sar_gil

Any suggestions for spots in the Latin Quarter to buy some picnic-type food to take away and eat else where?? I speak fluent french, so we can go to the smallest vendors if need be. Trying not to blow our budget on fancy sit down meals everyday..thought this would be a good option. Thanks in advance..oh yeah, I posted this on the US forum first..oops. Rookie mistake!

hopscotch

Yes, it is a good option and not only in Paris. There are small markets all over the city. I remember one on Blvd. Saint Germain near Place Maubert, open til 10pm. There were some other shops at Place Maubert also — cheese, a butcher, and bread. The wine shop was a block up the hill on Rue des Écoles.

Michel_Paris

Rue Monge is another area. Also, Rue St Louis en l'Ile (main street of Ile St Louis) has cheese shop, wine store, bakeries..

Underhill

You could pick up an assortment of goodies, including great lemon tarts for dessert, at Gérard Mulot--it's not far from the Luxembourg Gardens, a nice place for your picnic.

Scarlett

Not IN the Latin Quarter but rue de Buci is where we would pick up a variety of wonderful picnic tastes and walk over to the Luxembourg Gardens to savor on a bench. Ahhh dreaming of Paris~

Christina

Are you looking for a spot to picnic, or just to buy food to eat in some place you are staying in the Latin Qtr? You can buy food like that in many many places all over, so you might want to find a good spot near where you intend to eat it. I also think rue Mouffetard is an excellent idea in the Latin Qtr, which has much more in a more condensed area than rue Monge, in my opinion. There are some good bakeries, etc on rue Monge, though, I agree, at least in the area I know between the Arenes and Censier metro stop.

Nikki

There is a roving street market at Place Maubert. According to Patricia Wells' "Food Lovers Guide to Paris", it is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. Also one at Place Monge, open Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings.

The rue Mouffetard is a permanent market street. I believe it is open every morning except Monday, and in the late afternoon every day except Sunday and Monday.

lisaneworleans

In Place Maubert there is a charcuterie, cheese shop and boulangerie all next to each other. All very good and the staff of each very helpful and friendly. I agree that Luxembourg Gardens would be a great place for a picnic.

ninasdream

sarqil- great idea. This may, I stocked my frig for picnics, but also because I tend to run run run all day and have trouble rousing myself in the evening, so it makes for a light supper. I was a 15 minute walk from Mouffetard, my favorite marche, which is a perm market. There is a wonderful cheese shop about the 2nd on right, orange sign black leaping cow...looked for the card, sorry. I have fair french, and the woman was marvelous and helped me with a lovely selection, You can buy quite small pieces to sample. I bought long cucumbers, fresh fruit and salad greens, also a few sausages,and country pates, a roast chicken, a baton, some wonderful mustard, and lovely green olives. Clearly this last for an entire week. It was nice to have a little something with my morning baguette.I eas less impressed with Marche Monge, but it's also a Wed only affair, I think, and mostly foods to cook. I think Jardin du Luxembourg is a great idea, with all the fountains- also if you go over where the marionette theatre is there is a stand that has outside tables & chairs, and I saw people brownbagging there. There arelots of hidden neighborhood parks, too. Or a bench anywhere outside the Louvre or Notre Dame would be fun too. My fave modest white wine was La Poule Blanche. abot 6e/bottle. Enjoy.

AJPeabody

Place Maubert, for sure! Around one square there is a great cheese shop, fruit and vegetable store, patisserie/boulangerie, etc. Several of the shops also sell takeout panini, sandwiches, salads, charcuterie, wine, etc. Three days a week there is the market, with even more choices. Then walk to the Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages and picnic in the park next to it or in the medieval garden surrounding it. We bring disposible picnic plasticware, plates and cups from home, and, of course, a corkscrew.

gingergirl

I definitely agree about Luxembourg Gardens for a picnic--just went there two weeks ago and found it beautiful. There are benches outside of Notre Dame, but not many shade trees...so it's definitely a sunny spot...depends on your preferences.

BTilke

I like a picnic as much as anyone, but right now it's the height of "guepe" season and they have been pretty aggressive. If you don't mind that kind of uninvited guest, enjoy, but we're eating inside for the next few weeks.

paula1470

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe "guepe" is a wasp. How long does this season last? We will be in Paris around Aug 22nd and definitely wanted to do a picnic either around Luxembourg Gardens or at the Eiffel Tower around sunset. None of my group would be too excited about aggressive guepe joining our picnic.

BTilke

Yes, they're wasps. It's hit or miss if you'll be bothered. Their activity should be lower around sunset. I read an article recently by a wasp expert who said that earlier in their season they're attracted to meat; later in the season they go for fruit.
We just hate having them around when we're eating (plus my husband seems to be increasingly sensitive to any stings--the last one left him short of breath for a while), so we picnic earlier or later in the year when they're not about.

sar_gil

So if I am in Paris the first week of October I should be OK, right?? no wasps, or any gross little insects will be swarmimg my romantic honeymoon picnic!!!!RIGHT??? haha

DonTopaz

The Luxembourg Gardens are a nice enough place for a picnic, but my very favorite picnic spot near the Latin Quarter is the little park on the very tip of Ile de la Cite, the one that you reach from the Pont Neuf. I love it because you have the Seine on two sides, and you get to see the city from an oasis of calm.

And if I'm closer to the Louvre, my favorite spot is the garden of the Palais Royal. It's well-hidden from the street so doesn't attract huge numbers of passers-by, and it never fails to provide fascinating views of architecture and people, not necessarily in that order.

sar_gil

That little park on the edge of Ile de la Cite is Square du Vert Gallant! and I can't wait to sit there and watch everthing go by! It looks beautiful and I've seen it in movies so many times! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE PARIS IN OCTOBER!!!

strass

Okay, this will probably sound dumb of me, but... in Paris it's okay to drink alcohol outside, right? (As in a bottle of wine.) Here in the prudey USA, that's illegal, unless you're sitting in an outdoor restaurant (or you're in New Orleans).

Travelnut

We travel in March/April and Sept/Oct...have never seen a "guepe"...

We take beer and wine to a park every evening for our daily "wine:30" hour.(what time is it? it's about wine:30).
In Jardin de Luxembourg, a squad of police strolled by, not the least bit interested in my wine bottle or hubby's beer.

sandi_travelnut

My husband and I went to the open market in the quarter and got roasted chicken, cheese, bread and figs then found a little space by a fountain and had a wonderful and cheap picnic lunch.