Monoprix in Paris

I heard the same podcast and immediately thought of our week in Paris and shopping at Monoprix. They were all over the place in Paris and were very easy to navigate. We bought everything from shampoo to a shirt for my husband to wear to fit in with the crowd at a Formula 1 race. Our family of three also ended up going through an unbelievable amount of coco rice crispies during our time spent living in a Parisian apartment. All of these items we found at the Monoprix across the street. Many of the brands we are used to are readily available. That said, I would get the translations of any food sensitivities so you can stay informed and ask for clarifications.
Have a lovely time!

We shopped at a monoprix @ 50 Avenue des Champs Elysees. My sister-in-law was buying a curling iron but the basement was a full fledged grocery store. There is also a supermarche (super market) right around the corner from Rue Cler on Ave. La Motte Picquet. We used this several times to buy bread, jambone(ham) and cheese and picnicked on the Champ du Mars looking at the Eiffel Tower. It was beautiful and also saved us a little money.

All Monoprix are good basic grocery stores...the cosmetics and other items are just the sideline. Most people in the city shop there for FOOD when they don't want to do the Markets...And I go to our local one when i need a small something and it's not the day for the trip to the supermarket....It's a good quality chain of stores...There are others like ED or Leader Price, discount groceries, but i wouldn't suggest them to people who can't read the labels....Obviously i don't know your daughter's "health issues"...but Monoprix hasn't killed us yet.

Most big stores in France have groceries or clothes, depending on what is more prominent. (Where I used to live, Republique area, the Monoprix was mostly a grocery store with some towels and clothes upstairs.) Monoprix is a good choice, but they aren't the only store like that, nor do they have the best prices, Champion is another, they are all over Paris/France and finding one in your neighborhood shouldn't be hard. Just ask around.

You don't mention your daughters concerns but just thought I would mention, if it is allergies, the packaging doesn't carry all the standard warnings like they do here in the US. When i was cooking for people in france I had to do some serious label reading to avoid allergies.

There are Monoprix stores everywhere in Paris and all over France. Also, they have smaller grocery stores called Monop'. In addition to decent groceries, they have a wide selection of prepared sandwiches, salads and charcuterie. Also, low prices for beer and wine. They're a great way to reduce your per-meal average costs so you can splurge on cafe meals from time to time. Food is an enormous variable in your daily budget. A lot of people scorn eating from grocery stores, but you'll still get a range of meats, cheeses, quiches, etc to enjoy the variety of food in France.

Ruth.. Will you be staying in the Rue Cler Area ? There are several great groceries right there, and you have the wonderful Rue Cler Street itself where you can get anything and everything you can imagine.( fresh fruit, veggies, a rotisserie chicken, everything.) If you will be staying in a hotel room instead of an apartment, be careful, many do not allow food in the rooms anymore. You can get around this by putting your foods in a backpack, and ,if you eat in the room or make a picnic, take the leftovers or garbage out in the backpack and dispose in the many recepticles on the street. When you go into a hotel and have food , just do not linger, get your key and move on or they will smell the food. Also do not leave food sitting around the room. Put it into something.. it is OK to leave out bottled water, tea, soda.

Probably better to find a nice spot outdoors for a picnic rather than risk a problem in the hotel room.

That's why I prefer an apartment.

Monoprix is typically the only place I shop regularly.

Do note that the stores are CLOSED on Sundays and may have altered times if will be here during holidays.

You can buy fresh bread here (I recommend trying Poilane - this is a Parisian bread and Monoprix gets daily delivery from the bakery). Ready made foods are available - including cut vegetables - small salads and sandwiches.

They will accept your American credit card as well.

Typically - best not to buy fresh meats on Mondays - wholesale markets are closed. Best produce days typically are Wednesday and Saturday.