A Noste: After-Work Drinks and Tapas-Style Small Plates near Paris’ La Bourse

The area surrounding metro Bourse generally turns into a ghost town after work hours. Teeming with business people and local employees during the day, the 9 to 5 crowd in the city’s financial district usually clears out once the work day is done. All that is changing with the arrival of A Noste, a split-level tapas and fine dining restaurant on rue du 4 Septembre.

Resembling a Manhattan hot spot more than anything in Paris, A Noste’s tapas bar is open and inviting, with high ceilings and warm lighting creating a spacious yet cosy environment. Dans les Landes’ chef Julien Duboué has created a restaurant that is a testament to his love of the cuisine of his birthplace, the Landes region of southwest France.

The atmosphere is convivial, with a constant buzz of conversation amongst after-work revelers and curious diners who have made the effort to check out this otherwise overlooked part of Paris. Large high tables are shared and bar seating is usually easy to grab, even on a busy night. The staff is charming and helpful; it is a credit to the management that there are enough servers to make sure guests are seated and attended to in an efficient and friendly manner, a feat that many of the city’s smaller restaurants have yet to master.

Monday dining is tough in Paris and A Noste offers itself up as a fine address for anyone looking to get out and shake off the beginning-of-the-week blues. The tapas restaurant is a great place to begin your initiation into Southwestern French cuisine and offers diners two menu options: to-go food from an on-site food truck or a fixed menu (38€ for lunch and 60€ for dinner). I was happy to find a few natural wine options among a largely conventional collection of bottles and opted for a bottle of Thierry Puzelat’s Blanc du Tue-Boeuf, which was served by a smiling waitress.

Guests at A Noste are advised to order two tapas per person (each plate ranges from 6–16€), but light eaters will be fine with less, especially if you opt for what will surely become one of the restaurant’s iconic dishes, a wooden sabot, or clog, filled with fried cuttlefish (11€). Seasonal favorites included a pumpkin cappuccino with a smoked pork emulsion (6€) and salade landaise prepared with an Asian spring roll inspired spin (6€).

Enjoying a meal at A Noste means slowing down and losing track of time; the laid back pace of tapas dining suits this friendly environment, the perfect address for a ladies’ night out or a no-fuss meal with coworkers or friends. Go for the cosy setting and hearty food and linger a little longer than planned, taking advantage of the attentive service and family-style dining that is a welcomed addition to the Paris restaurant scene.

A Noste – 6 bis Rue du 4 Septembre, 75002. Tel: +33 (0)1 47 03 91 91

Related links:

• Claire checks out La Buvette de Camille, another great spot for small plates and natural wines in Paris.
• Emily also guides us through Paris’ up-and-coming neighborhood, La Goutte d’Or.

Written by Emily Dilling for the HiP Paris Blog. All images by Palmyre Roigt. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.