Looking for an upscalish Grocery Store in Paris near Louvre

Fauchon's is just about the most exclusive & up market shop in Paris for groceries, fruit, cheese, etc. You should go there just to see the wonders, and buy some butter from Normandy while you're there. The dairy man has a huge mound of butter and he will lop off the amount you ask for with a great long knife and then carefully wrap it for you. So much more fun than picking up a pre-wrapped package at Franprix. Very expensive, of course, but worth every eurocent.

A lot of the expensive gourmet stores like Fauchon ar clustered in this area:
map

I would suggest reading up on Paris markets (there are websites and books) and market streets, figuring out which is closest to you, and shopping there. There you'll find your butter, eggs, meat, seafood, produce, baked goods and prepared foods like roast chicken and paella. The market streets like Rue Cler and Rue Montorgueil have shops that have all of these--maybe there is a market street like that near you. The Bon Marche has an amazing selection of prepared foods too (on the first floor in a separate building than the clothes--NOT the same as the cafe). Lenotre is outstanding for prepared foods too, if there's one of those near you. You can get things like paper towels and detergent at Monoprix and those kind of groceries.

Joe, I think as long as you are not going to a convenience store/gas station you are going to be ok! I live at Trader Joe's- it's my favorite, and I lived at Aldie's in Germany (same owners). While I don't have experience in Paris, I lived in Europe for six years- and have experience with Germany and other parts of France.

The quality of the food in Europe is better and the prices, I think, are a bit cheaper. (I had sticker shop coming back home, when I had to run in to Albertson's for a quick trip for something since it's my closest store. We live in a higher priced part of the U.S. for groceries.)

Also, if you can get to a market, you will find the best fresh food:

Here is some info by arrondissement:

http://chocolateandzucchini.com/parismarkets.php

Look to boulangeries for fresh bread, pâtisseries for fresh pastries, and charcuteries for cold-cuts and that type of meats.

"Look to boulangeries for fresh bread, pâtisseries for fresh pastries, and charcuteries for cold-cuts and that type of meats."

Just make sure you know what kind of meat you are buying or you could head home with horse meat. I'm not kidding. Unless you want it, avoid a places that says boucheries chevalines.

I'm a Whole Foods/Trader Joe's junkie, but did not miss them at all in Paris. We stayed in an apartment near the Louvre and shopped at the little markets on our street, as well as the fantastic artisanal boulangerie a few doors down, on Rue Coquilliere. Even what appear to us to be convenience stores have outstanding fruit and butter, as well as organic milk, for which you'll pay 4x what you pay in Sammamish (I know, because my parents live there and I've shopped at your lovely Whole Foods! We call it the Temple of Food.) The little markets also sell wine, which is decent, even when cheap. And of course, we did splurge by going to Hediard and Fauchon (kilometers away, but we love to walk) and buying the most wonderful pates, sandwiches, and pastries. For basic supplies like paper towels, we walked to Monoprix. They're everywhere.

Cate, thanks for the info about Trader Joes and Aldi...I had no idea that they had the same owners!!!

It is not near the Louvre but if you are looking for upscale Hediard would be your place. It is near the Madeleine Church.

The epicurean area in Galeries Lafayette is great for what you seek....all in one location.

Thanks all for the very useful information!

Steve writes:
Aldi is now opening stores here in the USA

Aldi's has been in the US for some time; 1976 to be exact. They have over 1000 outlets here, only Germany has more stores:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi#Geographic_distribution

I'm not sure where some people get their scoop.

Rue Montorgueil isn't much of a market street, it's more of a shopping street. I can picture maybe one fruit and produce place and maybe a Franprix or something. And there is one good cheese and sausage type store. The area is nice for wandering, but not a destination for raw grub.

All of the fancy spots ('which don't exist in Paris') are splattered around the Madeleine as previously noted.

Both areas are about the same distance from the Louvre, Montorgueil might be a couple of hundred yards closer.

There is one more place way the heck and gone just east of the american embassy -- if the name comes, I'll stick it in.

Hey Joe,
Google "Paris Picard Stores" for the locations of stores that sell delicious frozen foods... some of which show up in restaurants in the city.
I think this is the type of prepared foods you seek.

We were just in Paris and stayed not far from the Montorgueil Market street and I did not like it. None of the shops look real appealing like one would see on Rue Mouffetard or Rue Cler.

Thanks all of you - I believe I have the information I need.

And notice, James freely admitted his mistake rather than getting defensive and editing or deleting his original post. Bravo, James.

Go to the Monoprix at 21 Avenue de l'Opera. There are some very nice prepared take-away sandwiches and baked goods at the back of the store on the ground floor. Now, go down to the basement. You have a fully stocked grocery with prepared foods to heat at home. I had a duck confit topped with mashed potatoes. Excellent quality, fresh variety of produce and meats, dairy. I shopped there for a week. I think you'd be impressed. I certainly was.