Top Food Markets in Paris

Top Food Markets in Paris

Updated by Jordan on 7/12/2019 and Vanessa M on 4/7/2023.

Fresh and delicious products are essential for creating the best cuisine, and what better place to find them than in Paris food markets? The culture of food is incredibly important in France, and most Parisians shop for fresh ingredients daily.

Today I’ll be sharing our picks for the top food markets in Paris, so you can shop like a local! No matter your tastes or dietary preferences, there’s something amazing waiting for you at the food markets in Paris.

The oldest one: Marché des Enfants Rouges

Photo sourced from Wikimedia Commons

First up on our list of the top food markets in Paris is the iconic Marché des Enfants Rouges. Dating  back to 1628, this market is the oldest food market in all of Paris! Located in the Marais area (learn more about our free walking tour in the trendy Marais) just off the busy shopping street Rue de Bretagne, this market is centrally located and has an amazing selection of products!

Housed in a renovated orphanage, this historic covered market offers farmer’s market fare as well as amazing dining options! Here you’ll find fresh products, butchers, fishmongers, dairies, florists and incredible restaurants and food stands from all over the world. Traditional French crêpes, tasty Japanese bentos, Caribbean specialties and Moroccan couscous are just a few of the options available at the Marché des Enfants Rouges. After shopping or a stop for lunch at the market, you can go for a walk through the charming Marais area. I really think the little streets in this neighborhood are best explored on foot!

practical information:

marché des Enfants Rouges – 39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris

metro station: filles du calvaire or saint sebastien froissart

opening hours: tuesday – saturday 8:30AM//7:30PM

sunday 8:30AM//2PM

The lively one: Marché d’Aligre

Photo sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Perhaps the busiest market in the city, Marché d’Aligre is one of my choices for this guide to the top food markets in Paris. This market is located in the international 12th district of Paris, making Marché d’Aligre an incredible melting pot of cultures. Less famous than the Marché des Enfants Rouges, you’ll find plenty of locals shopping for fresh produce here. If you’re looking for great deals on fresh food, Marché d’Aligre is the food market for you.

Offering a wider selection and more culturally diverse than most other food markets in Paris, the prices are quite affordable. I would recommend that you visit the market in early afternoon (around 1 P.M.) to get the best experience. Since the market is about to close, this is the time when you can haggle with the vendors and get some amazing deals!

This bustling market is connected to the covered Marché Beauvau on the same square. Step inside for a maze of lively stalls selling everything from spices to fresh fish! I love that you can find anything at the Marché d’Aligre, for example there’s also a vintage/flea market section where you can find all kinds of old treasures.

practical information:

Marché d’Aligre – Place d’Aligre, 75012 Paris

metro station: ledru-rollin

opening hours: tuesday – saturday 9AM//1PM sunday 9AM//2:30PM

The one where the locals go: Marché Saxe-Breteuil

By Ludowijk Hertog on Unsplash

Next up on my guide to the top food markets in Paris takes us to the 7th arrondissement. Despite being home to attractions like the Rodin museum, Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, this area remains largely residential. Most visitors in the 7th don’t stray far from the major monuments, which leaves the rest of the neighborhood nearly tourist-free, and the perfect spot for a food market. I recommend grabbing a few snacks and having a picnic on the nearby Jacques Chaban-Delmas, or even at the Eiffel Tower which is just a 5-minute walk away.

The marché Saxe-Breteuil is easily one of the top food markets in Paris, not only for the amazing location, but the vast selection and friendly service. At the crossroads of Avenue Saxe and Avenue Breteuil, you’ll find a fully-stocked farmer’s market that stretches on for blocks. The fruit and veggie selection here is great; and there’s even a whole stand dedicated just to tomatoes! Poultry, butchers, cheese mongers, and florists also have stalls here. You’ll find the clientèle and staff to be mostly local, so here is a great opportunity to practice your French skills.

practical information:

marché saxe-breteuil – avenue de saxe, 75007 Paris

metro station: ségur

opening hours: thursday and saturday 7AM//2:30PM

The biggest one: Marché Bastille

Photo sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Next up on our list of top food markets in Paris is the Marché Bastille. Just next to the Bastille monument, Marché Bastille is always busy and has a great selection. This was the first market I discovered in Paris, and four years later I still think it’s the best one! Florists, butchers, cheese shops (read about French cheese), fishmongers and newsstands are all part of the lively Bastille market. There are plenty of options to choose from, whether you’re grocery shopping or want to grab a bite to eat, Marché Bastille has you covered.

