We were warmly welcomed by everyone in Paris (Disney staff excluded). The girls running Boulangerie Midore (our morning coffee/pastry shop) encouraged Milana with her French ordering. Wait staff in all bistros, restaurants, and boulangeries have been friendly and helpful, perhaps because we’ve been trying our best to do what we can in French, and not just speak REALLY LOUDLY like some Americas we’ve encountered.
Our usual holiday routine is to eat at least one meal a day at home to reduce costs. However, it’s difficult to maintain this when every second shopfront in Paris seems to be either food or drink related! How can every single cafe be absolutely bursting at the seams at all hours? There are people out meeting friends for lunches, for afternoon drinks, for dinners. It’s astounding how social Parisians are. And how are they all affording it? A cafe coffee and cake or a dinner out is a rare treat for us.
We also haven’t been popping home for meals because the thought of schlepping up 4 flights of stairs every time is exhausting, especially after already spending half our day navigating Metro stations, which are often many levels underground. Our step count would be at least 10 times what we do at home. My aching, puffy feet can vouch for that!
But enough about my feet. We’re here to talk about food.
Rue Montorgueil is an excellent foodie street just around the corner from our apartment. Lined with restaurants, supermarkets, delis and fruit shops, it was heaving 24/7. Long lunches were followed by long dinners and late drinks.
We chose Le Compas because there was actually a table available! Fancy pub food, but my Salad Nicoise was delicious.
The girls were itching for a Parisian hot chocolate. This place didn’t disappoint. Milana’s included a little whisk, so the process was just as exciting as the flavour. Beautiful guy running the place, and you could take home your own heat-up liquid choc in tins!
Just around the corner from the Catacombs exit, this vintage restaurant offered just a couple of meal choices, which felt legit to me. Give the customers what is good right now. It was cash only, and nobody spoke English, making ordering an exciting adventure!
We also tried kir, a blackcurrant liqueur (creme de cassis) mixed with white wine. Delish.
Where to go for the best croissants in Paris? We checked in with this guy (I think he’s a famous Italian YouTuber?)…
Girls weren’t convinced they were the BEST, but the store was gloriously antique.
The Marche des Enfants Rouges is the oldest covered market in Paris. It’s a tight squeeze navigating the few aisles of deli foods and international cafe/restaurants. Corossol offered excellent Creole/African/West Indian dishes.
Again on our neighbouring foodie street, this place was a welcome alternative to the many bistros (ie fancy burgers) on offer.
Simple, affordable, fresh and delicious French fare, with super sweet staff.
The girls shouted us our last meal in Paris, and we decided on crepes. Very light, eggy and delish.
So no super fancy or expensive meals for us, but everything has been satisfying. And tbh, nothing beats fresh bakery bread (around $3) and cheese and saucisson eaten off the coffee table in our apartment after walking all day long.
The Token Traveller 