First timers to Paris usually fall irrevocably in love with its food. It totally makes sense to do a separate food tour in Paris if you want to know more about the unique gastronomic antecedents of the city. Food tours in Paris will include area specific food tours, food tours on a gourmet bus, cheese and wine tours, outdoor market tours, café tours and so much more.
You can find great Paris food tours and book online through this Viator site.
Here is a list of the best food tour operators and their offerings in Paris.
Paris Original Food Tours
This is a global food tour company operating in the Parisian market for more than 15 years. The Paris centre is headed by Steph, Camille and Matt and they organise area specific food tours that concentrate on exploring the gastronomic history of a particular Parisian zone. So choose which area you want to explore from Montmartre, Saint Germain or specific markets like Aligre-Beauvau, Marche des Enfants Rouges etc.
An English speaking guide accompanies a small group around 8 to 10 stops around local bakeries, shops, indoor/ outdoor markets, patisseries etc. including a small sit down meal at a local restaurant/ café on the tour and provides information and anecdotes about French food and wine as the tour progresses.
The food tours are all area specific walking tours so wearing comfortable shoes and carrying an umbrella are recommended. All of these are small group tours; a maximum of 10 people on each tour and a minimum of 8 stops. All guides speak fluent English and have incredible local knowledge; check with the operators for other language preferences. Some like the Montmartre hilltop tour are a little strenuous and require an adventurous energetic spirit.
Marais Food Tour
It explores the offerings of the oldest indoor market ‘Marche des Enfants Rouges’ in Paris that stands a little away from the Pablo Picasso museum. This tour has 10 stops and includes a wine tasting session, cheese and French local food tasting session and macaroon chocolate tasting session. The focus is on local legendary food shops of the Marais market….cheeses, cured meats, fruits, seafood and savouries sourced from pays Basque, Aveyron, Vendee etc. are found here.
Montmartre Walking Food Tour
In case the charming hilltop village of Montmartre interests you, a food tour will expose you to its famous gastronomic heritage. The walking food tour takes a small group to its peculiar vineyards, famous bistros, coffee houses and chocolate and cheese hubs near Sacre coeur. This area has inspired legendary painters like Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne and Picasso and their personalities and influences are discussed on the tour but always linked to food. Expect to learn about local stories, recipes and food secrets from the English speaking guide (usually a local Montmartre guy).
Saint Germain Food Tours
The chic Parisian Saint Germain neighbourhood is known for its prowess in confectionary and bakery. This walking tour takes guests from ancient abbeys to the Luxembourg gardens and introduces them to food artisans who have been flourishing in this section of the left bank since decades.
The speciality of the Taste of Saint Germain sweet and savoury tour is to sample the whole gastronomic world of this neighbourhood… right from cured beef to fresh cheese to chocolate to French wine while experiencing the 17th century cobbles streets and lovely arcades that mark this area.
The Saint Germain Macaroon, pastry walking tour is meant for confectionary lovers who will get to devour chocolates, candies, caramel and éclairs that are sold in the unique chocolatiers and patisseries in this area. The trip highlight is the quintessential “chocolate Chou” which guests will learn about on this trip.
There are other offerings too like the French Bistro and Wine Tour that takes guests on quest of the best “tapertifs” and wine sampling sessions. There is an Aligre Beauvau indoor-outdoor market food tour. In case you want to do a customised tour…that too can be arranged in collaboration with a guide.
Routes
- The Marais food tour has 10 stops at individual shops and a mini sit down meal at a local restaurant. The tour ends at Notre Dame.
- The Montmartre food tour has 10 stops and a small meal with wine at a café. The tour ends near Sacre Couer.
- The Saint Germain food tours have 8 to 10 stops each. The exact pickup point will be mentioned once you have paid for the booking.
Timings
- The Marais Food tour is conducted in two slots each lasting 3 to 3.5 hours. The morning session starts from 11.30 a.m. and the evening session starts from 5 p.m.
- The Montmartre Food tour is conducted in two slots each lasting 3 to 3.5 hours. The morning session starts from 10.30 a.m. and the evening session starts from 4 p.m.
