Food · Paris · France
What to eat in Paris
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Paris, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Croissant and pain au chocolat, Baguette tradition and Steak frites. Covered and open-air markets such as Marché des Enfants Rouges (the oldest in Paris), Marché d'Aligre and the Sunday Marché Bastille are where locals shop. Lunch is usually served from about noon to 2:30pm and dinner from 7:30pm; many kitchens close between.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Croissant and pain au chocolat
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 7
- Tipping
- Service is included in French restaurant prices by law.
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Breakfast · Vegetarian
1.Croissant and pain au chocolat
A good Paris croissant shatters when you bite it and tastes clearly of butter; look for 'croissant au beurre' on the label. The pain au chocolat (chocolatine in the southwest) is the other breakfast staple.
Where: Any neighbourhood boulangerie with a queue of locals; bakeries that have won the city's annual baguette contest are a reliable sign.
Bakery · Vegetarian
2.Baguette tradition
The 'tradition' is the protected-recipe baguette made with only flour, water, salt and yeast, with a crisp crust and creamy crumb. Locals buy it warm at least once a day.
Where: Ask for 'une tradition' rather than 'une baguette' at any boulangerie; it costs a little more and is worth it.
Dish
3.Steak frites
A seared steak (often entrecôte or bavette) with thin fries and a sauce such as béarnaise or pepper is the defining bistro meal. Steaks come rare by default; ask for 'à point' if you want medium.
Where: Classic bistros and brasseries across the city, especially around Saint-Germain and the Grands Boulevards.
Snack
4.Croque-monsieur
Toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich topped with béchamel and grilled Gruyère; the croque-madame adds a fried egg. It is the default café lunch when you only have half an hour.
Where: Almost every café menu; better versions come from places that bake their own bread.
Dish · Vegetarian
5.Cheese (Fromage)
Paris fromageries sell hundreds of French cheeses, from Brie de Meaux made just east of the city to aged Comté and soft goat's cheeses from the Loire. A cheese course is often served before or instead of dessert.
Where: Specialist fromageries on market streets such as Rue Cler, Rue Mouffetard and Rue des Martyrs; ask the cheesemonger to pick what is ripe today.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Macarons
Almond-meringue shells sandwiched with ganache or buttercream, in flavours from pistachio to salted caramel. The Parisian style was popularised by tea rooms in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Where: Long-established pâtissiers and tea rooms around Saint-Germain, the Madeleine and the Champs-Élysées.
Dish
7.Onion soup (Soupe à l'oignon gratinée)
Slow-cooked onions in beef broth under a lid of bread and melted cheese, historically served to market porters at Les Halles in the early hours. Ideal on a cold winter evening.
Where: Traditional brasseries, especially around Les Halles, some of which stay open very late.
Street food · Vegetarian
8.Crêpes and galettes
Sweet crêpes (try sugar and lemon or salted-butter caramel) come from street stands all over Paris, while savoury buckwheat galettes are a Breton speciality served in sit-down crêperies.
Where: Rue du Montparnasse has a cluster of Breton crêperies near Gare Montparnasse; street stands are everywhere for sweet crêpes.
Street food · Vegetarian
9.Falafel in the Marais
Rue des Rosiers in the old Jewish quarter is famous for falafel pittas stuffed with fried aubergine, cabbage and tahini — one of the best-value lunches in central Paris.
Where: Rue des Rosiers in Le Marais; expect queues at lunchtime and on Sundays.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Hot chocolate (Chocolat chaud)
Paris tea rooms serve thick, rich hot chocolate, often with a jug of whipped cream on the side. It is a meal in itself on a winter afternoon.
Where: Historic tea rooms along Rue de Rivoli and in Saint-Germain.
Food experiences
Market morning
Covered and open-air markets such as Marché des Enfants Rouges (the oldest in Paris), Marché d'Aligre and the Sunday Marché Bastille are where locals shop. Go before noon, and buy picnic supplies for a garden or the Seine quays.
The lunch formule
Many bistros offer a fixed-price weekday lunch of two or three courses for much less than dinner. It is the best way to eat well in Paris on a budget.
Apéro and natural-wine bars
Early evening is apéro time: a glass of wine with charcuterie or cheese. The 10th and 11th arrondissements have many natural-wine bars that also serve small plates.
Pâtisserie crawl
Paris has a dense concentration of celebrated pastry shops; a self-guided walk along Rue du Bac or Rue des Martyrs lets you compare éclairs, tarts and millefeuilles.
Quick bites and street food
- Croissant and pain au chocolat — Any neighbourhood boulangerie with a queue of locals; bakeries that have won the city's annual baguette contest are a reliable sign.
- Baguette tradition — Ask for 'une tradition' rather than 'une baguette' at any boulangerie; it costs a little more and is worth it.
- Croque-monsieur — Almost every café menu; better versions come from places that bake their own bread.
- Crêpes and galettes — Rue du Montparnasse has a cluster of Breton crêperies near Gare Montparnasse; street stands are everywhere for sweet crêpes.
- Falafel in the Marais — Rue des Rosiers in Le Marais; expect queues at lunchtime and on Sundays.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 7 are usually vegetarian: Croissant and pain au chocolat, Baguette tradition, Cheese, Macarons, Crêpes and galettes, Falafel in the Marais and Hot chocolate. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Lunch is usually served from about noon to 2:30pm and dinner from 7:30pm; many kitchens close between.
- Tap water (une carafe d'eau) is free on request in restaurants.
- Sitting on a café terrace costs more than standing at the counter for the same coffee.
- Many small restaurants close on Sundays, Mondays or for part of August; check before you go.
- Book dinner at popular bistros a few days ahead, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tipping
Service is included in French restaurant prices by law. Locals round up or leave a euro or two for good service, and up to about 5–10% in finer restaurants is generous but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / good day |
| Merci beaucoup | Thank you very much |
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît | The bill, please |
| Une carafe d'eau | A jug of tap water |
| Excusez-moi | Excuse me |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Paris famous for?
Croissant and pain au chocolat, Baguette tradition, Steak frites and Croque-monsieur. A good Paris croissant shatters when you bite it and tastes clearly of butter; look for 'croissant au beurre' on the label.
+Is Paris good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Croissant and pain au chocolat, Baguette tradition and Cheese.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Paris?
Service is included in French restaurant prices by law. Locals round up or leave a euro or two for good service, and up to about 5–10% in finer restaurants is generous but optional.