Posted in Food le 4 September 2017
Food Markets in Paris
FOOD MARKETS IN PARIS
Food markets are very popular and part of the weekly life of French people. Paris has a decent number of them (over eighty) on weekdays and weekends. Stall owners know their product very well and are a great source of information.
You can find three types of markets in Paris:.
- Marché volant (flying markets): they include independent merchants who go from markets to markets, from neighborhood to neighborhood, setting up their stalls early in the morning until mid-day.
- Rue Commercantes (merchant streets): Those so called merchant streets are becoming scarce in Paris. They are stationary indoor-outdoor markets on long streets usually open 6 days a week, where you will have some butchers, pastry shops, cheese shops, bakeries, fruit and veggie shops, a supermarket…
- Marché couvert (covered market): Those markets are also becoming extinct. Often less animated, they have been replaced by standard supermarkets.
The “marchés volants” are our favorite markets. Note that they are not all farmers markets as a lot of merchants buy their product at the huge market outside of Paris called Rungis, one of the world's largest wholesale market for fresh products. If you want to buy local products look for the sign that says "Direct du Producteur".
List of markets by district
2ND ARRONDISSEMENT
Rue Commerçantes
Rue Montorgeuil
This street is in the heart of les Halles, who was nicknamed “the belly of Paris” as it provided all of the fresh food produce for Parisians. Start at Eglise Saint Eustache and check the Patisserie Stroher (oldest pastry shop in Paris established in 1730). Our recommendations: Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie (established in 1894, epicerie and restaurant), for cookware: E Dehillerin (nearly 200 years old), Mora and La Bovida; If you love to bake: GDetou.
3RD ARRONDISSEMENT
Covered Market
Marché des Enfants Rouges 39, rue de Bretagne Tuesday-Sunday 8 :30am to 1pm and 4pm to 7 :30pm Note that the food stalls and restaurants are open during lunch time.
This small market is the oldest market in Paris dating back from the 16th century. It takes its name from the 16th century orphanage that used to occupy this site. The orphanage closed before the revolution and the market reopened in 2000 as a deluxe food market. There you will a couple small restaurants: North African, Japanese, British, Italian and French cuisine
Our favorite food stalls are the Japanese with its bentos and Alain the boulanger with his crepes, socca, and sandwiches.
5TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant
Marché Maubert Place Maubert Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 8:30am to 1pm
This market was first opened in the 1920s. In the 19th century, there was a "marché aux megots" (discarded cigarette end market) where beggars who would walk around the city collecting discarded cigarettes to resell them to cigarette manufacturers. Nowadays, it is a small market with about forty merchants set in a square. Around that market, don't miss: Aux Merveilleux de Fred (specialized in meringues), Eric Kayser (bakery), Laurent Dubois (famous cheese store), La Pirée (Greek products), Brulerie Maubert (coffee roaster).
Rue Commerçantes
Rue Mouffetard
Start at the beginning of the rue Mouffetard, near the church of Saint Médard. Stop at the Greek Mavrommatis or the cheesemaker Androuet
6TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant
Marché Raspail Boulevard Raspail, between rue du Cherche-Midi and rue de Rennes Tuesday, Friday, Sunday (organic) from 8:30am to 1pm
This is a market we regularly go to. It is an organic market on Sunday. Created in 1989, it was the first organic market in Paris. Among our favorite stalls: nuts and dried fruits, English muffin and pastry, paella made on the premises with excellent galettes. On Sunday, the best is to go early morning as it gets pretty packed around 11am. This sunday market is quite expensive compared to others, but it is nevertheless a pleasure for the eyes.
Covered Market
Marché Saint Germain des Prés 4-6, rue Lobineau Tuesday-Saturday 8 :30am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm Sunday 8am to 1:30pm
This market is currently undergoing some renovations. There you will find a couple of stalls with a good Greek and cheese stall and a really nice florist. In this 19th century building, new stores have also taken place such as Uniqlo and Apple. Among restaurants you will find: L’avant comptoir du marché (famous chef Yves Camdeborde, tapas), L’Etable (famous butcher Hugo Desnoyer), Marcello (Italian with a cute terrace)
7TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant
Saxe Breteuil Avenue de Saxe between avenue de Ségur and place de Breteuil Thursday and Saturday from 8:30am to 1pm
This market is close to the Eiffel tower and the Invalides and is one of the largest markets in Paris with about 80 merchants.
