7 Food Tours in Paris That Will Teach You French Culture

Going to Paris gives you a chance to sample the best of French cuisine.

Of course you can explore the city's restaurants on your own, but taking a food tour allows you to sample a variety of local foods, in establishments whose reputation has already been mande.

No trial and error needed!

And because food is so tightly woven into French culture, food tours will give you a peek at what France is all about well beyond its food.

Paris has dozens of food tours, so I've sorted through them for you and chosen the ones I consider to be the top seven (plus a few extra offbeat ones, because I couldn't resist).

7 Best Food Tours in Paris 

Some of the tours I've included here are run by excellent tour companies (which I've tried personally). Others have stellar reputations and have been around long enough to make their mark. 

I've only included tours with a minimum rating of 4.5/5, although most are in the upper part of the range.

I've tried to showcase those that provide a glimpse into different aspects of French or Parisian culinary culture and history, as well as a variety of neighborhoods − the ever popular Marais and Montmartre, of course, but others as well.

1. Paris Ultimate food tour

That's me, unable to resist buying an EXTRA pastry

The Marais is a much-loved foodie paradise, with delectable eateries on every corner. No one expects you to know which are spectacular, and which are tourist traps.

Enter the Ultimate Paris Food Tour, to propel you through this complex but vibrant culinary scene.

I've never met a Devour guide who wasn't knowledgeable and experienced. Along the way, they'll feed you – food, of course (plenty of it!) but also the culture and history behind the foods, not to mention stories from the people who create it. You'll meet some of these creators in person, chefs and owners who will share their passion for food.

The Ultimate Paris Food Tour is a great way to experience the best of what this culinary capital has to offer, whether you're a foodie or simply a curious city explorer.

You'll have a memorable experience dropping into family-run eateries, tasting Jewish delicacies, and sampling classic French dishes (and a few wild pastries!)

This is a tour you'll be talking about long after it's over.

2. Paris at Sunset: Aperitif, Food & Wine Tour

The Latin Quarter is one of the most historic neighborhoods of Paris, but also one of its most animated, with lively student chatter and animated discussions in the many local cafés.

Not surprising – it is, after all, home to the Sorbonne (as well as the Panthéon, above) and to remnants of what was once the Roman city of Lutetia.

This tour will take you through its winding streets to visit four amazing, family-run establishments where you'll taste several intriguing cheeses, natural sparkling wine, and a notorious French spirit. You'll also learn about the history of French cuisine and the influence of the French Revolution on the food culture of Paris.

On your first stop, you'll learn how cheese became so popular in France in a traditional cheese shop run by two brothers who are absolutely fanatical about cheese. I tried their extremely aged Comté and simply couldn't stop at one taste. Or two. Or even three.

You’ll try specialty charcuteries in one of the best local bistros, and learn all about heritage wine techniques as you taste.

Paris is about history and one venue you'll visit will unveil the influence of the French Revolution on how Parisians eat today.

The tour ends in an incredibly historical bar that has been open since the Middle Ages, where you'll taste one of France's more "forbidden" drinks.

3. Montmartre Like a Local: Paris Food Tour

Montmartre is... Montmartre, one of everyone's favorite neighborhoods in Paris (mine too!), a draw for its quaint streets and beloved of artists.

You'll start your tour at a traditional Parisian boulangerie, where you'll learn all about the REAL French breakfast, before moving on to a classic seasonal cheeseboard. Lean how to shop like the French – we do things a little differently!

Next comes the charcuterie (and a peek at the fascinating history of rotisserie), washed down with a local beer, so local it's brewed just down the street.

Being in Montmartre, you'll of course be treated to its history by your expert guide as you wander through streets you've seen so often on Instagram!

Because Montmartre is unique, a place with character and history all its own, a food tour like this one is the perfect way to experience it.

Food actually played a role in shaping Montmartre's history, and on this tour, you'll find out exactly how.

4. Paris Montmartre Secret Food tasting

This excellent Montmartre tour will unwrap this charming district for you and help you experience the best foods it has to offer.

You'll stop at various Montmartre essential sights – a local patisserie (with some of the best croissants and éclairs in the city), a fromagerie (to learn about many different cheeses), and best of all, a chocolaterie, to indulge in some of the most delicious chocolates in Paris.

But there's more. How about a stop at a boulangerie, to learn how to eat a baguette the French way (and why you should never place bread the wrong side up)? I could tell you, but that would ruin the surprise...

Then, on a visit to a local butcher, for some of the finest cured meats and sausages in Paris.

Top it all off with a secret stop, where you'll enjoy a delicious meal specially prepared for you.

If you've been dreaming of discovering Montmartre's beauty through a culinary escapade, this is the tour for you.

It's as varied as you could wish for, a mixture of food types set in one of the most charming neighborhoods in the city – your chance to learn all about Montmartre's culture and history while you sample its food.

And if you like surprises, wait till you find out about the Secret Dish! No peeking!

5. Montmartre Hill Sweet & Savory French Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour

Combine Montmartre's sweet and salty specialties with visits to a local patisserie (pastry shop), a fromagerie (cheese shop), a chocolaterie (chocolate shop) and a boulangerie (bakery) – and more!

This tour adds a layer of wine to your visit. You'll stroll by the last remaining vineyard in Paris (the Clos des Vignes), and pair some wines with fresh cheeses and cold meats to feel like a real Parisian enjoying an apéritif.

