Ah, Paris… They may call it the City of Love or the City of Light, but we’d wager it’s really the City of Cheese. There’s nothing more romantic than a perfectly put-together cheese board accompanied by a baguette tradition and a bottle of wine. Whether you’re sharing with a partner or treating yourself to some […]
7 Types of French Cheese You Have to Try in Paris
Former French President Charles de Gaulle is famous for having declared that it was impossible to govern a country with 246 kinds of cheese… and these days, France is home to far more than that! It can seem a bit overwhelming to know where to begin, so to help you get started, here are the […]
Where to Find the Best Hot Chocolate in Paris
France may not be as well-known as Belgium or Switzerland for its chocolate, but this country actually has a rich tradition in all things cacao… especially chocolat chaud. Here are our four favorite spots to indulge in the best hot chocolate in Paris. Photo Credit: La Chocolaterie Cyril Lignac, Text Overlay: Devour Paris Food Tours […]
Easy Luggage Storage in le Marais: Where to Leave Your Bags in Paris
It might be your first day in Paris, or maybe it’s your last (for now), but one thing’s for sure—you’re not going to want to drag your suitcase around all day. Even for the hardiest traveler, the narrow streets and sidewalks of le Marais were not designed for roller suitcases or massive backpacker-style backpacks. As […]
Devour a French Classic at These Fabulous Spots to Try Snails in Paris
Adventurous eaters journeying to Paris often have a few things on their lists of must-try dishes: frogs’ legs, calf’s brains…and snails. The traditional preparation of escargots à la bourguignonne sees the snails dressed in their shells and baked with an herbed garlic butter which forms the perfect sauce for crusty baguette. And while the […]
How to Celebrate Candelmas the French Way (Hint: It Involves Crêpes)
If you believe most American shops and greeting card companies, the next major holiday to follow Christmas and New Year’s is Valentine’s Day. But here in France, another holiday sneaks its way into the fray in early February. The holiday in question is Candlemas, or La Chandeleur, and the appropriate way to celebrate it is […]
A Paris Chef Shares How to Find the Best Pastries in Town (and Avoid Tourist Traps)
After an afternoon of sightseeing around the butte Montmartre, a nibble or two of French pastry is well-deserved. Rather than settling into an anonymous café on the rue des Abbesses, head west until the street narrows and forks. Tucked away just off the main drag, La Bossue awaits! Known for its generous brunch, cozy vintage […]
7 Perfect Ways to Spend a Rainy Day in Paris
Perhaps Paris’ best-kept secret is that it shares London’s infamous drizzly weather. Cole Porter wasn’t kidding when he referenced “Paris when it drizzles.” But what he missed was the fact that it rains in Paris—not just in winter, but all year round. Most rain in Paris falls in May and June, but rainfall in the […]
How to Spend Your Sundays in Paris and Make Every Moment Count
The French are known for their long Sunday lunches en famille that stretch into the afternoons. After washing down a multiple course meal of tempting appetizers, hearty mains, cheese platters, and dessert with a bouteille de vin or two, the French toddle home sated—bellies and ears decidedly full. But where does that leave the rest […]
A Guide to Eating Alone in Paris for Solo Travelers
For solo travelers, the most daunting aspect of their trip is often eating alone. For the uninitiated, the simple act of grabbing a bite between blocks of sightseeing can unleash a spiral of anxiety: You need to eat, but what do you do during the eternity between ordering and the arrival of your plate? Is […]
Making New Traditions With Mulled Wine in Paris
It was nearly Christmas, a few months after I had first moved to Paris, and I was dating my first French boyfriend. On a weekend trip to his hometown, we had somehow found ourselves entangled in a group of locals—friends and friends of friends from the area—spending the afternoon hanging around the flower farm where […]
5 Places to Eat in Paris on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
From luxurious meals fit for royalty to grabbing a falafel and walking the crowded streets of Le Marais, there are a number of ways to have a pleasing culinary experience in Paris on Christmas and Christmas Eve. We’ve already told you where you can go to experience the best holiday markets the French capital has […]
Typical French Christmas Foods to Enjoy This Holiday Season
Devoid of a feast-focused holiday like Thanksgiving, France pulls out all the stops at Christmastime, with a multi-course meal and more than enough specialties to enjoy in the days leading up to the festivities. Here is just a touch of what you can expect on the table at Christmastime in Paris and beyond. These French […]
Hidden Paris: Speakeasies, Hidden Bars & Where to Find Them in Paris
Enter through a laundromat, a pizza place or an Indian restaurant; the basement of a creperie, the back of a mezcaleria or through a dimly-lit red door on a street in Le Marais. Behind the graffitied facade of what seems to be a crumbling edifice in Strasbourg-Saint Denis, you’ll find one. Or in the back […]
Where to Eat in Paris on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
My mother likes to say that the way you spend New Year’s Eve sets the tone for the year to come. While that’s a matter of perspective, if you consider this from an epicurean point of view, you’ll want to choose your restaurants wisely. Will 2020 be full of candlelit meals, raucous group dinners with […]
How to Navigate a Meal in France, from Choosing the Restaurant to Tipping
With a café on every corner, Paris is a prime location for gastronomic delights, whether you’re grabbing a quick bite, settling in for a three-course meal, or sampling Michelin-star tasting menus. If you don’t speak French, however, restaurant menus might prove more confusing than your local spot at home. Luckily, the reality of the French […]
The 6 Best Christmas Markets in Paris You Should Visit This Winter
A tradition that originated in France’s Alsace region to the east of Paris in the 16th century, Christmas markets have grown in popularity in recent years. Each year, France’s dozens of markets—with their quaint wooden stalls, flowing mulled wine and overpriced nativity scene figurines—bring in an estimated 27 million visitors, including 2 million at the […]
How to Be a Good Tourist: Paris Edition
Don’t miss the rest of our responsible tourism guides: MADRID | BARCELONA | SEVILLE | SAN SEBASTIAN | LISBON | ROME Thinking of visiting Paris? You’re not alone. The city’s visitor bureau announced an uptick in tourism, citing more than 40 million tourists in 2017 with 23 million hotel arrivals. Despite suffering a lull in tourism, Paris has exceeded its prior visitor numbers. […]
Our Favorite Paris Restaurants by Neighborhood: Pigalle
Despite its seedy past as Paris’ red light district, today’s Pigalle—located in the capital’s 9th arrondissement—hardly resembles its 20th, or 19th century self. Swept up in the winds of gentrification that have engulfed much of northern Paris, the streets of the neighborhood, including the infamous Boulevard de Clichy, are increasingly lined with hip cafes, bars […]
5 Natural Wine Bars in Paris You Need to Check Out
Natural wine is the drink of the moment, and nowhere is that more true than Paris. Using only natural, endemic yeasts for fermentation and eschewing filtering and sulfites, natural wine—known as vin nature or vin vivant (living wine) in French—tends to boast a lighter, fruitier flavor than most conventional vintages. Its aromas occasionally veer towards […]