What food is Paris famous for? As one of the most iconic cities in the world, Paris has so much to see and do, and when it comes to food markets, it’s also one of the best places to find fantastic food and local produce. So, once you’ve spent a morning visiting the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, it’s well worth visiting a food market and getting a taste of the city and the multicultural influences on the French capital. We can guide you through the best food markets in Paris and help you get a taste of the city before you’ve even arrived.
Looking for more travel tips? Check out KAYAK’s detailed guide to Paris and plan your perfect visit.
Historic food markets in Paris not-to-be-missed
Paris is full of great food markets, which are home to wonderful architecture and date back centuries. The markets will transport you back to historical periods. You’ll really get a feel of the authentic neighbourhoods of Paris, their atmosphere and a taste Paris’s famous cuisine.
Marche couvert les Enfants Rouges: Discover traditional tastes in a 16th-century setting
The historic market of Marche couvert les Enfants Rouges Marche couvert les Enfants Rouges is in the fashionable Paris district of La Marais and is the first of many food markets in the city that one should visit. It’s named Red Children’s Market, after the 16th-century orphanage once housed in this building. Nowadays, it’s a hotspot for local foodies and tourists and home to some first-class restaurants and bars.
Here you can find farmer’s-market-style stalls selling all sorts of homegrown ingredients like fruits and vegetables, and you’ll come across expert cheese- and wine-makers. You can also find colourful flower stalls, while plenty of street-food-style stalls offer great takeaway dishes to hungry customers. Cuisines here include French, Moroccan, Italian, Middle Eastern and even Japanese food.
- Address: 39 Rue de Bretagne, Paris 75003
- Metro Station: Filles du Calvaire or Saint-Sebastien Froissart
- Hours: Tuesday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sundays from 8:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Marche d’Aligre: An authentic and historic outdoor market
This historically significant market found in the 12th arrondissement of Paris is located on the site of barricades from the French Revolution and the short Paris Commune. Now it’s a vibrant marketplace that is heaven for food enthusiasts. With the imposing Bastille Colonne de Juillet not far away, it can be part of a day’s sightseeing, especially when it’s open every day, bar Monday. The character of the place permeates the local street, while it’s a great place to buy cheap produce at the top of the street, such as fruit and vegetables. You can also find succulent meats and fresh fish at the pricier butcher and fishmonger stalls after taking a detour through the neighbouring covered market, Marche Beauvau.
- Address: Place d’Aligre, 12e, Paris
- Metro Station: Ledru-Rollin
- Hours: Marche d’Aligre: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. on weekends.
- Marche Beauveau: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Saturday from 3.30 p.m.; Sun morning only)
Marche Bastille: From the French Revolution to one of Paris’s most popular markets
The Marche Bastille is another historically significant market that Paris is proud of. Bastille Market Paris boasts a great range of locally sourced produce like cheeses, free-range chicken, and sublime fish. At the same time, you can also find fresh fruit and vegetables and colourful piles of saucissons, olives, and others. It’s a particularly upmarket place with high-quality food and prices sometimes being on the high side. You can see why with its almost bourgeois-style appeal.
- Address: Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 11th, Paris
- Metro Station: Bastille or Breguet-Sabin
- Hours: Thursday from 8:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m; Saturday from 8:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. (Arts & Crafts Market only); Sunday from 7:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.
Marche International de Rungis: The historical wholesale market
This market has an interesting history. It relocated from l’Ile de la Cite and was originally named Marche Palu, dating back to the 5th century. It then moved to Les Halles in 1181 until 1969, when it had to move once again. Now, this market is based about 4 miles away from southeast Paris, in the region of Rungis. Here, you can grab all sorts of fresh produce at wholesale prices, and you can even book tours of the place due to its sheer size and food diversity.
- Address: 1 Marche International de Rungis, Rue de la Tour, BP 316, Paris, 94152 Rungis
- Hours: Monday from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday to Saturday from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Food Markets in Paris: The quirky and artisanal side to food in Paris
For those foodies who want to see more than just bread, cheese and wine when it comes to French food markets, you can also find great places with quirkier and more artisanal culinary delights to test your palate.
Marche President-Wilson: The gourmet-style market that attracts the city’s top chefs
One of the delights of the Paris food markets is the uniquely named Marche President-Wilson. Named after US President Woodrow Wilson, this open-air food market is one of the most popular places for the city’s top chefs and restaurateurs to seek their produce, buying fish, meat, vegetables, cheese and wine by the load. You can also find much more quirky foods, from extremely rare vegetables to high-quality poultry and game, all of which are likely to have their feathers or fur still. You can also still come across hot food stalls for takeaway meals, with crepes, Thai, Chinese and Lebanese food readily available.
