It is almost impossible not to eat well in Paris. Not only is the "City of Light" home to some of the world's best restaurants, but it offers a variety of food markets all over the city. In fact, one of the best ways to enjoy Paris is to purchase a loaf of bread, some cheese and meat, and a bottle of wine and create your own picnic in the park. Read on to learn how to shop food markets in Paris.
Experience the food hall at Bon Marche. Adjacent to the Bon Marche department store is one of the best food halls in Paris, La Grande Epicerie de Paris. Here you will find everything from wine to spices to a variety of prepared foods--all the ingredients you will need for a gourmet meal or a romantic picnic.
Seek out Fouchon. Located on the Place Madeleine in the heart of Paris, it is a must-see for food lovers. This food emporium offers private-label mustards and vinegars in a variety of flavors, prepared foods, cheeses, wines and other products too numerous to list. Some of the offerings are surprisingly affordable.
Explore the Rue Mouffetard. On the southeast side of Paris, it's a little off of the tourist track, but well worth the extra effort to get there. The street is lined with ethnic restaurants, markets, kitchen supply stores and open-air vendors. On Sunday mornings, the weekly produce market adds to the festive air.
Shop the Rue du Buci street market. One of the few Paris food markets to be open daily, vendors on the Rue du Buci in Paris' Latin Quarter, set up shortly after dawn and are gone by noon. Shop here for fresh produce, cut flowers and a variety of home-baked goods.
Stroll through Paris. Some of the best food markets may be found by simply wandering through Paris without a plan. Neighborhoods such as the Marais and the Ile St. Louis offer a particularly interesting collection of small food stores.
