Hi All!
In search of the best paris food and shopping areas! We would love to try steak frites, hot chocolate, fine dining, cafes, croissants etc. (open to other suggestions if we are missing a must try) We also would love to browse the best big and small shops Paris has to offer! We are staying in Saint Germain but would be open to trying things far from our hotel. Would love any and all suggestions for any time of day! Thank you!
Hot Chocolate
Ladurée is known for their lovely macarons, but their hot chocolate is also delicious. Many locations throughout Paris
https://www.laduree.fr/en/our-shops-and-restaurants.html
Many have recommended Angelina's (226 Rue de Rivoli). I've never been, however.
For Steak Frites, go to Le Relais de l'Entrecôte. There's only one thing on the menu (but many dessert choices... I recommend the crème brulée). Excellent food and service.
Open for lunch and dinner. Never been for lunch, but for dinner they do not take reservations. If you don't want a long wait, the Pro Tip is to queue up about 6 pm (or earlier), before they open at 6:45 pm. (Or, you can go later if you want a late dinner.) If there's already a long line when you arrive, just get in it and hang tight. Once they open, the line moves quickly.
There are 3 locations, including one in Saint Germain (Rue Saint-Benoît, near Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés), which we've dined at twice (most recently May 2023). I have no experience with the other locations.
https://www.relaisentrecote.fr/?page_id=205&lang=en_GB
Consider Galeries Lafayette for an iconic and over-the-top Parisian shopping experience. Do NOT go there if you are sensitive to perfume. It is ubiquitous as soon as you walk in the door. Near The Opera Garnier, an exquisite piece of art unto itself.
Bon Appétit
I’ve been to Angelina‘s. It was not the best hot chocolate I had in Paris by a longshot, and the only thing they could do to make it a more efficient experience would be to copy the Crown Jewels and install a conveyor belt. You’ll stand in line for forever to be prodded along, it’s the only place I’ve ever been in Paris, where when they deliver the order they also deliver the check. They want to get you out of there
Actually, the best hot chocolate I had was at a little café in the 16th.
For shops, a lot id just browsing. Personally, I do not find St. Germain the best place for this because it just seems to be a lot of things you could find at home (I mean there’s a gap! ) I always enjoy market streets, those are tend to be good. another interesting place, although I haven’t been since before Covid, is Bercy Village. It used to be a lot of cute little shops, and it’s in a former wine warehouse so just the building themselves are interesting.
Grand Epicerie (Bon Marche’s big food hall) is a fun place to browse and buy edible souvenirs (sea salt, interesting seasonings, a swath of jams and jellies). The outdoor market at Bastille (blvd Richard Lenoir) on Th/Sun from 7-3 is wonderful. Stroll along rue Montorgueil to see a typical market street with butcher, baker, wine shop, cheese store, patisseries, etc.
Rue des Martyrs in the 9th is a quintessential Paris small food purveyor street in Paris filled with locals (a book has been written about it by Elaine Sciolino). La Grande Epicerie is fabulous and not as crowded with tourists as Galleries Lafayette. You can find gems in St. Germain but you have to know what to look for. Chocolatiers and patisseries include Jean Paul Hevin, Pierre Herme, Patrick Rogers, Bread & Roses, La Parisienne (on Rue Madame). Georgette is a lovely restaurant and Breizh Is the place to go for Brittany crepes. If you want to try Angelina’s hot chocolate, go to the location at Jardins du Luxembourg in the St. Germain area.
Breizh Is the place to go for Brittany crepes
Yes! There are several throughout Paris, but there will be one at your fingertips while staying in St. Germain (1 Rue de l'Odéon), amidst a major foodie zone. I'd recommend that one over the one in Le Marais. There are more tables at the one in St. Germain, whereas you almost certainly need a reservation for the one in Le Marais. Good descriptions of both in the "Eating in Paris" section of the RS Paris guidebook.
Pronounced "Bress" (we asked last time we were there, and discovered we were mispronouncing it...)
David Lebovitz is a famous American pasty chef who lives in Paris. These are his recommendations.
https://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris-pastry-shops-chocolate-bakeries-patisseries-french-france/
Go to YouTube and not only get great suggestions you get to see these places. Top notch try Jay Swanson or Les Frenchies
Hi Ek,
Back during October, we re-visited a coop-run cafe that has long been our #1 fave. That place is down in the heart of Butte Aux Cailles: 'Le Temps des Cerises'. Its tone is funky-boho casual and the locals who come for supper (no reservations) seem to know staff well. The food is always excellent and the price point is very reasonable. Our kinda place. Its also a 2-fer: great authentic meal with atmosphere plus local street art.
Another that comes to mind is the La Mosquee de Paris restaurant/cafe at the big Mosque. Indoors or outside, its a great place. Women can also go for hammam there (males no longer can go for that--sigh...) and touring the jardin and courtyard would appeal to most travelers.
One market that we prefer: Bastille. VG variety and easy to access.
I am done. The end.
Ekla5,
Yes to Breizh! We had a great lunch at the St. Germain restaurant. Reasonable prices, good service, popular with the locals. We also had lunch at Cafe Mucha, in St. Germain area. Nice food, friendly waiters, good prices. We had a good lunch at the Rodin Museum cafe too. I can't speak to dinner. We stayed with family in the suburbs so didn't have dinner in Paris.
And for shopping, do check out the big department stores: La Samaritaine, Galeries Lafayette, BHV Le Marais, Printemps. Each has something special to enchant, whether it be the facade or the ceiling, or the rooftop views, etc. And the bouquinistes along the Seine make for some interesting shopping.
Enjoy!
I just listened to this Duolingo podcast on 4 iconic pastry shops in Paris. The episode is from 2023 and the transcript in French and English as well as pictures of all the shops can be found here: https://podcast.duolingo.com/episode-87-paris-le-gout-des-patisseries
You will have a great time!
I think for shopping, also, head to Le Marais. It has charming, quirky, different shops and a fun energetic atmosphere.
I loved Astier Villatte for pottery and dishware, mostly white and unique and beautiful. In the 1st and the 6th.
We loved touring the Covered Passages, especially Passage Jouffroy where we had a wonderful lunch and dessert at Valentin tea room. We also, really liked the passageway Gallerie Vivienne.
Strolling down Rue Montorgueil is a treat with their market and gourmet food shops, outdoor cafes and Storer, the oldest bakery in is Paris is there. We really enjoyed dinner at Semilla in the 6th.
Yes of course Paris is famous for French food but it also offers of plenty of chances to sample the cuisine of the former colonies in North Africa.
My husband and I enjoyed
Le Récamier, 4 Rue Juliette Récamier, 75007 , souffles with an incredible terrace.
Atelier Maître Albert, 1 Rue Maître Albert, 75005 for spit-roasted meats, plancha fish in a 1400s wine cellar. Both were recommendations of our landlord. Everyone who I heard speaking spoke French. The atmosphere and food were both wonderful.
