Even if you don’t think of yourself as a foodie, it doesn’t take long for Paris to change your mind. It might start with the daily specials handwritten on café menu boards, a pastry window you can’t quite pass by or the little cheese shops with more types of fromage than you could ever hope to try in one stay. Soon you’re comparing baguettes, planning around pain au chocolat stops or choosing a sunny terrace simply because it looks like the right place to watch the world go by. However it happens, your days in Paris quickly become as much about these small pleasures as they are about landmarks and museums.
That’s one reason we love helping guests stay in neighborhoods where excellent food is part of daily life. Having a Paris apartment changes the way you experience the city – and in the best of ways! You can dine out beautifully, of course, but also shop the market streets, bring home cheese and wine or pick up breakfast from the local boulangerie. Here are some of our favorite areas for food lovers in Paris, with ideas for where to stay so you can enjoy each neighborhood at its most delicious.
Rue Cler & the 7th Arrondissement
If there’s one street at the heart of Paris Perfect and what we do, it’s Rue Cler. One of the city’s most charming open-air market streets, Rue Cler is the gastronomic heart of the neighborhood and every bit as loved by locals as it is by visitors. Along its pedestrian-only stretch, you’ll find everything you need to pull together a Paris meal at home: fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood, butcher shops, caviar, chocolates, pastries and, of course, cheese. Just around the corner, the legendary Marie-Anne Cantin is one of the finest fromageries in Paris, but it’s only the beginning of what makes this part of the 7th so delicious.
And while Rue Cler is fabulous for daily shopping, it’s hardly the only foodie temptation nearby. Rue Saint-Dominique and Rue de Grenelle are full of specialty shops, bakeries, cafés and restaurants, which means there’s always something new to try. You may find yourself shopping the way Parisians do, buying just what looks best that day, then picking out something irresistible for dessert. Maybe a pastry from a favorite boulangerie, maybe a merveilleux from Aux Merveilleux de Fred or maybe whatever catches your eye in the window on the walk home. Even Madelyn is constantly discovering new shops in the neighborhood and finding new favorites.
For the full neighborhood experience, it’s hard to beat staying right on or around Rue Cler. Pomerol overlooks the street where the pedestrian-only section begins, with an Eiffel Tower view as a reminder of just how close you are to the Champ de Mars. Saumur has a charming balcony overlooking Rue Cler, while Saint-Chinian places you right on the street. Bellet is just around the corner from Rue Cler, with its own private entrance, while Muscadelle keeps you wonderfully close to all the daily pleasures of the neighborhood. These are some of our closest stays, but all of our 7th arrondissement apartments put you within an easy stroll of excellent food shopping, cafés and restaurants.
Don’t miss the incredible wine selection at La Grande Épicerie.
La Grande Épicerie
Then there’s La Grande Épicerie, which deserves its own mention because, honestly, it’s heaven for food lovers in the 7th arrondissement. Part gourmet grocery, part Paris shopping fantasy, this legendary Left Bank food hall is the kind of place where you go in for one thing and leave with cheese, wine, fruit, prepared dishes, chocolates, spices, biscuits, olive oil and at least one little treat you absolutely did not plan to buy. It’s perfect for picnic supplies, gifts to take home or those easy apartment dinners where everything looks and tastes far better than the effort required. There’s also a beautiful bistro inside, which is reason enough to plan a little extra time for your visit.
And the best part? You’ll probably want to go more than once. Stay nearby at Sangiovese, and La Grande Épicerie can become part of your daily Paris routine, whether you’re picking up breakfast, something special for dinner or just wandering the aisles to see what catches your eye. It’s a dream location for anyone who loves food and wants one of Paris’s best gourmet addresses right at hand.
Left Bank Living Near Marché Grenelle
For an even more local side of the Left Bank, head to the edge of the 7th arrondissement near the 15th, where classic Paris sights are still close by but daily life feels wonderfully residential. Rue du Commerce is a favorite neighborhood shopping street, with boutiques, cafés and plenty of local energy, while nearby Marché Grenelle brings that classic open-air market experience many visitors dream of finding in Paris. Set along Boulevard de Grenelle under the elevated Métro line, the market takes place Wednesday mornings and Sunday mornings, making it a perfect stop for picking up fruit, cheese, flowers or whatever looks best that day.
This area is especially nice if you like the idea of staying somewhere that feels lived-in, with the Eiffel Tower and the Seine still moments away. Hermitage gives you space to settle in, with a comfortable layout and beautiful kitchen for making the most of market finds. And Carignan places you just off Rue du Commerce, ideal for enjoying this everyday Left Bank neighborhood right outside your door.
Decorative facades along Rue Mouffetard.
Rue Mouffetard & the Latin Quarter
Rue Mouffetard has all the charm you hope to find in a Paris food street, with a history that makes it feel even more special. One of the oldest streets in the city, it still has that lively neighborhood-market feeling, especially at the lower end near the Church of Saint-Médard, where food shops, produce stalls, fromageries, cafés and old shopfronts bring the street to life. This is the place to pick up a baguette, choose some cheese, stop for coffee on Place de la Contrescarpe and enjoy the atmosphere of the Left Bank.
And there’s even more nearby for food lovers. Marché Monge, the open-air market on Place Monge, takes place on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings, with produce, cheese, flowers, fish, meat, wine and plenty of tempting little extras. It’s one of the reasons we love this part of the Latin Quarter, with history all around you, but also the simple pleasure of shopping close to home and bringing something delicious back for lunch or dinner.
Our Jacquère apartment is a lovely base for enjoying this side of the 5th arrondissement, with Rue Mouffetard, Marché Monge, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Jardin des Plantes all close by. For more on the neighborhood, we’ve shared a closer look at this delicious corner of the Latin Quarter.
Passy & Rue de l’Annonciation
If you know Passy only for its Eiffel Tower views from Trocadéro, the food shopping might come as a very happy surprise. This elegant corner of the 16th arrondissement has a quieter, more local atmosphere that’s especially appealing for longer stays. Around Rue de l’Annonciation, you’ll find the kind of pedestrian market street where locals shop, with food shops, cafés, bakeries and plenty of neighborhood charm. Nearby Marché couvert de Passy adds the classic covered-market experience, while La Grande Épicerie Rive Droite on Rue de Passy brings one of Paris’s great gourmet food halls to the Right Bank.
That’s what makes Pommard such a lovely choice for longer stays. With Rue de l’Annonciation, Marché couvert de Passy and La Grande Épicerie all close by, you can really enjoy the pleasure of living in a Paris neighborhood: shopping often, discovering favorite cafés and coming home with something delicious whenever you like. It’s the kind of area where the longer you stay, the harder it is to leave!
The Marais & Marché des Enfants Rouges
For food lovers who like a little history with their market shopping, the Marais is always a good idea. This is one of Paris’s most atmospheric neighborhoods, with old streets, beautiful architecture, boutiques, cafés and bakeries all mixed together. The foodie anchor is Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris and still a great spot to stop for lunch, with counters and market stalls serving everything from French classics to Moroccan, Italian, Lebanese and Japanese specialties.
The Marais is made for wandering, which makes Grenache such a great fit for a longer stay. Set close to Marché des Enfants Rouges, this apartment lets you settle into the Marais and enjoy one of Paris’s most historic markets as part of daily life. Shop for something simple to bring home, meet friends for lunch at the market or let yourself be happily distracted by whatever you find on the walk back. That’s very much the pleasure of staying in the Marais.
Ready to plan a delicious stay in Paris? Browse our full collection of Paris vacation rentals and find the neighborhood that feels just right for you.
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