Double

Tucked away on a quiet Montmartre street, Double is the kind of place that makes you fall in love with Paris all over again. This intimate counter-seating restaurant blurs the lines between Japanese precision and Italian comfort in the most delightful way possible. With a Japanese chef who honed his craft over seven years in Italy, the kitchen delivers dishes that feel both familiar and completely novel.

The menu is a celebration of fresh pasta elevated with Japanese sensibilities. Think ricotta-stuffed maritozzo crowned with a generous scattering of ikura, or pillowy ravioli filled with sweet scallops. The seasonal vegetables get the star treatment here, accented with Japanese condiments like grapefruit kosho that add unexpected brightness to each bite. The natural wine list, spanning both France and Italy, pairs beautifully with every course.

Snagging one of the coveted seats facing the open kitchen is half the experience. Watching the chefs work their magic in such close quarters creates an intimacy that larger restaurants simply cannot replicate. By day, a tiny takeaway window offers onigiri for those on the go, but the real magic happens during evening service when the room fills with locals who have made the trek up the hill.

Save room for the hazelnut dorayaki—a playful deconstruction of tiramisu that brings together layers of flavor in the form of a Japanese pancake. It is the perfect ending to a meal that defies easy categorization. Double is ideal for date nights or anyone seeking something genuinely special in a city full of exceptional dining.