- The Saint Germain des pres Food tour is conducted only once in a day at 10.30 a.m. and lasts for 3 to 3.5 hours. The macaroon and Chocolate Saint Germain tour happens every day from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. (the only food tour that happens on Monday too). All other food tours are conducted from Tuesday to Sunday.
Guests are expected to meet the guide 15 minutes before the tour starts.
Indicative prices
- 100 euros per adult (and 80 euros for kids up to age 14) for the Marais food tour.
- 85 euros for adults (and 79 euros for kids) onwards for the Montmartre food tour.
- The saint germain sweet and savoury food tour is 95 euros per adult and 80 euros for kids while the chocolate macaroon tour is 99 euros for adults and 89 euros for kids.
Contacts & Booking
23 rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris
Nearest metro station Louvre or Pyramide
Email: [email protected]; Booking Website
Food Tours of Paris
This is a global tour company that operates in 5 countries and operate a hugely popular Latin Quarter food tour in Paris. Unlike many other food tours this one is clearly marked to specify the kind of stops and food tastings guest’s sign up for. The Latin Quarter tour is a mix of culture and gastronomy as guests get to see iconic sights like Notre Dame, Pantheon, the Old wall, Hemingway’s home etc. along with some fabulous gourmet stops stocking everything from oysters to cheese to pastries to pate along rue Mouffetard.
A maximum number of 10 people are accommodated in each tour slot. The tour guides are usually local guys well versed with the area and fluent in English; these tours are geared towards families as stories and anecdotes are freely shared with children. The tour operators accommodate food allergies and preferences if they are notified in advance. This tour is wheelchair accessible.
The tour package includes the services of the food guide and the prices of the food and wine served at various locations. The guide also gives several recommendations about specific food items, wines and restaurants which guests are free to use at their own expense.
Timings
Tours are offered at 11.30 a.m. every day from Tuesday to Sunday except in the month August. Duration is roughly 3 to 3.5 hours. Guests should meet the tour guide 15 minutes before the tour starts.
Indicative price
75 euros per adult and 65 euros onwards per child between ages 4 to 17. Children below 4 can join in for free.
Route
The Latin Quarter food tour takes guests across various tasting locations which are usually
- French cheeses at La Fromagerie
- Crepes at Creperie Oroyona
- Organic platters at Le Boulanger de Monge
- Saucisson and Pate at Aux Saveurs D’Auvergne
- Chocolates and sweets at Jeff de Bruges Chocolaterie
- French wines at Le Berthoud
- Sea food at Poissonnerie Mouffetard
- Fresh bakes at Odette
- Saucisson, tartine and wine at Bar Saint Hilaire
The tour starts off at a designated point Censier Daubenton Metro stop (line 7)
Contacts & Booking
Tickets have to be purchased online from the website well in advance of the intended date of the tour. A confirmation voucher is provided and the guests can even show the soft copy on their smart phones in case they are unable to take a printed copy.
Information Centre is near Censier Daubenton metro stop. 5th arrondissement.
Email:[email protected]; Phone: 877-568-6877
Booking Website
Paris a Dream Food Tours
Paris a dream food tours operate solely in Paris and the operations is headed by Isabelle…a guide, chef and writer. Her speciality is incredible local knowledge about the number of excellent yet un-popularised (and popularised) cafes, restaurants, and charcuteries etc. that abound in each Parisian neighbourhood. The approach is local, specialised and sort of grass-root and this will appeal to many people who are looking for a personalised culinary experience. On offer are food and cooking tours and wine tours apart from culture tours and dinner cruises.
Home cooking tours and tastings sessions
They offer small group (2 to 6 people) home cooking tours in collaboration with local Parisian chefs Emmanuelle and Dominique who demonstrate Parisian signature dishes like Pot au feu, beef bourguignon, Tarte tatin and Charlotte aux fruits.
Similarly there are French pastry baking tours conducted by Jenifer Lepoutre author of ‘Good without gluten’ should you be interested in learning the fabulous art of French baking. Or you can simply opt for French food meals at local homes arranged by Paris a dream. The host serves a complete 3 course meal with wine and anecdotes and tips about Paris.
