Paris - Food Markets - Advice Please
 

We are leaving in 4 weeks for Paris. We have rented an apartment in the Marais.

Can anyone help us with information about Food Markets (good cheese, baguettes, fruits and vegetables, etc)? We know there are the big grocery stores. We are looking for markets. We heard about Rue Cler but have heard mixed reviewed. We have heard about Mouffetard.

Can anyone please provide us with assistance on best ones, days open and near the Marais or a Metro ride away?

We appreciate any support. Thank you in advance.

The best market (with almost no exceptions) will be the one the closest to where you are staying. Parisians absolutly never cross town to shop at a different market, even if they go a bit farther afield from time to time to go to a BIGGER market for more variety.

There are plenty of markets in or near the Marais, from the Enfants Rouges to rue Rambuteau to rue Montorgueil, etc.

The Paris municipal website lists all of the food markets and the days of operation.

http://www.paris.fr/portail/loisirs/...rtlet_id=19551

Depending on your location in the Marais, the market on Blvd. Richard Lenoir, near Bastille, may be the best for you.

I'm no Paris expert, but if you are staying in the Marais, going to a street market at Rue Cler doesn't really make sense. Agreeing with the posts above, the best market will be one that is closer to you!

You guys are so right. Thank you all so much. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Can you ask the landlord of the apartment where are the closest street markets & which day of the week they run?

Suze, Kerouac provided the arrondisement by arrondisement schedule in a post above.

Oops sorry, thanks Kerouac and MelJ.

I particularly like the Richard Lenoir market and Sunday at Pl. Monge. The Enfants Rouges market is a "covered" market and several years ago, it "reopened" and I made a special trip to see it. At that point, it was not very impressive. What is it like today, Kerouac? I'm bringing it up since it is in the Marais, but might not be the best choice.

Enfants Rouges is a lovely market but the covered portion in and of itself is not the full draw. The 2 or 3 block stretch on Rue Bretangne is filled with a lovely frommagerie, 2 boulangeries, one is better than the other, floral shops, a fish monger with a nice array of scallops and oysters which they will shuck, 2 wine shops specializing in natural wines, plus some nice prepared food shops including an Italian market with fresh pasta and the standard rotisserie shop. There are also several small art galleries off Rue Charlot. It also has late hours on Thursdays.

Agree w/ cherrybomb on Enfants Rouges - covered market itself is dominated by prepared food stalls with a wide range of provenances, and the shops along the street are great. We stayed a block away a couple years ago and loved the area.
For larger markets, the Richard Lenoir - now called Bastille - street market is excellent. We used the Popincourt market on our recent visit because it was closest and liked it quite well. If the stall selling Polish sausages is there, definitely try the sausages and the pierogi!

Thanks for that link Kerouac. The list includes my favorite at Place Maubert, around the corner from my former diggs. I shopped there often. It is not convenient to the Marais even though it is right above a Metro stop. I also shop in the stores adjacent. There are a half dozen little shops selling cheese, wine, meats, fish, fruit, baked goods, etc.

BTW Byron1, I don't think you will find bread in the markets. You have to find a boulanger. They are ubiquitous.

You all are being very helpful. I was looking for Richard Lenoir and couldn't find it and now I know why. This is excellent info. This forum really is a great help. THANK YOU ALL!

Everyone, who sells the best Macaroons in Paris?

Richard Lenoir is my favorite market in all of Paris and I have visited all of them! It is so near the Bastille you can't miss it , Thus and Sundays. I rented our apt for Oct just because of the proximity!

Byron1. Laudree. At least so I've heard , I do not like macarons...one O in France!

We actually liked the macarons at Gerard Mulot a little better
than those at Laduree.

I think Enfants Rouges is best just for those who want to eat lunch there, rather than general shopping, but that's just my opinion, I wasn't really shopping for a household so maybe wasn't paying that much attention. It wouldn't make any sense to go to any one other than the closest for food IMO, which is R Lenoir. I have seen some stalls selling bread and bread products in those markets, but I wouldn't go there to buy that rather than a boulangerie, I don't see the purpose.

I like Laduree's macaroons, but I know others claim Hermes are better.

We went last Sunday to Richard Lenoir a culinary tour de force since I love to cook and we are staying in an apartment it was pure heaven unfortunately the beef is far better in the US but the selection of chicken here is plain awesome we also cooked some lapin ( rabbit) which was excellent

"The beef is far better" for American cooking purposes, not necessarily for the way the French use it.