The Best Cities for Food Around the World: Paris

By Mariam Bulin-Diarra and Alannah Mcdermott

 

We begin our series around the world with the exquisite and beautiful Paris.  With more than 13,700 restaurants and bars, the French capital is definitely the best city for food lovers.  France boasts of having 621 Michelin Star restaurants, 28 of them repping the highest honor of three stars.  Regardless of which fine-dining restaurant you will venture into, the food in France will win your heart in an instant.  Throughout the day, grab a crêpe while walking in Montmartre’s streets while enjoying a conversation with a loved one.  Or bask in the sunlight among a sparkling pond and French gardens while you picnic at Le Jardin du Luxembourg.  In this beautiful city, you will always find a food adventure to satisfy all your cravings.

The best food of Paris

We asked our French team member Marie what people like to eat in Paris, to which she replied with this:  baguette, vin et fromage (bread, wine, and cheese of course)! The best baguettes are at Le Grenier à Pain des Abbesses bakery located in the 18th district and Boulangerie Brun, a place where the French President gets his bread.  You simply cannot have a full Parisian experience without wine and cheese, so head on over to Montmartre for a glass of exquisite wine.

If you are planning to go to the Champs-Élysées, the most popular avenue of luxury shops and cafés in the world, you should stop by Ladurée.  This is the birthplace of the world’s finest macarons.  If you are traveling with your family, try  Le Paradis du Fruit restaurants.  They have several locations in the city stocked with menus for adults and children friendly.  Marie says that the best dishes are the steak fries and ice creams.  Looking for a dessert after a day of admiring the sights of Paris? Stop by Berthillons located in the Île de la Cité near Notre-Dame cathedral.  You will be served high-end homemade ice creams and sorbets.  

The perfect bird’s eye view

Did you think we were going to end the article without talking about this majestic landmark? The Eiffel Tower is a must-go destination if you want a spectacular view of Paris.  While you’re at it, you can enjoy a 4-course meal for less than $200 per person, where you will be served dinner in the sky at 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant. Many celebrities and political figures have dined here in the past, including U.S. President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.  Even at the affordable price, please do not forget that you are in France! Break out that fancy outfit you’ve had stuck in your closet for months. The dress code, etiquette, and manners are all very important here.  If you are not familiar with the French etiquette, go on Expatica where you can find some helpful tips to learn before going to any restaurants. The restaurant is also opened for lunch, therefore if you are planning to eat at Eiffel Tower and have a cruise on the Seine River, TourMega, the leading platform for tours and activities around the worlds, features several lunch and cruise packages.

Something different

If you want an unforgettable experience out of the beaten path, we recommend  Dans le Noir? (In The Dark) restaurant in the heart of the Quartier des Halles (Halles District). At Dans le Noir?, you can experience a dinner in total darkness.  On the restaurant’s website, the founder, Edouard de Broglie, says about its concept that “Dining in absolute darkness, being hosted and served by the visually impaired, will change your perspective of the world by inverting your point of view. It is a sensory experience that awakes your senses and enables you to completely re-evaluate your perception of taste and smell”. Another unique restaurant is O’Naturel, the first nudist restaurant ever in Paris. If the concept can make some of us blush, it’s a big hit in Paris! Be aware, that the etiquette at this restaurant is very strict, guests must arrive fully dressed and leave their clothes in the cloakroom; any inappropriate behavior can lead to immediate removal and possibly taken to the police station. Dressed or not you must respect the etiquette!

After hours

Whatever the moment of the day,  you can find in Paris something tasty to eat.  A lot of restaurants close between midnight and  5:00 AM, among them Le Café du Commerce,  L’ Académie de la Bière. If you are in the Champs-Elysees district, Pizza Pino is open until 5:00 and can accommodate groups but we would recommend making a reservation if your group is bigger than 6 people. Some of them are even opened 24/24 hours and accept walk-ins like  Au Pied de Cochon, Le Grand Café, and La Maison de l’Aubrac. If you want to eat on the go you should consider Pigalle District, where the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret is located. You will find small food stalls selling crêpes, fries, pizza slices or paninis to go all year long.

Finally, Paris is unequaled for its beauty and love for memorable gastronomic experiences. There is so much to see, taste and explore; a lifetime would not be enough. This amazing city should be on all bucket lists of food lovers, French cuisine aficionados, fine dining connoisseurs and travel writers.  If you too love Paris and its food, please do not hesitate to share your favorite places and tips in the comment section. For more travel experiences in Paris visit www.tourmega.com.

Next week, we will take you to Japan for a food tour in Tokyo. Stay tuned!

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About TourMega

TourMega is the first and largest platform in the world dedicated to tours and activities. From Tokyo to San Francisco, passing by Paris, TourMega features on its website more than 300,000 tours, activities, museums, restaurants and transportation services. In just a few clicks, travelers can book unique experiences from their computers and mobile devices. For more information please visit www.tourmega.com or contact us at [email protected]