Another offering is a wine and food pairing at a delicatessen (large groups of up to 30 can be entertained) where around 6 different tasting dishes and 6 wines are paired by the owner while the intricacies of wine and food pairings are explained to guests. The above mentioned tours and tastings sessions are perfect if you don’t want to do walk around a lot.
Area specific food Tours
These tours are conducted by Isabelle and her small team of guides and translators. Unlike tours conducted by larger operators guests get to visit back doors of bakeries and charcuteries and get lots of insider details thanks to the local strong influences of Isabelle.
There are area specific food tours offered by Paris a Dream like the Belleville Food Tour which explores the culinary delights of the 19th and 20th arrondissements of Paris. Guests get 6 tastings and a short baguette making demo at a famous baker’s kitchen plus interactions with an oenologist… this is a 3 hour walking tour with 6 stops comprising of a group of maximum 6 people. Saint Germain des pres food tour is more of an haute cuisine tour with the focus on chocolates, cheeses and sophisticated bakeries that this area is so famous for. Guests get 8 tastings at 8 stops on this 3 hour walking tour.
Very few operators do a South Pigalle food tour so the SoPi tour operated by Paris-a-dream is an unusual offering. The tour kicks off at the foothills of Montmartre hill at Le Moulin Rouge and culminates at Notre Dame Lorette. Expect a hipster ambience and artisanal food sellers and cheese mongers. This is a 3 hour tour with 7 stops and accommodates 6 people maximum.
All guides speak English and French. Some tours like the Saint Germain des pres tour and the South Pigalle tour are also done in Spanish.
Timings
The 3 hour Belleville food tour is done on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 10.30 a.m. The saint germain des pres Food Tour is a 3 hour tour is done on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10.45 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. The South Pigalle tour is done on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 3.30 pm.
The French cooking tours and meals at local homes last between 2 to 4 hours and the schedule can be fixed in collaboration with the locals who are offering them once you decide to book the tour. The Delicatessen wine and food pairing tasting tour is done for 2 hours on any day apart from the weekend.
Indicative Price
Pastry baking tours start from 60 euros per person (group of 6). The home lunch and cooking tours and the delicatessen tasting tour starts from 45 euros per person
The Belleville food tour is 79 euros per adult and 55 euros per child while the South Pigalle food tour is 99 euros per adult and 75 euros per child. The Saint Germain des pres food tour is 90 euros per adult and 70 euros per child.
Prices include the cost of food and drinks served to guests and the services of the guide/ local host.
Route
The tour pickup points and routes vary due to the very personal nature of these experiences and you will only get the complete details post booking. Usually pickup is near a metro station at the area mentioned in the tour. However number of stops and tastings are prefixed and mentioned.
Contacts & Booking
The only way is to book online by filling up the contact form; you will get a confirmation mail and a voucher. Print out the voucher and show a copy to the host/ guide at the beginning of the trip. Paris a Dream partners with certain hotels like La Maison so if you are a guest you automatically get access to their food tours.
Information centre is at 36 Allee Bernard de Jussieu. Nearest Metro Sablons
Phone: ++33 6 20 16 31 87; Email: [email protected]
Booking Website
Decadent Gourmet Food Tours
Well known for their chocolate and farmers market tours, decadent gourmet tours is a niche food tour service run by Rebekah and Raymond. While Rebekah is an American migrant with an extensive history of conducting gourmet food tours, Raymond is a French chef with a famous grandfather who was known for his candy and cake shop in Lyon.
The duo provide a lot of technical information like the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (Controlled Designation of Origin) system that’s used to grade foods and the actual technical process of making pastries and chocolates or the art of differentiating between different French cheeses. This is the kind of stuff that people with a lot of passion about food will appreciate.
The tours here are very informative and super sincere which is why they get booked early!! These tours are customisable i.e. you get asked what you want to sample at most places which is why you are able to enjoy the experience more.
The chocolate and farmers market tours start off by a visit to a famous chocolatier (maison chaudun chocolate) where a short insight into chocolate making is given. The second stop is a confiserie (candy store) where comparative tastings of French cadies from Provence to the borders of Belgium are made. The next 2 stops are at specialist gourmet shops for cheese, olives and charcuterie. The last stop is at a traditional French outdoor market where guests get to see traditional dairy products, exotic seafood, cured meats and fruits.
