Tour Details
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Left Bank
- Saint-Germain specialty shops
Photos & Highlights
- Taste the essential flavors of the city while exploring the popular Left Bank
- Visit family run shops that focus on the best of Parisian breads, cheeses, pastries, and more with an expert serving as your local ambassador
Select a date
Tour Description
Ready to unlock the secrets behind French cuisine? Stroll through Parisian food shops with confidence and allow your guide to become your cultural translator for a delightful culinary experience.
Your tour includes a visit to a renowned boulangerie. Let the intoxicating aroma of fresh bread ignite your senses and learn the secrets of a good baguette, from its crusty exterior to its fluffy heart.
You’ll also step into a world of cheese at an artisanal fromagerie. With 400 varieties to explore, where to begin? Your expert will guide you through French staples and reveal the proper way to slice and savor these treats, transforming you into a true connoisseur.
But your exploration goes far beyond the basics. Dive deeper, perhaps venturing into a butcher shop where the rich, savory scents of pâté and homemade rillettes tempt. Indulge in decadent chocolate or fulfill your Parisian pastry dreams with a visit to a patisserie that will leave you starry-eyed.
Time permitting, savor a glass of Armagnac in a charming, generational wine shop, a local favorite since 1905.
Throughout your gastronomic adventure, your guide will share the history of these culinary treasures and reveal the traditions and philosophies that have shaped this iconic cuisine. From here, you'll have an excellent foundation in the cornerstones of French gastronomy along with the tools to explore French cuisine with confidence.
- It is your first time in France and you are hoping to understand the classics of French gastronomy.
- You’ve always wanted to step inside the charming specialty shops of the left bank, but would like guidance ordering and conversing with shopkeepers.
- You are dying to try a bit of the baguette, cheese, and other specialties people rave about, but are not sure what you will like or where to start.
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés Area
- Left Bank Area
Here’s a quick look at what previous travelers have tasted on this experience:
- Samples of french bread and artisanal cheeses
- Freshly baked goods
- Decadent cheeses
- Charcutier/traiteur
- Pastries or cakes
- Chocolate
- Wine or armagnac
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
Explore the Left Bank further with our Left Bank Audio Guide that can be used at any time and at your own pace.
A few things that pair well with this tour:
- An appetite for French cuisine and culinary history
- A comfortable outfit that leaves room for all the tasty treats you’ll enjoy on this tour
- A little bit of prep for your time in Paris with our Top 10 Highlights for Curious Travelers pre-trip talk.
Can I participate in food tours if I have food allergies?
Yes. If you have any specific allergies/intolerances please indicate these in the Notes section when you're booking and your guide will do his or her best to accommodate. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free diets can certainly be accommodated, although the shops we visit do use wheat flour and nuts in the kitchen for other items.
How much food will I taste on this tour?
While exact tastings vary by guide and your tastes and interests, we can guarantee that you will come away from this tour with a full and happy belly. You could likely skip a meal following your tour, but you are in Paris, so why would you?
Will this tour include a sit-down lunch in a bistro?
The duration of the tour will not allow enough time for a sit-down lunch in a bistro, however, we will do tastings along the way and we might also stop in a local bakery for a sit-down tasting or end our tour with a picnic.
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
There are 7 in my group but your website won't allow me to include more than 6 participants. Can't you make an exception?
Unfortunately not. The mom & pop shops we visit on our tour are small and prefer we keep our group sizes to 6 maximum for the best experience.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
Some of the shops we visit are small and many will have a step up to access them. The general route may include small streets with narrow sidewalks. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding accessibility. We are also happy to design a private, adapted tour for visitors with mobility concerns.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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867 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Marie was FANTASTIC. Incredibly knowledgeable and very interesting. Definitely received a local experience. She also made great dining recommendations for the rest of the trip. You can tell she has a great rapport with the vendors she takes you too. I definitely felt we had a more local experience. Marie has great energy and a passion for food. Would definitely recommend her for a young-adult and adult couples that are looking for something off the beaten path and looking to expand your knowledge about French cuisine!
Anna
Oct 13, 2024
Some say that great hosts can make a food tour experience even better with their local knowledge and stories, and our host Marie was able to make this experience so unforgettable. She is an excellent host who created an experience that we did not want to end. She was warm, funny, and extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend her food tour.
Theresa
Oct 12, 2024
Michelle was great. Her knowledge was extensive both of food and history.
My highlights...
Open air market - The figs were unbelievable.
Cheese shop - Never cared for blue cheese but she picked one that I really enjoyed.
Hugo & Victor Chocolate and Pastry - Everything.
Michael
Oct 8, 2024
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