The best time to visit this market is in the early morning (around 8 A.M.), vendors are just getting set up, so you’ll find the freshest products. This market is only open on Thursdays and Sundays, but the wide selection can’t be beat!

practical information:

Marché Bastille – 8 Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 75011 Paris

metro station: bastille

opening hours: thursday and sunday 7AM//3PM

The most traditional one: Marché Mouffetard

Photo sourced from WIkimedia Commons

The next market in our top food markets in Paris is one of the oldest and most traditional. Set in a an ancient square just off the adorable Rue Mouffetard, this market is typically Parisian. Locals love this market for its array of fresh produce, fish, meats and French specialties like charcuterie and cheese.

The Marché Mouffetard is located in the historic Latin Quarter of Paris (we run a free walking tour in this neighborhood), within walking distance of monuments like the Pantheon and Notre Dame Cathedral. I love to visit this market in the early afternoon to grab a picnic lunch to enjoy at the nearby Jardin du Luxembourg (Discover our picnic ideas in Paris).

practical information:

Marché Mouffetard – 139 Rue Mouffetard, 75005 paris

metro station: censier-daubenton

opening hours: tuesday – sunday 8AM//1PM

The beautiful one: Marché President Wilson

By Dane Deaner on Unsplash

If you want to do your grocery shopping with a view of the Eiffel Tower, head to the marché President Wilson. Situated in Paris’ 16th arrondissement, this food market is full of variety and offers a stunning view of the Iron Lady. Hard to beat that kind of shopping experience. After doing your shopping, you can head across the street to enjoy an uninterrupted view. Maybe even a picnic!

Marché President Wilson is stocked full of stands hawking everything from fish to flowers to delightful Lebanese street food. Blending in perfectly with its surroundings, this market is very aesthetically pleasing. Products are stacked perfectly, produce looks incredible fresh and the delightful scents of French baking – well, you’ll just have to experience it for yourself!

There are lots of organic stands as well as traditional ones, and you can even find non-food items like sweaters and scarves and even things like homemade candles and leather-bound journals. There’s a little something for everyone to enjoy, and plenty of takeaway options. So I think it’s best to arrive hungry!

practical information:

marché president wilson – avenue du president wilson 75016 paris

metro station: iéna

opening hours: wednesday and saturday 7AM//2:30PM

The chill one: Marché Bio Batignolles

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

The last market on my guide to the top food markets in Paris is the organic Marché Bio Batignolles. Tucked away in the quiet 17th arrondissement, the Marché Bio Batignolles is reminiscent of a hometown farmer’s market. In French, bio means organic, a movement which has gained a lot of traction in Paris lately.

Focusing on all organic products, this market is smaller than other food markets in Paris and give you a chance to chat with the producers and farmers about their products. You can find everything from organic meats and cheeses to produce, dairy and even honey. Open on Saturdays, this market is the perfect destination for a laid-back Saturday in Paris. Close to the Parc Monceau, the quiet Square des Batignolles and Montmartre, it’s the perfect jumping off point for a day of Paris exploration.

If you feel like discovering the quaint Montmartre district, with monuments like the Sacré-Coeur and the Moulin Rouge, come join our free walking tour of Montmartre!   The market is only a 15-20 minute walk from the start of the tour, and our local guides can share with you all the best places in Montmartre.

practical information:

Marché Bio Batignolles – 34 Boulevard des Batignolles, 75017 Paris

metro station: rome or villiers

opening hours: saturday 8AM//1:30PM

The popular one: Marché Raspail

yisris from Morioka, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Raspail Market is a twice-weekly traditional market located in the highly elegant 6th arrondissement, just a few minutes from the Bon Marché Rive Gauche department store. Marché Raspail, founded in 1920, has grown to become one of the capital’s most popular markets.

Pick up some delicious fruits and vegetables right from the plots of the region’s market gardeners, as well as other international products. Raspail Market and its stalls are a pleasure to visit on a Tuesday or Friday morning, located between Rue du Cherche-Midi and Rue de Rennes, just a stone’s throw from the Luxembourg Gardens.

