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Over 75 of the Best Places to Go in Paris, According to You

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June 19, 2017

As we all know, if you want to know the very best spots to go in a city, you turn to the people who have experienced it firsthand—the locals who know it like the back of their hands and the visitors who see it with fresh eyes.

That's why we turned to you, our community, to hear about all of the best places to go in Paris for eating, drinking, shopping, and more. Read on for a small selection of your highlights in the City of Light and then peruse all of your 75+ picks on our community-sourced map.

Dishes from a cooking class at La Cuisine Paris. Photo by Bridget Laird

Want to learn to cook like a local?

Bridget Laird says, "I would highly recommend taking a cooking class at La Cuisine Paris or one of their market excursions. Small groups (10 people) that cook together and then sit and enjoy the meal you created along with enjoying local wine and cheese.”

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Gloria Chalian Chabot shares, “Kicked off my first day there with an amazing pastry class at Cooking With Class. I had a friend take their Market Class and she too loved it. Classes are small and totally hands on and in English.”

Just 9 of the 20 courses from L'Arpege's tasting menu lunch. Photo by Joy Huang

Rather have someone cook for you?

Joy Huang recommends L’Arpege for lunch: “amazing vegetable-focused food, decently priced for a 3 Michelin star restaurant, but you need to make reservations far ahead of time.”

Sasha Fritzel exclaims, “The absolute best thing I've eaten in my life (and I've eaten a LOT): the apple tarte at Le Bonne Excuse. This is a MUST DO.**

Our own Jane Poretsky says, “I love Chez Janou! It feels like a great combination of the Paris vibe mixed with the south of France. Make reservations or you will wait forever. Get the huge crock of chocolate mousse because why not? Everything on the menu is delicious, but I especially loved the grapefruit and avocado salad.”

Chicken and squid dishes from Septime. Photo by Huyen Tran

Ready to shop 'til you drop?

Deneen Morelli Mueller calls Épices Roellinger, a spice shop, “AMAZING” and recommends asking to see the vanilla bean cellar.


the map

And that's just the tip of the iceberg: We've mapped out all of these and more recommended spots from Food52ers—well over 75! Click the map to enlarge it and explore:

Have a favorite spot in Paris that didn't make the map? Tell us about it in the comments!


For more on French food (sans white tablecloth), head here.

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • ChefJune
    ChefJune
  • tara-christine
    tara-christine
  • Laura Wehrman
    Laura Wehrman
  • Jaala
    Jaala
  • Ron Shapley
    Ron Shapley
I like esoteric facts about vegetables. Author of the IACP Award-nominated cookbook, Cooking with Scraps.

10 Comments

ChefJune June 24, 2017
Don't know quite how I managed to miss the call for Paris recos! Several of my faves were suggested by others, although there's definitely no "Le" in Willi's Wine Bar! Next door to Willi's at 15 rue des Petits Champs is its sister, Macéo. If Willi's is always my first lunch in Paris, Macéo is always the last dinner! The same Brit, My good friend Mark Williamson owns them both. Willi's is totally casual, while Macéo is fine dining at very reasonable prices. (And they ALWAYS have vegetarian options.)
Two other "glaring omissions" from the I thought were the traiteur Gerard Mulot in St. Germain, and the sweet traditional bistrot, Josephine, Chez Dumonet.
 
tara-christine June 22, 2017
This is a wonderful resource- and it's really making me regret my decision not to go to Paris this summer! We favoured a beach vacation in Nice instead. Do any Food52er's have some good suggestions for eating well in Nice, beyond the tourist traps along the promenade?
 
ChefJune June 24, 2017
La Merenda is in the Old Town, but far from touristy. It has great food but no phone! You have to go there to make your reservation. Open only Monday through Friday. I was just there in March and ate very well. I remember a lovely bistro called Le Gillou. And there's a "Hotel Ellington" that has "Duke's Bar" inside -- a great place for -- would you believe afternoon tea?
 
Laura W. June 21, 2017
There is a great inexpensive kitchen supply spot right on Boulevard Jules Ferry/Richard Lenoir...I cannot remember the name but it is right on the corner of Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud...it is right across from the Marché Popincourt (Wednesdays) and right down the street from Boulangerie Utopie...both great spots to visit...Utopie has a sesame roule made with coconut charcoal and black sesame seeds that made me weak in the knees...Le Servan in the 10th on Chemin Vert is gorgeous and the sisters put out such lovely food....a very cool coffee/food/evening drinks spot right on the Quai Jemmapes behind a green fence and through a courtyard is Le Comptoir Generale...just keep walking, you will not be disappointed...and if you are baking, Naturalia and Bio c' Bon both sell cubes of fresh yeast and a nice array of interesting flours...
 
Jaala June 21, 2017
I would like to add Le Foodist as a wonderful place to take cooking classes! As a bonus, they offer really fun wine tasting classes taught by an extremely entertaining and knowledgeable sommelier named Stephane! My wine tasting class ended with me sabering a champagne bottle! Highly Recommend!
 
ChefJune June 19, 2017
I wish you would also publish a list of what's on the map. All those markers are so close together it's virtually impossible to tell what's what.
 
Lindsay-Jean H. June 19, 2017
If you click the top right of the map to open it up in a new window it's much easier to see and scroll through the lists on the side, and then when you click on them, often you'll see comments from community members about the spots, too.
 
Ron S. June 19, 2017
but.......you have to talk to the locals........... Goofy tourists are generally clueless
 
Lindsay-Jean H. June 19, 2017
As noted at the beginning, this includes responses from locals and visitors -- we feel both groups have valuable contributions to make.
 
Cynthia H. June 19, 2017
La Boulangerie des Invalides is a fantastic spot for breakfast - delicious croissants and other pastries (their specialty is a brioche-like pastry topped with rose praline), great coffee, and a delightful ambience with real neighborhood feel.
For chocolate I also liked A la Mere de Famille, a fantastic old family-run shop with the best chocolate-covered nuts I've ever had.