Favorite Parisian Markets?

Bastille is great on Thurday mornings. The have fruits and veggies, meat and seafood, bread, scarves and hats and other clothing, soap, and prepared food.

This topic comes up fairly often. You may turn up some additional responses via the the Search function.

Also, are you interested in food markets (perhaps the most photogenic, though best to ask for permission first), more wide-ranging markets, or flea/antique markets?

Sunday mornings are better at Bastille market - there's a lot more stuff than there is on Thursdays. Best to go around 9:30 to 11:00. The market closes at 1:00 in the afternoon.

Auguste Blanqui market is in the 13eme arrondissement and is open on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, and rivals the Bastille market, IMHO.

Just going to mention the August Blanqui which is near where we are now. It is terrific. The best prices we have seen and this was several years ago were the Belleville market which is also enormous.

A quick Google search would have turned up a substantial list, some with commentary. Here are a few:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/nov/28/paris-markets-shopping-trips-france

https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/restaurants/food-markets-in-paris

http://www.parisdigest.com/shopping/paris-markets.htm

http://www.marjorierwilliams.com/best-paris-markets-open-sunday/

Check the days and hours of operation; note that the famous Bastille market is also known as Richard Lenoir, matching a Metro stop.

If you go over to the left to Watch, Read, Listen section...(or if you have Rick's podcast) and go to Listen to the Radio Show...he talked with someone about Paris food markets in the latest episode..."Plus, we'll get an overview of Paris's enticing array of open-air neighborhood food markets."

Ok. Random question...is it common to have samples of the cheeses available? Is it rude not to buy if you don't like them? Do you tip a euro if the stall is super generous?

Food markets rotate Arr. the Richard Lenoir one in the Bastille is easy for most tourists to access..have you ever been to a food market in the U.S.??? Did you try more than one or two cheeses and not buy? Did you tip? Getting it now? ;)

Don't be a nudge, but if you try more than 2-3 things and don't buy it just is rude do you think?

You can also visit Rue Cler, Le Grand Epicerie in Saint Germain or many more, any neighborhood cheese shop for a wonderful experience. Marche Aligre is near Richard Lenoir and is a daily market.

Don't touch anything, green grocers select the ripest fruit for you!

Remember in France it is not permitted to set foot on most grass.. So watch where you picnic! It is meant to be admired ;)

Search the forum for more advice.

Food markets rotate Arr. the Richard Lenoir one in the Bastille is easy for most tourists to access..have you ever been to a food market in the U.S.??? Did you try more than one or two cheeses and not buy? Did you tip? Getting it now? ;)

Don't be a nudge, but if you try more than 2-3 things and don't buy it just is rude do you think?

You can also visit Rue Cler, Le Grand Epicerie in Saint Germain or many more, any neighborhood cheese shop for a wonderful experience.

Marche d' Aligre is near Richard Lenoir and is a daily market.

Don't touch anything, green grocers select the ripest fruit for you!

Ask for local market info & days at your hotel

Search the forum for more advice.

Don't tip. Yes, it would be rude not to buy. The vendors are busy, so you're wasting their time if your goal is to nibble. OTOH you can take a food tour from Paris by Mouth or Paris Walks and sample.

Cheese vendors at outdoor markets do not give samples, and will rarely sell less than 100g of cheese.
The vendors who sell fruit will normally give you a hunk of melon or a cherry if you ask them - or even if you don't ask.
You don't have to buy what they offer you if you don't like it.
If you see plastic bags readily available you may choose your own fruit or vegetables.
I usually don't trust the vendors to choose a "melon to be eaten at 4 PM the following day."
Check to see that the "promo's" do not hide rotting fruit underneath. No sense throwing half a box away.
Tips are not accepted by vendors selling food.
Toss the rinds or pits under the table - there are rarely any garbage bins.

I seem to be the only contributor on this forum who has ever been to the Saturday morning market on Cour de Vincennes at Place de la Nation. The others pale in comparison in my opinion. The market runs what looks like a kilometer along Cour de Vincennes, with the vendors selling everything from produce and cheese, to shoes. Lots of sensibly shod local ladies and their little dogs shopping for dinner that night. Few, very few, tourists. There is a branch of Printemps across from the market, and a big Monoprix on an adjacent street, plus many restaurants and cafes close by. Place de la Nation is wonderful, just walk around the whole "Place" and get a taste of everyday people doing everyday things in their arrondissement in Paris.

We're in Paris, the Marais, for a month. We have an apartment and are cooking most of our own foods. We are also vegan, so, as you can imagine, vegetables and fruits are very important to us. We've been quite happy with Marche Popincourt, which has a morning market on Tuesdays and Fridays. The omnivorous options are equally impressive. Tomorrow morning's list is already made. It's so much fun as we travel to learn what grows where and play in the kitchen. Little things, like the already cooked beets with which to make a salad, make me so happy. The strawberries are in season now as well, delicious.

Donna

It's wise to not purchase any fruits and vegetables which have been grown in Spain - "Espagne" - because there are tons of pesticides in them.
Instead, buy French produce which has very little pesticides.
Vendors are supposed to identify the region where the produce comes from, but some do not, so should be avoided.

"Cheese vendors at outdoor markets do not give samples..."

Perhaps so in Paris, but in smaller towns it's not unusual to have a cheese vendor offer samples to passersby.

Some fromageries - actual stores - will give small samples if it's clear that you would like to buy something. Androuet is a good store for that.
Most cheese shops now sell pre-cut cheese trays to take away.
Fromageries in open-air markets in Paris have cheese pre-wrapped in plastic wrap or will cut at least 100g, half a cheese, or a whole Camembert. The idea is to sell cheese, not cut up tiny chunks all day, because sadly there isn't time for that.

If in the Marais, I believe there is a Bio (organic) Market nearby.

I like Marché d'Aligre for the cheap prices.

Key to getting samples is to have a little kid with you. My daughter got plenty of samples. It seems to me that "always" and "never" statements are usually inaccurate. If it is a slow day, the samples come out and the hardish sell is on.

There are "bio" - organic - stands in each market.
The Raspail organic market in the 7eme is open Sunday from 9 to 2.

Love the markets, they are my favourite past time besides seeing the Eiffel Tower.

My faves are President Wilson, Grenelle, Saxe-Breteuil and Monge. Near the Monge marche is Rue Mouffetard a street with many food shops and cafes.

Enjoy.