France is known throughout the world for its fabulous cuisine and food culture. When I moved to France over 30 years ago my eyes were well and truly opened to just how good food could be. If you are planning a trip to France there are certain French food and drink options which I would encourage you to try on your visit.
Even if you are familiar with these foods (we can all buy croissants from the local bakery at home) you will find your expectations will be raised substantially after sampling the dishes in France! Nothing beats buying a freshly baked croissant from a boulangerie.
The dishes I have selected are not controversial and all of them are easily found in a French bar, cafe, bistro or restaurant! Bon appetite!
(All of the places you can try these foods/drinks is mapped out at the end of the post)
Delicious French food to try in Paris
Croissants
An interesting fact about French food is that while croissants are one of the first foods people associate with France they actually originate from Austria! Buy a croissant, order a coffee or hot chocolate and enjoy.
Croissants are generally eaten without butter or fillings. If you want a slight variation on this classic French breakfast staple order a pain au chocolat or pain aux raisins.
Where can you find the best croissants in Paris?
Du Pain et des Idées – 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010, Paris
Open Monday – Friday 7 am until 8 pm this bakery is popular with Parisians and specialises in chocolate-pistachio rolls, fresh apple Chausson, orange blossom brioche.
The bakery is located in a beautiful building that dates to 1875. Don’t forget to take some Instagram worthy shots whilst purchasing your croissants!
Macarons
Macarons (not macaroons) are one of the most delicious and famous French desserts. Consisting of 2 meringue shells in an almost infinite variety of tastes and colours stuck together by buttercream, jam or other fillings macarons have risen in popularity over the past few years (replacing the cupcake as our cake of choice)
Originating in Italy but brought to France by Catherine de Medici in the 16th century the macaron we know and love today was created in the 20th century by Pierre Desfontaines Ladurée when he stuck two single macarons together with chocolate ganache.
Where can you find the best macarons in Paris?
Ladurée Paris Champs-Élysées – 75 Avenue des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris
There are many patisseries selling beautiful macarons in Paris but my choice would be a visit to Ladurée where they originated.
There are Ladurée stores all over the world, including 12 in Paris, selling over 15,000 macarons a day. Visit their flagship store on the Champs-Élysées and try to resist purchasing a gift box or ten if you can!
Steak-Frites
Although technically originating in Belgium steak Frites (or biotech-frites) is a dish I highly recommend ordering when in Paris. My recommended restaurants to visit are Le Relais de L’entrecote in St Germain and Sacrée fleur in Montmartre.
Le Relais de L’entrecote – 20, Rue Saint-Benoit 75006
No menu here simply a green salad followed by grilled steak and tasty fries with your plate topped up 2/3 times as you eat. One of the best restaurants for steak-frites you will find a queue at the door if you arrive after 5.30 pm.
Sacrée fleur – 50 rue de Clignancourt 75018 Paris
If you are staying in Montmartre I highly recommend a meal at Sacrée fleur. The beef was delicious with a range of sauces and rather chunky but extremely tasty chips (bit too thick to be called frites!)
French onion soup
If you are visiting Paris during the autumn or winter a meal of French onion soup has to be on your culinary itinerary. Found in many bistros and restaurants this most iconic of soups made with caramelized onions, fresh thyme topped with gratinéed croutons is delicious. Probably not as popular with Parisians as it is with tourists I would still recommend ordering some!
Where can you find the best French onion soup in Paris?
Le Marché – 2 Place du Marche Sainte Catherine (Saint-Gervais)
Raclette
Ok this is technically Swiss but it is too delicious to leave off the list! It is very popular in the Savoie region of France but is available throughout the country.
Melted cheese is served with boiled potatoes, cold meats and pickles. It is a very simple but really fun as you prepare your own cheese on a special raclette grill.
Where can you find the best raclette in Paris?
Le Chalet Savoyard – 58 rue de Charonne (Bercy/Nation)
Many of the restaurants that serve fondue and raclette in Paris are catering for tourists. This restaurant is popular with Parisians and highly recommended.
Cous Cous Royale
Moroccan food really has to be sampled when you are in Paris. With a large population of people of Moroccan descent living in Paris comes access to the food of this former French colony.
I was first introduced to Moroccan food when I lived in France and I always visit at least one restaurant to order my favourite dish – Couscous Royale – when I am in the country.
Where can you find the best Moroccan food in Paris?
I am going to recommend a visit to the “Marché couvert les Enfants Rouges” in the Marais district. In the market you will find an extremely popular food stall selling a range of delicious Moroccan foods.
Croque Monsieur or a Croque Madame
A perfect option for lunch a croque monsieur (or add an egg for a croque madame) is always my number one choice! This gourmet cheese and ham sandwich with a spread of Dijon mustard is a great snack that can be purchased at French cafes and bars.
Where can you find the best croque monsieur food in Paris?
Le Petit Cler – 29, Rue Cler
Les Carrés – Croque-Monsieur – 60 Rue Saint-Lazare
Crepes
A crêpe is a very thin pancake that comes in two different types – sweet or savoury. Savoury crêpes are actually NOT crêpes but galettes (though galettes can also have a sweet filling) and originate from Brittany. Galettes generally don’t contain milk and eggs and are usually brown in colour.
The variety of fillings and toppings for crêpe and galettes is endless. From simple sugar to nutella, fruit, cream, nuts crêpes are a tasty treat at any time.
Where can you find the best crêpes in Paris?
Crêperie Gourmet Alizée – 5 Rue du Pot de Fer (Latin Quarter)
Kir royale
Add a crème de cassis (blackcurrant liquor) to a glass of white wine to make a Kir my favourite French cocktail. Or even better top the cassis with champagne you have a Kir Royale.
There are many variations of liquor you can use for example raspberry (Chambord) to make a Kir Imperial! I also enjoy peach liquour though I don’t think that variation has a name
You will find every bar and restaurant in Paris serves a Kir or Kir Royale!
Where can you enjoy the best Kir Royale in Paris?
Café de Flore – Boulevard Saint Germain
Not the cheapest option but I would head to the wonderful and very famous Café de Flore with its classic Art Deco interior to enjoy a Kir Royale.
Monaco
This classic beer cocktail is my favourite drink when I am in France. Made from a combination of grenadine (pomegranate syrup), lemonade and lager (Stella Artois preferably) this is a perfect drink to enjoy during the summer months.
This is sold in every bar, bistro and restaurant in France!
Where to find all these delicious French foods in Paris
Plan your trip to Paris
I have a number of posts about Paris and France which you may be interested in reading including my first timers guide to Paris, things NOT to do when you visit Paris as well as a selection of the best books to read before you visit France.
- How is your French? Test your skills with my French language quizzes – French food vocab quiz. or my French shopping vocabulary quiz!
- Best French TV series on Netflix to watch to improve your French language skills as well as my choice of the best French movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime!
- Gift ideas for the Francophile – lots of great gifts for lovers of everything French
- Would you like to see old photographs of cities in Europe and the world in the 1800’s including Paris? This post was compiled using photographs from a book my Great-Grandfather received from his school in 1903.
- 18 beautiful quotes about Paris to inspire wanderlust
- Enjoy sampling different dishes around the world? Read my guides to the best food to try in Switzerland, France, Australia and South Africa.