Le Comptoir du XVI is the kind of unpretentious neighborhood café-brasserie that does everything right without making a fuss about it. Open from 6am to midnight, 7 days a week, it's the reliable anchor of Boulevard Exelmans — equally suited for a morning espresso, a long lunch on the terrace, or a late dinner with a glass of wine. The kitchen serves classic French fare continuously until 11pm, and there's a happy hour from 5 to 9pm that draws a loyal local crowd.
Open 7/7 from 6am to midnight with continuous kitchen and a generous happy hour — the dependable neighborhood brasserie Exelmans locals actually frequent.
Hit the happy hour between 17h and 21h for the best value on drinks, and aim for a terrace table in good weather — but be prepared for occasionally brusque service.
The reliable neighborhood café that never closes
If you live anywhere near Exelmans, Le Comptoir du XVI is probably already your go-to. This is a proper neighborhood café-brasserie that gets the fundamentals right: it opens at 6am, serves food all day until 11pm, and doesn't try to be anything it's not. The menu leans classic French — think croque-monsieur, steak frites, omelets, and daily specials — and the portions are generous without being precious. The terrace is the real draw in good weather, filling up with locals for lunch and after-work drinks.
The happy hour (5pm–9pm) is genuinely good value and gives the place a buzzy, convivial energy in the early evening. Service can be hit-or-miss — there are recurring complaints about one waitress in particular being rude and dismissive, which drags the experience down when you're unlucky enough to get her. But on a good day, with the right server, it's exactly the kind of spot you want around the corner: easy, reliable, and welcoming. At a 4.4 Google rating across 344 reviews, most people leave happy. Just manage your expectations on service and you'll have a solid meal.