MUST EAT: PARIS

We recently returned home from a whirlwind trip across Western Europe. A bulk of that time was spent in the magical city that is Paris. Between the cafe culture and the laissez-faire lifestyle, there’s really no other city in the world like it. Even with walking 10+ miles a day on the hilly cobblestone streets, I somehow returned to America rested and recharged.

Our trip was during the first week of December, which also happens to be the commencement of the Holiday season. The already charming streets were brought to life with touches of Holiday decor.

While the sights and sounds are all an integral part of the Parisian experience, we were there to EAT. Here are the best places we ate at during our time in the City of the Lights.

LE PETIT CLER

A stones throw from the Eiffel Tour you’ll find Rue Cler, one of the last remaining true pedestrian marketplace streets that locals still come to. Here, you’ll find lively shops including seafood, cheese, wine, fresh meats, and basically anything you could think of to stock your pantry and prepare a meal. We visited on a Saturday which was an extra delight as we got to see the locals scurry through and grab what they needed.

Le Petit Cler is a charming cafe on this street serving traditional French delicacies for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. While tourists are in the know of this joint, nearly every table was full of regulars on our visit.

Of course, we started with a glass of Rose’ and Bordeaux. The draw here are garlicky and delicious escargot, served piping hot. They also have a nice selection of Tartines De Pain, basically open-face sandwiches using high quality bread from the famous bakery Poilane.

AUGUSTO PIZZERIA

We prefer to stay in Montmartre on our visits to Paris because it’s a hot bed of under-the-radar eateries and bars. With intentions to eat at the super hyped Pink Mamma, we stumbled upon a small Italian eatery, Augusto Pizzeria. Little did we know we’d end up eating here FOUR times during our trip. The restaurant has about 10 tables and just a few seats at the bar that overlook their pizza oven.

The pizza here is absolutely to die for, but the star of the show is award-winning Chef Khaled. It was a real thrill watching him do his thing while sipping on some Puglia and devouring their Margherita Pizza. The prices are shockingly reasonable as well. On top of a perfect atmosphere and divine food, the staff really sets this place a part as they welcome you into their little home. It was fun getting to know them and I was honestly a little sad to leave town and the place that had become our “local spot” during our 10-day jaunt.

PAIN PAIN

To be honest, on previous trips to Paris, I hadn’t found a Boulangerie & Patisserie that I absolutely loved. In researching for this recent trip, I discovered PAIN PAIN, an award-winning bakery in the Montmartre neighborhood.

As I tend to do while planning, I hyped this baby up SO MUCH in my head. Luckily, it turned out to be absolutely amazing and we ate here several times throughout our trip (it was literally around the corner from our apartment). You pretty much can guarantee when you stumble into a place where you’re the only non-French speaker, it’s going to be at least decent.

After ONE bite, of their buttery and flaky croissant, I knew it couldn’t get any better than this.

The place itself is adorable and very insta-worthy. Locals flock here for their Baguettes and there’s almost always a line out the door. In addition to the croissant, we tried the Jambon Beurre Baguette sandwich which was also amazing. I’ve had many a Jambon Beurre in my day, and this absolutely reigns supreme.

BULOT BULOT

Our visit also coincided with the start of Oyster season in France. Bulot Bulot is a relatively new chic-meets-wharfside Oyster and Wine bar where the seafood is brought in fresh from the shores of Normandy.

Tucked away on a cobblestone side street of Montmartre, this tiny restaurant can be tough to get into without reservations. We were lucky enough to snag seats at the small bar right when they opened for evening service and enjoyed a wonderful selection of incredibly fresh oysters at a fair price. Our lovely conversation with the bartender was an added bonus!

L’AS DU FALLAFEL

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, if you’re planning what to eat on your trip to Paris, L’as du Fallafel has come up in your research. I can promise you, this unassuming Middle Eastern walk-up in Le Marais serves the best Fallafel sandwich you will ever have. They are closed Saturdays and accept cash only so be prepared! It is absolute perfection and worth a visit to the neighborhood.

There’s a reason I find myself going back again and again to Paris. The people and food DEFINE this city. If you can peel yourself away from the overhyped tourist traps, you’ll have a wonderful visit.

Happy eating through Paris! One more Jambon Beurre for the road.