But there's a caveat: while you get to visit the vineyard from the outside, you cannot enter or taste the wine. If you'd like to sample the unique and rare wine of Montmartre, then this exclusive Montmartre experience with Private Vineyard Tasting, Skip-the-Line Museum Tour, & Sacré-Coeur is the tour you'll want. Bear in mind that this is NOT a food tour, however, so you'll have to decide whether you want to eat food, taste the wine, or do two separate tours.

6. Paris: Montmartre Cheese, Wine & Pastry Guided Walking Tour

As you've seen by now, many of the Montmartre tours are not dissimilar – you'll have different shops, of course, and the guides will change, but Montmartre is a finite hill with only so many stops.

Still, a Montmartre food tour is one of those rites of passage on a visit to Paris, and this one gets rave reviews for both its pastries and wine pairings.

This is the perfect well-rounded food tour of Montmartre, and you'll leave having learned not only about the history of this famous hill but also about some of the most iconic foods you'll be encountering throughout your Paris trip.

7. A taste of Paris walking tour

The Bastille district is one of the liveliest and most vibrant in Paris, home to a wonderful mix of people, cultures, and cuisines.

Apart from being historically significant (as in the storming of the Bastille, commemorated on France's national holiday) the Bastille is an eclectic neighborhood that is often overlooked by tourists – but never by foodies. 

This is a private food tour, which means you can discuss details and the itinerary with Pascal, the guide, before you meet. He's happy to adapt his visit to your group so don't hesitate to ask.

This tour is a great way to experience the best of French food and culture, sample some of the best food Paris has to offer, and learn about the history and culture of French cuisine behind the scenes.

Along the way, you'll meet some locals and learn about food in their lives in the Bastille district, a perfect introduction if you love food, history, and culture but want to experience a different and authentic Paris neighborhood.

Something different? Offbeat food tours in Paris

Not all food tours are the same. While the most popular tend to focus on walking through a part of town and stopping along the way for commented tastings, some are a little different.

I've chosen the ones below in case you're not looking for a standard tour, but want something with a twist that comes highly recommended by those who have tried them.

Behind the Scenes Bakery Tour with Breakfast

This popular 2-hour behind-the-scenes food tour will teach you how to bake the perfect baguette! 

Start your tour with a viennoiserie (the food group to which croissants and pains au chocolat belong!) and end it with your very own, fresh-baked French baguette.

Book Behind-the-Scenes Bakery tour here!

Paris Pastry and Chocolate Tour

This perfect food tour for pastry lovers takes place in the Marais, one of the few areas of Paris that survived the remodelling of Baron Haussmann. Here, you'll visit such legendary sites as Stohrer, the oldest pastry shop in Paris, and sample a delicious "macaron".

At each stop, you'll be treated to the history of both the establishment and the food – exquisite crêpes, organic croissants, and our final stop, homemade chocolate cake... And you'll be lathered with advice, for example, "Never chew your chocolate, but let it melt in your mouth". Our tour guide Davide should know – he's a former chef.

You'll also weave your way through some of the most hidden passages of Paris, secret "couloirs" not listed in the guidebooks.

Book your Pastry and Chocolate tour here!

Champagne & Food Tour in St-Germain-des-Prés

Do you think your food tour in Paris should be accompanied by Champagne? Well, perhaps it should! This 3-hour romp through the charm of Saint Germain des Prés is at least as much wine tour as it is food, and a great way to go tasting without ever leaving town.

Let your wine expert help you with wine-food pairings, while you learn all about the Parisian "art de vivre" through one of the more offbeat areas of Paris.

Book your Champagne and Food tour here!

Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Lunch and Sightseeing Cruise

If you believe there's no better way to see Paris than from the water, this lunchtime cruise is what you need: you'll have your Paris river cruise, and eat it too!

Soak up the most famous sights as you glide by with your welcome glass of champagne, seated for your delicious three-course lunch with wine, prepared by the onboard chef. It's a perfect introduction to Paris!

Book your Lunch Cruise here!

All Inclusive Food & History Tour of Montmartre 

This 3-hour walking tour with a local food expert is in Montmartre, and actually includes a sit-down lunch in a local bistrot. An exploration of Montmartre follows, of course, and you'll learn about its history and famous artists, as well as all about French cuisine − cheeses, pastries, breads, meats, cooking techniques and much more.

Book your Montmartre Food and History tour here!

Can't decide among the best food tours in Paris?

Don't worry, I had the same problem. The tours I listed above all have a minimum rating of 4.5 / 5, although most are 5 / 5. All have received glowing reviews, and the ones I've taken have lived up to the hype and delivered a culinary adventure.

So don't hesitate – the food tours of Paris are a wonderful way to discover unusual shops and artisans, explore a new part of the city (or rediscover one you already know), support local businesses, and eat well, even superbly, along the way.

Bon appétit!

Bonjour! I’m Leyla, born in Paris, I now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France. My days are spent exploring my country. 

As a journalist and former diplomat, I spent years living abroad and now, it’s time to rediscover my own back yard.

Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, with plenty of food stops and many castles – I am French, after all! 
Read more here.

Did you enjoy this article? I'd love if you shared it!

🇫🇷

Bonjour! I’m Leyla! I was born in Paris and now live in the bucolic mountain foothills of Eastern France between Lyon and Annecy. 

I'm rediscovering my own back yard after years of living abroad in Canada, Spain and Switzerland as a journalist and a diplomat － and I'm loving every minute.

Passionate about history and culture, I’ve created Offbeat France to seek out my country’s mysteries and legends, less-traveled destinations, along with plenty of food stops and many castles － I am French, after all!

Read more!

🇫🇷

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