A Beginner Friendly Way to Start Dining in Paris

1. Picnic

One of the easiest ways to dine in Paris is the DIY option. Shopping for the ingredients for a picnic is a fun experience, as is deciding the perfect spot to tuck in. Trawl the street market stalls, boulangeries, fromageries and patisseries tucked away in back streets or buy ready-mades from deli counters in large stores to find exceptional artisan cheeses, bread and cooked meats and the most darling of delectable pastries. I highly recommend Rue Mouffetard for quality of ingredients and atmosphere. Once stocked up, it’s just a case of deciding where to cop a squat for your feast. If you want to make it even more special, you can pair your picnic basket with a bottle of wine after enjoying a structured wine tasting session.

2. Cruise and Dine

A cruise on one of the Seine’s bateaux mouches is one of the most pleasant ways to see the sights of Paris. Combine it with lunch and dinner for the perfect sightseeing/food experiences. Sit at a table that offers the best views from the river as violins and pianos play softly in the background and you devour a delicious multi-course meal. Booking your trip through the official Bateaux Mouches service ensures a classic, reliable sightseeing cruise down the historic river.

3. Food Tour

Going it alone and making your own choices about where to eat and what to buy is great fun, but the sheer volume of shops and outlets and stalls and foods available can be very overwhelming. If you want to dig into the real foodie scene, one of the most informative ways to eat out in Paris is to go on a food tour. They never claim to show you the best, but a tour will open up places and foods you may never have considered or even known about. A soupçon of hand-made goat cheese there, and a morsel of jambon de Bosses here and a crunch of maccaron and you’re all set. Before embarking on your food tour, check out our guide on things to know before you go to Paris to make the most of your travel preparation.

Some of the typical delicacies you might try on a guided food tour include:

4. Fine Dining

If your vacation budget can stretch to it, a meal in one of the city’s Michelin Star restaurants is a major treat. France itself leads the world in the total number of Michelin Star restaurants with 594. Interestingly, Japan has more 3-Star restaurants (but only 317 in total) but you’ll find a huge selection in Paris. The capital lays claim to 79 restaurants that have been awarded Michelin Stars, with 10 of them achieving the coveted 3 stars. Choose from a trendy one-star bistro on the Left Bank or a fine 3-star hotel restaurant. You can browse the latest selections and book tables directly through the official Michelin Guide website.

5. Cooking Classes

Whatever your favorite way to enjoy French food, there are cooking classes in Paris to help you learn or master the art. From workshops in uber-trendy molecular gastronomy to chocolate making classes to cordon bleu cooking lessons, you can find your inner Julia Child and be whipping up your own delectable creations in no time. For a world-renowned experience, consider enrolling in a class at the historic Le Cordon Bleu academy.

6. Wine Tasting

Although food isn’t the main focus, it is rare that wine tasting sessions do not include eating. You don’t have to visit a vineyard to try some great wines and get a lesson in how to pair them with food, and this is one of the ways to dine in Paris that is as educational as it is fun. From atmospheric antique cellars to pristine Michelin Star restaurants, there are many options to sip wonderful wines and munch on tasty food. This experience goes hand-in-hand with exploring the city's fine dining scene, allowing you to elevate your palate.

7. At Home

There’s nothing quite like home cooking to get a true taste of a cuisine. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a family or friends you can stay with when in Paris because you can still experience great French food cooked in a French home – that’s as authentic as it comes! In a version of the supper club idea, there are platforms that present the opportunity to dine in Parisian homes – one popular modern alternative being Eatwith.

The ways to eat out in Paris really should have you getting under the skin of French cuisine. Don’t be afraid to strike out and try as many options as you can. Are you a French foodie? What are your favorite ways of experiencing a different cuisine? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! If you want a change of scenery after exploring the city, check out our guide on the best beaches in Europe you have to visit.

To make the most of your Parisian culinary adventure, keep these quick tips in mind: