A Food Lover’s Walking Tour of Paris

Of course, every tourist knows that Paris is the city of art, history, love, and of course food. Whether you're a gourmet looking for that perfect, unforgettable meal or just searching for the one dish you always wanted to taste, Paris is a dream come true for gourmands. Flaky croissants or savory escargots, the culinary heart of this city is made up of a never-ending collection of tastes, textures, and culinary traditions spanning centuries. There isn't a better way to experience the culinary scene of Paris than through a walking tour. On this foodie walking tour of Paris, imagine wandering through quaint neighborhoods and discovering your share of unknown treasures hidden away amidst cobblestone streets and iconic French delicacies. In this blog on gastronomy from across Paris, we will take you to some of the best places where you can eat and drink to appreciate the rich culinary culture that makes this city the capital of the world in culinary art. Let’s board a walking food tour in Paris.

Begin your Paris food tour in the Le Marais district where the cobblestone streets all give way to a very lively atmosphere on a stroll. Check out Du Pain et des Idées, one of the better boulangeries you'll find in Paris. Here you can have a perfect French breakfast: buttery, flaky croissants crisp on the outside but yielding to softness on the inside. Enjoy it with a café crème (a French-style coffee) for a perfect morning. If you're looking for something a little different, one pain au chocolat (literally a chocolate-filled croissant) or the famous escargot pastry, made from buttery dough, pistachio, and chocolate is the best option you can go for.

Insider Tip: The earlier you arrive, the fresher the pastries are, plan to come in early and beat the crowds!

Then head straight to the Les Halles, the center of Paris' markets since time immemorial. While the old market has been displaced by a group of modern malls, you can still experience food-friendliness in the area. Next to that site is the Marché des Enfants Rouges, a covered market dating back to 1615, the oldest in Paris. Nowadays it is usually very noisy; like a foodie paradise where you can find fresh produce and gourmet cheeses; just freshly baked artisan breads and ready-to-eat meals.

Take the time to wander through the stalls and sample some artisan cheese: opt for a creamy Brie de Meaux or a piquant Roquefort, and maybe even that pot of French honey or mustard as a memento. If you're peckish, you could always stop off at a market food stall to enjoy a tasty, quick meal - perhaps one of the savory crêpes or an omelet.

Insider Tip: For a delicious yet economical lunch to go, try Marché des Enfants Rouges.

Just a short walk from Les Halles is Île Saint-Louis is Fromagerie Berthillon, one of Paris's Seine Islands that's renowned for some of Paris's best food shops. This small cheese shop offers some of the finest cheeses available in Paris-from pungent blues to creamy Camemberts and tangy goat cheeses. Ask your cheesemonger to recommend a selection to taste or choose from a pre-assembled cheeseboard and have it for a picnic along the Seine. The perfect accompaniment is a freshly baked baguette sold at every one of the nearby boulangeries.

Insider Tip: Don't forget to try the Berthillon ice cream, sold just down the street, a favorite treat worth any detour on a hot day - with salted caramel and raspberry sorbet, for instance.

Île Saint-Louis to Latin Quarter Crossing, every experience here is memorable. Make sure to try the lunchtime indulgence Le sandwich jambon-beurre (ham and butter sandwich). Get the easy yet delicious combination of French ham and creamy butter all encased in a fresh crusty baguette at one of the city's best boulangeries, Maison Landemaine. Or sit at a sidewalk café table anywhere in the Latin Quarter and indulge in something like quiche Lorraine or salmon en papillote. Pair it up with a glass of French wine - either a crisp white from Bordeaux or a red from Burgundy.

Insider Tip: Budget-friendly diners are plentiful in the Latin Quarter, making lunch options relatively inexpensive.

Don’t forget to treat yourself to a sweet tooth at the Bistro Ladurée on the Champs-Élysées. This candy shop is famous for its delicate macarons in various colors for all palates from simple vanilla and chocolate to pistachio and rose. You can also get into a local crêperie for a sugary crêpe filled with Nutella, strawberries, or whipped cream.

Insider Tip: Don't leave without grabbing a box of macarons to take home—Ladurée's macarons are among the best you'll find anywhere in Paris! This Paris pastry tour is a must!

Conclude your walking tour at the artistic quarter of Montmartre, famous for its bohemian flair and also for its breathtaking panorama view of Paris from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Stop at one of the local wine shops, such as Le Comptoir du Vin, from which you can get a bottle of Bordeaux or Côtes du Rhône among other French classic wines. Enjoy this with some local cheeses from the cheese shops nearby. Take a romantic walk through cobblestone streets with beautiful buildings, and wrap the evening in a quaint café.

As dusk approaches, grab a great view seat where you can see the city as you sip on your wine and cheese while the lights of Paris start turning on as the sun comes down.

Insider Tip: For a more local experience, look for one of the "cave à vin" hidden away in Montmartre for an even more intimate tasting.

Wrapping up, a walking food tour of Paris is much more than the actual delight of eating-it's a sensory exploration of the city through a different, more flavorful perspective. With every single bite of nibbling on a croissant in Le Marais, sipping wine in Montmartre, or savoring a perfect macaron at Ladurée, each illustrates a story from the rich heritage of Parisian gastronomy.