There is a 2 hour exclusive farmers market tour too where guests are given an elementary lesson in cultural highlights of the French farming systems and tips on picking and shopping for the best produce besides meat, fruit and cheese tastings.
Another good offering is the back kitchen gourmet food tour where guests are taken straight to the back door of a famous boulangerie- patisserie for interactions with pastry and dessert chefs. The next stops are a cheese shop, a chocolatier and 2 exceptional gourmet stores.
Timings
- The chocolate and farmers market tour is 3.3 hours long and is offered from 8.50 a.m. to 11.20 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
- The farmer’s market tour is offered from 8.50 a.m. to 10.20 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- The back kitchen gourmet tour is 2.5 hours long and is offered from 9.00 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Indicative Prices
84 euros per person for chocolate farmer’s market tour and the gourmet back kitchen tour each. The farmer’s market tour is 55 euros per person.
15% discount is offered for groups of 3 or more.
Route
The gourmet back kitchen tour starts off at the foot of the Eiffel tower. All other tours start off around rue Cler (7th arrondissement Paris) and all stops are walking distance from here. The exact location is confirmed by the guide once the booking is done.
Contacts & Booking
It’s always advisable to book online from the original website. Alternatively you can also book from the booking link at Paris Insiders who partner with this tour. As the first step it’s advisable to mail Rebekah as the tour details keep on changing according to seasonal demands.
Information Centre
Rue Cler, 7th arrondissement, Paris
Phone: +33 6 65 26 49 04; Email: [email protected]
Booking Website
Bustronome
Operating in London and Paris the Bustronome combines two of the top activities in Paris; sightseeing and food. A double decker bus with a panoramic open glass roof goes around the top Parisian sights while guests sit on proper dinner tables have 4/6 course meals and sip wines while staring at Parisian monuments.
An audio pen plays a commentary and offers a choice of 8 languages and waiters serve a four course meal with wine. The bus stops briefly in front of each monument…just enough to take photos and maybe get down for a couple of minutes.
There is a lot of attention to detail like multi glass holders on each table that ensure that drinks are securely held during the journey….the bus moves at a slow speed though. The audio wand is excellent…point it at the specific point on the map and then hold it to your ear and listen to the commentary whenever you want. Not having loudspeakers blaring out information is a good idea as it takes away from the meal experience.
There is a good 6/ 4 course meal that’s almost gourmet standard…the chef has to cook on a mass scale on a bus so glitches are understandable. However don’t expect artisanal food or the variety that you would get on a food walk. So this is best regarded as a way to see Paris in her glory while having good food and wine and not having to walk a bit!! The opportunity of raising a glass to Eiffel and the other monuments is just icing on the cake!! The night Bustronome dinner tour is specially recommended.
You can expect dishes like burrata with tender cabbage and nasturtium flowers, roasted fillet of bass, smoked haddock, cream of celery, beef bourguignon, sheep’s cheese and lambs lettuce and passion fruit entremet for main meals (lunch and dinner). Dinner will be more elaborate than lunch.
The Bustronome brunches are all about pastries, cheeses, delicatessen products and a selection of fine breads along with eggs, fruit and beverages. Menu is seasonal and its up on the website for everyone to see.
Food allergies and nutritional specifications have to be notified in advance. There is a special children’s menu. Preferred wine and beverages have to be selected in advance and notified.
Timings
Bustronome tours operate every day of the week.
For lunch a bus departs at 12:15 p.m. and Returns at: 1:45PM and the next one departs at 12:45 p.m. and Returns at: 2:15PM. For dinner a bus departs at 7:45PM and Returns: 10:30PM and another bus departs at 8:45PM and Returns at: 11:30PM. A special brunch bustronome is offered at 11.00 a.m. every Sunday
Indicative Prices
- 65 euros (for adults) and 40 euros (for kids) for 3 course brunch.