- Address: Av President-Wilson, 16th, Paris
- Metro Station: Iena
- Hours: Wednesday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
La Halle Secretan: The upmarket food experience
Though officially a historical monument, the Secretan Market Hall now has a more modern view of markets, so gyms and fashion stores have now appeared. However, its style and grandeur when it comes to food have not waned. You can find some of the best pizzas in town now that Wanted, a hip but affordable pizzeria, has been established here. You can also listen to DJs at the weekend and grab brunch here.
- Address: 29 Avenue Secretan, 75019 Paris
- Metro Station: Etienne Marce
- Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Marche Mouffetard: A charming market with a bit of everything
The charming setting of Marche Mouffetard is a delightful place to spend some of your time in Paris. Ernest Hemingway famously described it as ‘a wonderful, narrow, crowded market street’ in his book ‘A Movable Feast’. You can sample a bit of everything here, with fruits, vegetables and charcuteries as standard but also a range of pates and seafood. On the sweet side, there are some great stalls with pastries, cakes and flavoursome sweets, while if you’re looking for organic products, you’ll easily find what you’re searching for here.
- Address: Rue Mouffetard, 5e, Paris
- Metro Station: Place Monge or Censier-Daubenton
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Paris’s must-visit food markets that defy local tradition
Paris and its food markets are not just about historical streets, Parisian charm and traditional French produce but also the celebration of cosmopolitan society and world cuisine that has arrived in the capital over the centuries. Check out these markets to really finish off your food market adventure.
Marche Dejean: The place to go in Paris for traditional African cuisine
You can find Marche Dejean in the 18th arrondissement, in the Goutte d’Or area. Here is the place to find some of the best tilapia and manioc, native to Africa and South America. The market prides itself on some fine West African cuisine and produce, with food stalls, halal butchers and traditional-style cafes. The tiny, pedestrianised street is filled with a fantastic mix of aromas of spices from the cooking and is visually colourful and vibrant.
- Address: Rue Dejean, 18e, Paris
- Metro Station: Chateau Rouge
- When: Tuesday to Sunday
Rue Montorgueil: The pick ‘n’ mix of Parisian street markets
Rue Montorgueil provides a half-market, half-shopping street that has proven to be a real haven for foodies in recent years. You have a fantastic mix of vendors selling flowers, fragrant cheeses, alluring baked goods and tempting roast meat, and it’s hard to focus on just one thing, as everything looks too good. You can also grab pastries, coffees and hot chocolates, and popping into different places for pit stops is not unheard of as you make your way down the street. You’ll come across strawberries, shellfish and even artisanal cider from the alcohol vendors, so you’re spoilt for choice.
- Address: Rue Montorgueil, 2e, Paris
- Metro Station: Etienne Marcel, Les Halles or Sentier
Marche San Quentin: The market for world cuisine
Marche San Quentin is a vibrant, covered market that dates back to 1866. You’ll find it in the traditionally multicultural neighbourhood of the 10th arrondissement, which is easy to find as it’s next door to Paris Gare du Nord train station. Here you can sample all sorts of fantastic food from all over the world, including Italian, Portuguese, Moroccan and Lebanese, as well as other Asian and African delicacies and, of course, typical French produce.
- Address: 85 Bis Boulevard Magenta, 75010 Paris
- Metro Station: Gare du Nord or Gare de l’Est
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Marche Batignolles: A haven for world cuisine
The covered market of Batignolles is another great market to visit when it comes to world cuisine and fresh produce. It’s open six days a week and is in a building with less historical roots than most other Paris markets, dating back to 1979.
You can grab various foods to take away, including African and Lebanese cuisine, while you can also admire the sheer amount of quality Italian and Spanish product stalls. If you fancy buying gifts and jewellery, some stalls sell these too.
- Address: 96 Bis Rue Lemercier, 75017 Paris
- Metro Station: Brochant
- Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Marche La Chapelle: A charming multicultural market
Right in the middle of a vibrant West African neighbourhood becoming more and more fashionable by the day, you can find Marche La Chapelle, characterised by great cafes and wine bars. Here you can also find a great combination of food from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, so prepare those taste buds for an array of different spices and sumptuous flavours.
- Address: 10 Rue de l’Olive, 75018 Paris
- Metro Station: Marx Dormoy
- Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Excited for your next adventure? Our friends at Where to Go, produced by the team behind the award-winning DK Eyewitness travel guides, are here to help!
Each fortnight, hosts James and Lucy talk to local experts about the destination they have chosen to call their home, exploring their personal connection to the place, what makes it so special and the best things to see and do.
Listen to the podcast below for more inspiration and tips from Paris:
