Picnicking in Paris

One thing ,, I always bring a package of disposable plastic spoons, forks and knives with me to Paris . They are expensive in central( tourist prices!) and its easy to pick up a pack here for a dollar. You can use them with all your take outs, and since I always get a hotel room with a mini fridge , I can use them for the yogurts and snacks I buy for my room. Many suggest taking the plastic lid from a large margarine tub , use it as a cutting board for cheeses and pates, or as a plate. Super easy to pack, lightwieght, and best of all, free.

Most places you buy food ( sandwiches, cheese , fruit etc) can offer you a bag,, if not, just keep one of those cheap thin cloth bags in your purse for such things,I have one that folds up to smaller then a wallet.

Try a large CARREFOUR or AUCHAN supermarket for the "pique-nique" equipment. As for the wine - buy it the day before - ask your hotel to put it in the fridge overnight - wrap it in a sweater or newspapers before going out.

There's no need to lug around a picnic basket. If you'll have a day pack to wear, put your picnic items in it.

Paris has a lot of green spots and a lot of places to pickup food and drink. You can buy you food close to where you are going to have your picnic. Just be aware that most of the lawn areas are off limits but there are a lot of benches available.

You have received some good suggestions. I take one of those thin silver bags that keep food hot or cold for a few hours. It weighs nothing and is flat when not using it. FYI you will not find coolers or ice readily available.

We did a lot of "picnicing" throughout our three week European trip, mostly to save money and time. Some items we were glad to have: Bandana for use as a tablecloth so no matter where you are, you have a clean spot to lay out your food. A lot of times your table is your lap. They take up little room and come in handy for lots of uses. A spork (fork, spoon, knive in one utensil) Wet wipes and hand sanitizer Baggieshard to find in Europe Flat, plastic child's plate (size of a salad plate) All this can be found at discount stores so it doesn't cost much. It stayed in my day bag and didn't take up much room. We used it daily. We bought crackers, breads, meats, cheeses (hard and soft), fruit, water, etc along the way. Picnics are very informal. I wouldn't go to any more trouble than this.

If you want to picnic near the Eiffel Tower, go to Davoli's on Rue Cler. Everything they sell looks amazing, we loved everything we tried there. They will give you the napkins and utencils you need.

Drink red wine! It's Paris, after all.