- 65 euros (for adults) and 40 euros (for kids) for 4 course lunch without wine pairing. For 85 euros you can have 2 glasses of preferred wine, sparkling water and coffee/ tea along with lunch.
- 100 euros (for adults) and 50 euros (for kids) for 6 course dinner without wine pairing. For 130 euros you can have 1 glass of champagne, 2 glasses of preferred wine, sparkling water and coffee/ tea along with lunch.
Route
The departure and arrival point of all Paris Bustronome tours is avenue kleber unless otherwise specified by guest.
The route is Etoile-Champs Elysees-Concorde-Madeleine-Opéra Garnier-Musée Louvre-hotel de Ville-Notre Dame-Conciergerie-Pont des Arts-Musée Orsay-Grand Palais-Pont Alexandre iii-National assembly-Les Invalides-Champs de Mars-Eiffel tower-Trocadero.
Contacts & Booking
Book tickets from the original website or from booking partners of Bustronome like France Tourisme. In either case you will receive a confirmation e mail and a voucher which you have to print and hand over at the beginning of the tour.
Information centre
Avenue Kleber. Nearest Metro: Charles de Gaulle Etoile
Phone: 33-954-444-555; Email: [email protected]
Booking Website
Paroles des Fromagers
If you are really passionate about French cheeses then the Paroles des Fromagers cheese tasting tour will appeal to you strongly. The cheese tour will teach you the basics of holding cheese, cutting it, differentiating between the different varieties and pairing it with the right kind of wine. Most of the action happens in Paroles Fromagers that’s probably the most famous Parisian cheese shop …they have their own restaurant bar and cellar where the cheese is aged.
There is the Decouverte tasting tour that gives an introduction to cheeses and wine. This is a 1.5 hour session in which guests are taken to the Cheese ripening cellar right below Maitre Jouannault cheese shop. This on the rue Bretagne right at the entry of Marches des Enfants Rouges in the Marais area. The tour includes introduction about cheeses, cheese sorting process and characteristics of sheep, goat and cow cheese. The temperature controlled 17th century cheese aging room of the shop is definitely the highlight of the visit.
A tasting platter of 7 cheeses including Pelardon, Saint Nicolas, and abbey de Citeaux, Brie de Meaux, Epoisses, Comte is provided along with information about each variant.
The amateur cheese wine tasting workshop and tour goes a little further and teaches the art of pairing cheeses and wines (9 cheeses and 3 wines) in 2.15 hours. The 2 hour cheese wine charcuterie lunch is a proper 3 course meal supervised by Pierre and his team who provide gastronomic antecedents about dish besides the mandatory cellar visit. The dessert is usually their signature fondue that’s best described as “heavenly”.
On request, visits to cheese farms near Paris and visits to vineyards in Beaujolais (Pierre’s family makes wine there) are arranged.
All tours are conducted by Pierre Brisson (owner and chief fromager at Paroles de Fromager) who speaks excellent English. You will definitely feel like shopping for loads of cheese after you are done…they will even vacuum pack the cheese for air-travel if you want.
The cellar is only accessible by stairs so people with reduced mobility might have an issue. All guests must wear protective clothing while inside the cellar.
Timings
The workshops, tastings and lunch are organised from Tuesday to Saturday.
The wine and cheese introduction is offered 4 times in a day from 10.30 a.m., 12.00 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. the wine and cheese pairing tour and tasting is offered twice in a day at 11.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. The cheese and wine lunch is offered from 12.00 p.m.
Indicative Prices
70 euros for the Decouverte introduction tasting and 95 euros for the wine cheese pairing tasting sessions. 75 euros for the cheese, wine and charcuterie lunch.
Route
All workshops and tastings are held at the Paroles cheese shop at 41 rue du Faubourg du Temple in Marais Paris. The cheese cellar is beneath the Maitre Jouannault shop. Other cheese farm and vineyard visit routes are confirmed only after booking.
Contacts & Booking
The tasting sessions and cellar visits and workshops must be booked from the original website booking section. Get a printed copy of the confirmation email when you arrive for your workshop/ tasting session.
Shop and cheese Cellar
41 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, Marais
Phone: +33 1 48 03 98 18; Booking Website
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.