I will be staying in an apartment on Rue Vauquelin in the 5th Arr. in Paris. Does anyone know if there is a Monoprix or Super Marche nearby to get supplies? Any info about the area would be greatly appreciated.

Well, there's a Franprix (CFD Netter) at 82 rue Mouffetard and at 122 rue Mouffetard, practically around the corner from you! Looks like they're about equidistant from your rue.

I stayed in an apartment in that area in summer 2002 and, unfortunately, there are no good supermarkets in that area nor a good Monoprix. There are a couple old, rundown Franprix small grocery stores, or things of that ilk, but no nice large supermarket. The only MOnoprix close by is on ave des Gobelins just inside the 5th arr. It doesn't have groceries, though, and I don't think it would thus have things like toilet paper, etc. either. The Franprix (there is one on rue Monge, also, a couple blocks north of Censier metro) would be fine for toilet paper, etc., or packaged goods or bottled water, but it's not that great.

Luckily, rue Mouffetard and the shops on the part extending south onto rue Pascal, should have all the food, wine, etc., type stuff you want. There is a nice Hediard's at the corner of maybe Monge and Bazaeilles and a Nicholas wine store around there also.

Rue Mouffetard will be wonderful to shop along. You can find just about everything you need there. Just remember the market closes between 1-4 pm (I think those are the hours). There is a shop there in which you can also buy a lovely straw market basket to carry things home in. I carted mine back from there and still use it at the Farmers' Market here.

Thanks, Christina, it's good to know that. I typed in supermarché on pagesjaunes and it gave me Franprix listings.

Keren was just telling me about Hediard on rue Mouffetard. I had no idea! Thought they were only in the 8th. Excellent!

I'm sure Franprix is classified as a supermarche, but they aren't large, modern and nice (at least the ones over there are not). I was disappointed in that, but ultimately, didn't really need one for much due to the food shops and bakeries around there. I only bought TP, paper towels, soap and bottled water in the supermarket, no food.

I think there are lots of small Hediard outposts around Paris. I think I bought some deluxe ice cream in there and maybe coffee (although there is a coffee specialty shop on rue Mouffetard).

Hi
I see there is a Monoprix in the 6th on rue Rennes--anyone know if that one carries fresh food?

There are two Monoprix located in the 6th, one at 50 rue de Rennes, near the corner of St. Germain, and one at 55 bis blvd du Montparnasse. The is also one in the 13th, near the 5th, at 83 ave. d'Italie.

You can check the Monoprix website for additional locations and information.
http://www.monoprix.fr/

thanks, I've been on the monoprix website already but don't see information on whether or not fresh food or groceries are carried.
The store descriptions seem to indicate services such as delivery, or photocopying but I don't see food mentioned.

The Monoprix on rue de Rennes just off Blvd. St-Germain has a full grocery, with fresh foods available. It's open 'til 10PM, too.

That store at 55 bd Montparnasse isn't a regular Monoprix, it's a new type of store they are opening called Daily Monop which is just a small takeout or convenience store.

They used to have very good info on the Monoprix web site about all kinds of grocery, bakery, traiteur etc services but they've fooled around with the web site and they don't seem to have it on there anymore, unfortunately. MOst of them do have groceries, but not all (like that old one in the 5th). The one in the 13th isn't really that close to the 5th, it's around Tolbiac metro stop. I wouldn't go down there to go grocery shopping from rue Mouffetard, that's for sure, as the food up there is a lot better. You can taken the metro a few stops (from Censier down to Tolbiac) if you wanted to go to a larger discount general store for some reason -- it might be the closest one like that. But, no need to go there for food with Mouffetard nearby and the other shops up there, and the Monoprix near Censier has underwear, toiletries, makeup, that kind of stuff, and even a small section of dishes, etc.

Reading one post I saw that you'll be staying near rue Pascal.
The name of this street reminded me of the many good meals that we had at "La Forge", a very good small restaurant at 14, rue Pascal.
Dario and Nicole, the owners, are lovely persons.
The food is very good. At lunch they have a menu costing 16 euros with buffet a la discretion, main dish, dessert, a kir and a carafe de vin.

I spent a few weeks this Spring about a 10 minute walk from Mouffetard Marche. You can have a lovely selection of produce cheeses, bakery items, and there are delis with pates and roasted chickens. There are other shops further up the rue that sell sundry items. If you are looking for drugstore-type supplies, others here have made good suggestions. Wish I were there again.

Thanks for the great info.