Paris at Christmas is a place of twinkling lights, vibrant street markets, fabulous shop windows and it’s a foodie paradise!
Totally fabulous Foodie treats
Pop to Le Bon Marché department store for the beautiful Christmas window display and for La Grande Epicerie. To call this a food hall is like saying the Chateau de Versailles is a house. Stunning food displays that leave you drooling.
Damman Frères – tea lovers will adore the blends from this ancient tea store in Paris. Louis XIV granted the company a licence to thrill with its tea in 1692. They have several stores and concessions in Paris (and 62 countries around the world).
Macarons – France is famous for them and you can buy them everywhere. Head to Ladurée where they’ve been making them since 1862, they have several shops in Paris but the one at 16 rue Royale was the first and is beautiful. Try Pierre Hermé for beautifully made, sensational tasting, gorgeous boxed macarons in every colour and flavour. The famous French chef has shared his recipe for scrumptious chocolate macarons with us so you can make it at home!
Bonbons and chocolate – where to start? Paris has hundreds of chocolate shops but for a real treat aim for l’Etoile d’or (30 Rue Pierre Fontaine, near Pigalle/Montmartre). Owner Denise Acabo is a local legend, a lady of immense charm and fabulous pigtails. She’s been selling the best of chocolate and bonbons from all over France from her Paris-only store for more than 40 years. (Click here for more chocolate shops).
Traditional French Christmas Cake
Cake is good any time of the year but at Christmas, one of the most poplar gateaux is the buche de Noel, a sponge cake covered in icing and decorated with festive bits and pieces. All the patisseries sell them and there’s quite a contest between the bakers to make the prettiest buche de Noel. Try Stohrer, the oldest cake shop in town for a really special cake or wander the lovely market street rue Mouffetard. Rue Montorgueuil also has some fabulous patisseries.
And as for eating out, your totally spoiled for choice – there are 14000 restaurants, luckily we’ve got you covered:
Where to eat out in Paris
6 of the best historic restaurants in Paris
The best cocktail bars in Paris
Brilliant places for late night snacks in Paris
4 restaurants and bars the locals love in Paris
