You’d be mistaken to think that posh restaurants and fancy eateries are the only places to eat in Paris. One of the French capital’s best-kept secrets is its vast array of food markets, which serve delicious local fresh produce and mouthwatering street food.

Since moving to Rome in 2009, I’ve become obsessed with the outdoor market scene around Europe. I always say that Paris has some of the best of them all, from the game meat stands in Marché Président Wilson to some traditional West African fare at Marché Dejean.

Read through this article to find out about the best food markets in Paris, some of which you’ll also be able to visit on our Paris food tours.

Marché Président Wilson

Taking over the whole of the Avenue Président-Wilson along the river Seine, Marché Président Wilson is the biggest farmer’s market in Paris. I’ve been here a couple of times before, and I still get lost, so it’s best to just follow the crowds of local Parisians when you’re there.

Every Wednesday and Sunday, vendors set up their fresh food stalls in this open-air market to offer the public their goods from around the world. Whether you want to try some fresh catch from JPB fishmongers or Lebanese classics, You can get it here.

While Marché Président Wilson can be quite difficult to navigate at times, keep an eye out for the takeaway paella stand. It’s some of the best I’ve tried outside of Spain; the moment I saw the bright glow of the rice from the massive coated steel pan, also called a paellera, I was won over.

This paella was prawn-based, and it left nothing to be desired; from floral notes of the divine saffron, which is the dish’s main ingredient to the oceanic kick of the prawns, it was the perfect mix.

Marché Président Wilson – Av. du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris, France – Wednesday, 7:00 am to 1:30 pm, and 7:00 am to 2:30 pm

Marché des Enfants Rouges

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Marché des Enfants Rouges is the oldest covered street market in Paris; it was opened back in 1615 and is still going strong today. It’s set close to Rue de Bretagne. I struggled to find it at first as it’s located down a quiet street, but once you see the crowd, you’ll know you’re at the right place.

I found Marché des Enfants Rouges to be stuck between the past and present. There was a mix of contemporary eateries serving burgers and gourmet sandwiches, while at the other end, there were a bunch of ladies selling fruit and vegetables like it would have been in 1615.

When I visited Marché des Enfants Rouges a couple of months back, I tried some of the escargot after I saw some locals indulging. 

As it was lunchtime, the mart was quite busy, as it always is in my experience, so I waited around 15 minutes to be seen. When the bowl of escargot was dropped, the whiff of garlic was evident, but when I chewed on the body, it was more buttery and nicely tender.

Marché des Enfants Rouges – 39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, France – Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm, and closed on Saturday and Sunday

Marché International de Rungis

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Every foodie should experience Marché International de Rungis in the Chevilly Larue commune when they’re in Paris; it’s the biggest wholesale organic food market on the planet, stretching over 573.2 acres; that’s larger than all of Monaco!

What I love about Marché International de Rungis is that it’s a covered market split into two massive halls, each selling different high-quality goods such as cheese, fish, meat, and organic fruit and vegetables. 

It’s great if you’re in a rush because you can just go directly to the section you’re looking for rather than wasting time stuck in endless hoards of people with no direction.

I do think Marché International de Rungis is better for fresh fruit and vegetables rather than street food. I noticed most of the goods offered were mainly items you would bring home and use in the kitchen rather than dishes you can eat on the spot.

I got a couple of packets of strawberries from the Fruits et légumes station recently; they tasted exceptional; they were so juicy, with a massive burst of sweetness and a mild tartness. Initially, I bought one box, but after tasting them while walking around, I couldn’t resist going back to the vendor to buy more.

Marché International de Rungis – 1 Rue de la Tour, 94150 Rungis, France – Monday, 3:00 am to 6:00 pm, Tuesday to Saturday, 2:00 am to 6:00 pm, and closed on Sunday

Rue Montorgueil Market

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Strips of Paris food markets don’t get much better than Rue Montorgueil. You can find anything and everything there, including bakeries selling baguettes, cheese shops, flower stalls, and boutiques. It’s a bit of a mixed bag here; there are eateries and food-focused street stands, so you get the best of both worlds.

On one of my first visits to Paris, I stumbled upon Rue Montorgueil by accident when popping down Café Montorgueil for a coffee. I was met by fishmongers, florists, and chocolatiers trying to get a sale out of me. In the end, the fishmonger outside Soguisa won me over with their degustation experience.

I got to try a massive bowl of oysters and shrimp with a gorgeous glass of Chenin Blanc white wine. The oysters were very salty; I could tell they were only caught recently, and the shrimp were sweet with a rich umami kick to them. As for the white wine, it tasted of pear with a refreshing crisp aftertaste.

Rue Montorgueil Market – Rue Montorgueil, Paris, France – Every Thursday and Sunday

Marché Dejean

 

Discover the tastes of Africa in the heart of Paris at Marché Dejean, situated in the Rue Dejean. This is where much of Paris’s African community comes to shop for their local goods and sample the flavors of home.

Marché Dejean, sometimes called Little Africa, feels like a world away from Paris. I found it fascinating to see so many halal butchers, Cameroonian food shops, Moroccan stands and batik clothing vendors wedged into one area in the middle of one of Europe’s most famous cities.

A couple of times, I’ve visited Marché Dejean, and I’ve always preferred to just pick up a few bits while walking around on the go. However, on my last visit, I stumbled across this Haitian restaurant called Au Paradis Tropical, which I haven’t been able to stop raving about.

I had never tried Haitian food before this, but after this visit, I was converted. Since I had no idea what to order, I asked the server, and she kindly recommended that I go for the black diri djon djon rice, a true Haitian specialty.

The black djon djon rice had a strong mushroom taste as it was made with black mushrooms; there were also some nutty notes with a strong earthiness to the dish. I was also given a side of plantains, which added some sweetness to the flavor profile.

Marché Dejean – Rue Dejean, Paris, France – Tuesday to Sunday, open hours unconfirmed, and closed on Monday and Sunday afternoon

Conclusion

I could stay here all day and tell you more and more about the food markets in Paris; there are that many of them. However, I decided to keep this list to only the best ones so you don’t get caught up in the less interesting ones.

Paris’s food market scene has always been big, and as time goes on, more and more are popping up, which shows that the old-age tradition is still gaining popularity today.

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