying to be shown off. FU

This fun, family-run hotel tucked away in the heart of St-Germain-des-Pres was once Paris' answer to New York’s mythic Chelsea Hotel. The eccentric proprietress Madame Renée recounts stories of the trippy 70s, when the likes of Andy Warhol and Pierre Clement stayed in the hotel. Each of the 20 rooms in this life-size dollhouse has a totally different theme: African safari, 20s retro, Babylon, Bohemian Paris, Paysanne… This one star hotel has no frills, just unique rooms decorated by her son and painted wall frescoes her husband. There is a well-tended garden with a romantic passage ideal for late night trysts. Considering its location, and with rooms starting from only 55€ per night, this delightfully offbeat hotel is a bargain bonanza. KDG

This expat tea firm, once official suppliers to the Czars of Russia, has been based in Paris since the Russian Revolution of 1917. Their new tea shop is all bright lacquered surfaces and minimal, clean lines and provides a contemporary counterpoint to Mariage Frères’ colonial fandango. Downstairs you’ll find the selection of teas – darjeeling, green, black, organic, decaffeinated, smoked – presented in their beautiful trademark tins. Also on sale is a selection of tea-making accessories: teapots, cups and strainers etc. Soon you’ll be able sample their quality Russian-style blends in the upstairs tea rooms.

When it opened some ten years ago, Sir Terance Conran’s first establishment in Paris drew a crowd, eager to see what the design king had brought to their doorstep. Stories of his legendary London eateries had made their way across the Channel: historic buildings retrofitted with cutting-edge dining rooms, and in the kitchens, a quality simulacra of French brasserie cuisine alongside English favourites. And here, in a former cabaret in the middle of the Latin Quarter, was the first French implantation. Happily (and perhaps surprisingly) the Alcazar stands the test of time. The undated design remains enjoyable, and the cuisine very respectable: the starter of millefeuille of raw tuna layered with avocados and mango with Thai spices – which could have been a hit and miss in any other establishment – was saved by the pristine quality of the ingredients; the entrecôte with béarnaise sauce and crispy fries was a tasty main, and the sticky chocolate cake for dessert was perfectly executed. The food, decor and charming service from manager Hubert made everything a pleasant surprise, for this address which merits a return visit.

'Beef cheeks, 14€.'
Take one chef passionate about pig, a matchbox-sized bistro that's cute as can be and a convivial Left Bank crowd and you have Yves Camdeborde's latest recipe for success. As there are no reservations at lunch and it serves until 6pm, coming late is a good idea, and on a winter's day in the mirrors-and-brass interior what could be more warming than the simply sublime beef cheek in its thick, rustic broth? We also shared a delicately flavoured starter of pressé de cèpes and artichoke, and a crisp tarte Tatin and with two glasses of Bourgueil the bill came to 55€ - not bad! And on weekday evenings out come the white tablecloths for the wonderful 40€ prix fixe dinner.