Paris: 7 Food Experiences You Won’t Want to Miss

You may be surprised to learn that 3 out of 7 of my top Parisian dining experiences are not actually French cuisine! Paris is a very international city, so there are some of the best eclectic cuisine options there as well. Read on to find out some of my absolute favorite restaurants in Paris.

1. Canard and Champagne

This was hands down the best meal I had during my last trip to Paris. I never thought I was a fan of duck, but Canard & Champagne‘s duck filet actually melts in your mouth and the flavors are so unique that it makes for a very memorable dinner. I got a fresh quinoa salad before dinner and it was all paired with a delicious champagne (obv! as the name suggests).

The inside of the restaurant is hip, the waitstaff friendly, and the menu is small because it’s always changing. It’s located in a neat covered walkway called the Passage des Panoramas, and there are quaint art stores, bakeries, and trinket shops to linger in while your food is digesting!

2. La Brasserie Thai

I had some of the best Thai food of my life here. La Brasserie Thai is located in my favorite neighborhood, Montmartre, so I thought I’d give it a shot.

In typical “me” fashion, I got shrimp in red coconut curry and it was mouthwatering–big juicy shrimp and just the right amount of spice. This is saying something, as I get shrimp in red coconut curry at every Thai restaurant, so I have a lot to compare it to.

You may want a reservation here, as tables fill up fast.

3. Papacionu Paris

We were in the mood for pizza one night, so decided to try this eclectic pizza joint near our hotel. The décor at Papacionu is so cool, with shutters on the bar and window frames hanging on the walls. There’s also a nice outdoor sitting area if you enjoy people watching.

The pizza is to die for, and funny story—this was before I knew people in Paris don’t eat pizza with their hands by the slice! It was all I could do not to pick it up and start shoving it in my face and simply cut it bite by bite like everyone else, so they didn’t think I was a savage.

4. La Nouvelle Eve

Okay, so I’ll admit, this one isn’t really about the food. In fact, it shouldn’t even be on this list because I actually recommend just coming for the show and eating dinner elsewhere. But I wanted to sneak this in here anyhow!

La Nouvelle Eve is the PERFECT alternative to Moulin Rouge for a Parisian Cabaret. I’ll admit, standing outside the venue before the show, I was a little leery. It looked a little—shall I say—cheap? But the show did not disappoint. I had one of the best evenings of my trip at La Nouvelle Eve. The venue is small and intimate and we even got to talking to some of the other audience members (hint, hint – they keep the wine a-flowing!). Want to book your own evening at La Nouvelle Eve? Aum Journeys can help!

5. Beau et Fort

What do you think of when you think of Paris? Wine and cheese, wine and cheese! Beau et Fort is a fromagerie with tons of different cheeses and cheese dishes for all you cheese fanatics out there. They have some awesome sampler platters and a nice ambience.

6. Falafel in the Jewish Quarter

L’as du Fallafel was recommended to me by a friend, so I made it a point to travel across the city to the Jewish quarter one afternoon. To my surprise (and the surprise of many disappointed people around me), the restaurant known for the best falafel in Paris was closed.

But what I quickly found out is that the entire neighborhood is filled with falafel restaurants, Jewish bakeries, and mouthwatering lunch options. I wish I had had more time to come back and try some of the other restaurants in the area!

I actually ended up getting falafel at the place right across the street from L’as du Fallafel called mi-va-mi and it was seriously ah-mazing. It’s crispy falafel in a pita, with spicy sauce, slaw, and so much more stuffed in it that it’s difficult to eat without making a gigantic mess, so ask for a plate and fork!

7. Lunch on the Seine

This experience was definitely a splurge for me but it ended up being worth every penny and then some. We opted for the lunch instead of the dinner to save a bit of money, and ended up having to change our dinner plans that evening because we were so full (and sleepy!). I might recommend the dinner cruise, since there’s free-flowing wine and doing that in the middle of the day might not be the best choice for obvious reasons…

Anyway, the food on the cruise was about 5 courses of delicious French cuisine and we got to enjoy all of it with the city passing by on a gorgeous Parisian day. You’re given a guide card so you can point out the landmarks as you pass by including the Notre Dame and Musee d’Orsay. It’s also a fun way to meet other travelers.

Contact Aum Journeys if you’d like more information on the river cruise for your own trip to the City of Love!

And that’s a wrap (pun intended)! What are some of your favorite spots to get some chow in Paris? They say you could eat at a different restaurant every day for a year (maybe two!) and never get a bad meal. I’d be willing to test that theory… Would you?

CAITLYN WITH A COMPASS