Residents of the 5th Arrondissement call this wine bar, cafe and restaurant “Le CNM,” in line with the French’s penchant for coining everything with an acronym. In fact, we just prefer to call it “the best place for a rendezvous in the neighborhood.”

The CNM is an institution in itself, a cafe in the best French tradition. Its personable owner, Nicolas Carmarans, hails from the Aveyron region and champions natural wines that make his eatery notorious, even far beyond the borders of the 5th. Camarans’ experienced hand also points to the exquisite and organic nectars from small producers, served with yummy “charcuteries-fromages” plates. In this pretty old-style café, there’s always the heart-warming sound of a conversation.