Rue Commerçantes
Rue Cler From avenue de la Motte Picquet to rue Saint Dominique Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays
One of our favorite in Paris. It is a good option if you are visiting the Eiffel Tour. Amongst the reputable vendors: Davoli (Italian delicatessen since 1962) Jeusselin (Charcuterie/delicatessen one of the few that prepare almost everything they sell on site) Cantin (cheese store who ages their cheese in their own cellar) Epicerie Rive Gauche (gourmet grocer sourcing their product very carefully), Martine Lambert (for her sorbet and ice cream), Moulin de la Vierge (pastry shop)
8TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant:
Marché Batignolles Between 27 and 48 boulevard des Batignolles Saturday (organic) 8am to 1pm
This small market is organic and features more or less the same vendors (about 35) as the Raspail Sunday organic market.
9TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant
Anvers Place d’Anvers Friday from 3pm to 8:30pm
At the bottom of Montmartre, small (with about 20 merchants), but unique in that it is open in the afternoon.
Rue Commerçantes
Rue des Martyrs From Notre Dame des Lorette to boulevard Clichy Tuesday to Sunday
Home to bohemian concept stores and culinary shops this is a great street to walk on. Stop by: the olive oil shop “Première pression à froid” that sells olive oil from Provence, the jam maker “La Chambre aux Confitures”, the pastry chef Sébastien Gaudard, pastry shop "Patisserie des Martyrs", puff pastry "Popelini", caramels "Henri le Roux", restaurant "Rose Bakery", corsica specialty "Terra Corsa.
11TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant
Marché Bastille Boulevard Richard Lenoir, between rue Amelot and rue Saint-Sabin Thursday and Sunday 7am to 2:30pm
One of the city's largest markets with about 120 vendors, it stretches from the Place de la Bastille to the Canal St Martin. The best day to go is Sunday as it is where you will find the most vendors, but note that since it is during the weekend, the best is to go early.
12TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant
Marché d’Aligre Rue d’Aligre and Place d’Aligre Open air and antiques market Tuesday to Sunday from 7am to 1:30pm Covered market Tuesday thru Friday 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 7:30pm. Sunday 8:30am to 7:30pm
Created in 1618, Aligre is a unique lively market in Paris as it combines three markets into one: an open air market with mainly fruits and vegetables, a covered market (inaugurated in 1781), and an antique market with low to middle end items.
Stop at one of the best pastry shop Blé Sucré to get a croissant. Have lunch at Le Charolais or wine at le Baron Rouge. Buy spices or olives at Sabah. Buy tapenade at the épicerie Sur Les Quais. Check the cheesestore: Hardouin
15TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant
Dupleix Grenelle Boulevard de Grenelle, between rue Lourmel and rue du Commerce Wednesday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm
One of the largest in Paris, it has over one hundred forty merchants. The best day to go is on Sunday as you will have more merchants. It is also a good option to go on a rainy day as it is slightly covered by the elevated metro line.
16TH ARRONDISSEMENT
Marché Volant
Cours de la Reine/President Wilson Avenue du President Wilson, between rue Debrousse and place d’Iéna Wednesday and Saturday from 8:30am to 1pm
Present since 1873, it has about one hundred and twenty merchants and has the best selection of fish and shellfish. The famous vegetable grower Joel Thiebaut is present on this market and is a favorite of Michelin star chefs. Check Maison Priolet that sells game and high quality poultry. You also have a lot of take away options: Thai, Lebanese, Crepes, Chinese, Paella, Boeuf bourguignon, and choucroute among others.
Head to the Palais de Tokyo after for some cultural experience.