Cafe Charbon’s vaulted ceilings, burnished mirrors, steel chairs and wooden elevator are all intended to reflect its fin-de-siècle dance hall and bistro days. It’s a clever conceit that fools most travel guides, and attracts visitors looking for an authentic slice of Parisian life back when top-hatted men and corseted women (depicted in Charbon’s wall murals) were the norm. Although the decoration is charming, this café’s “days” actually began at the end of the 20th century, not the 19th.

All trickery aside, Café Charbon is well-lit, spacious and one of the few places in Paris where you can order from the full menu—everything from steaks to salads—all day and all night. Perfect for bar-hoppers on the lively rue Oberkampf or concertgoers spilling onto the sidewalk and smoking terrace from its sister club, Nouveau Casino, next door. They also offer a soup-salad-tarte special for lunch and brunch on the weekends.