Over the years, guests often ask me where to eat, where to buy good wine, or what else is worth doing in Paris beyond the obvious highlights.

This page brings together places and experiences I genuinely enjoy and regularly recommend. It’s not meant to be exhaustive. Think of it as a short list you’d get from a local friend who lives here and cares about good food, good wine, and good company.

Restaurants and Wine Bars

La Boissonnerie
A charming bistrot with a thoughtful wine list and Mediterranean inspired plates. Relaxed, lively, and very Parisian.

Bouillon Chartier
A true Paris institution. Classic French dishes, historic Belle Époque setting, and unbeatable prices. Expect crowds and character.

Bouillon République
A modern take on the bouillon tradition. Simple, generous French cooking in a lively atmosphere.

Avant-Comptoir du Marché
Standing room only, packed with energy. Great wines and small plates. Perfect for a spontaneous stop.

Lipp
An iconic brasserie serving timeless French classics. Old school Paris at its finest.

Cantine du Troquet Dupleix
Generous portions, bold flavors, and a warm, no frills vibe. A favorite among locals.

Barav
A relaxed wine bar where you choose your bottle from the shelves. Lively, friendly, and well priced.

Eels
Seasonal, precise cooking with an excellent wine list. Creative without being pretentious.

Brigade du Tigre
Bold modern Asian flavors paired with natural wines. A fun alternative to classic French dining.

Where to Buy Cheese, Food and Wine in Paris 🇫🇷

Paris is a wonderful city for food shopping. Some of the best discoveries are made simply by walking through the right streets.

Great food streets include Rue de Bretagne, Rue Cler, Rue des Martyrs, and Rue Poncelet, each lined with bakeries, cheese shops, butchers, and wine merchants.

Open air markets are also worth seeking out. Bastille on Sundays is the most famous, but Avenue de Saxe and Boulevard de Grenelle are excellent as well. If you’re near Versailles, the market there is outstanding.

For more curated shopping:

La Grande Épicerie de Paris
A temple of French gastronomy. Exceptional cheeses, pastries, prepared dishes, and one of the most impressive wine selections in Paris.

Galeries Lafayette Gourmet
A beautiful and convenient gourmet food hall near the Opéra. Ideal for gifts, cheeses, chocolates, and wine in one stop.

Nysa
A reliable chain of wine shops with a strong focus on independent producers. Consistently good bottles at fair prices.

Caves Augé
One of Paris’ oldest wine shops. A serious selection, knowledgeable advice, and a very traditional Parisian atmosphere.

Museums and Tickets

Paris offers an overwhelming number of museums and monuments. A bit of planning goes a long way, especially during busy seasons.

One practical option is using platforms that allow last minute bookings with flexible cancellation policies, which can be useful if plans shift.

If you’re choosing between major museums, Musée d’Orsay is often a favorite. More focused and easier to navigate than the Louvre, it offers an exceptional collection of impressionist and post impressionist works in a beautiful former train station.

Other Experiences Worth Exploring in Paris

Beyond food and wine, Paris is a city best discovered on foot, by bike, and through stories.

A few experiences I often recommend to guests include evening walks through historic neighborhoods, small group tours in Montmartre, bike rides through lesser known parts of the city, and hands on workshops that let you learn something tangible to take home.

Versailles also deserves at least a full day if time allows, especially when combining the palace, gardens, and local food markets.

If you’d like more tailored recommendations depending on your stay, feel free to ask. Paris always has more to offer than one visit allows.