There’s a lot to choose from, with traditional dealers selling alongside Asian, Portuguese, and Italian specialties. On Sunday mornings since 1989, there has also been a 100% organic market with forty or so traders offering produce from organic farms, much to the pleasure of discerning shoppers.

You might even see celebrities strolling down Boulevard Raspail, filling their shopping bags with melons, tomatoes, and other luscious goodies. Fruit and vegetables, groceries, fish and meat, bread and cakes, delicatessen… the colors and scents of this delightfully elegant market are simply delectable!

practical information:

Marché Raspail – Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France

metro station: Rennes

opening hours: Tuesday and Friday; 7 AM-1:30 PM

The oldest covered food market: Marché Saint-Quentin

Chris93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This enormous food market is located on Boulevard Magenta, between the Gare du Nord and the Gare de l’Est. It has everything: food vendors (Italian, African, Portuguese, Asian, Moroccan, Lebanese, and so on), butchers, two florists, one restaurant, and even a garment alteration stand and a shoemaker.

Marché Saint-Quentin is a 19th-century covered market ideal for buying picnic provisions on your way to the neighboring Canal Saint-Martin. The smooth pathways between the bustling vendors act as a maze for the kids, and a tot-size ride in the center—a miniature two-seater fire engine replete with sirens and moving wheels.

The market, which is covered with soaring cast iron and massive panels of 19th-century glass, feels authentically Parisian. The food stalls are lively and active on the ground. You’re likely to find local families shopping for groceries, bored tourists, and well-dressed businessmen hunting for high-end specialty presents like foie gras d’oie or quality saucisson.

practical information:

Marché Saint-Quentin – 85 bis Bd de Magenta, 75010 Paris, France

metro station: Gare de l’Est

opening hours: Tuesday and Saturday; 8 AM-8 PM/Sunday; 8 am-1:30 pm

The multicultural one: Marché de Belleville

Jeanne Menjoulet from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This open-air market, located in the vibrant area of Belleville, is a true hidden gem. Many shops and restaurants can be found in the surrounding area, which is well renowned for its multiculturalism, featuring both Chinese and North African cultures.

Every Tuesday and Friday, the mood on Boulevard de Belleville’s traffic island warms up. This market reminds me of a Souk, and the pricing reflects it. You’ll find a plethora of various stalls selling both traditional and exotic fruits and veggies. You’ll undoubtedly find amazing stuff at the ethnic food restaurant nearby. There are also several clothing stores here.

practical information:

Marché Belleville- 3-1 Rue de Pali-Kao, 75020 Paris, France

metro station: Couronnes

opening hours: Tuesday and Friday; 7 AM-1:30 pm

The largest wholesale food market: Marché International de Rungis

Antoaneata (https://www.flickr.com/people/antoaneta/), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Marché International de Rungis is the world’s largest wholesale food market. This 232-hectare giant market meets all of your gastronomic needs. Rungis, which was founded in the city center in the 10th century, had to migrate by 1969 due to increasing demand for supplies.

The current market location is in the southern suburbs, which is slightly further away than the original location but easily accessible by train or automobile. Rungis is a favorite supply store for many Parisian chefs. As a wholesaler, half of your sales are on-site, and the other half are deliveries.

The market even recycles its waste, using the incinerator’s energy to heat the market and the nearby Orly Airport. Because Rungis is so large and sells mostly in bulk, there is little demand for the casual stroller. Nonetheless, over 20,000 individuals attend the market each year, making it one of the most popular professional destinations in France.

practical information:

Marché International de Rungis- 1 Rue de la Tour, 94150 Rungis, France

metro station: Villejuif – Louis Aragon

opening hours: Tuesday- Saturday; 2 AM-6 pm/ Monday; 3 am-6 pm

The pricey one: Marché Monge

yisris from Morioka, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Marché Monge, located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, has been in operation since 1921! This attractive albeit pricy food market is nestled amid the green square and tranquil fountain of Place Monge, a calm alternative to the touristic bustle of the adjoining Rue Mouffetard.

The stallholders take delight in their products: the beekeeper will offer his honey in person, while the fishmonger will tell you how he obtains his fish straight from the Normandy coast. Keep in mind that pricing in this upscale area of the Quartier Latin can be exorbitant; but, in this lovely small plaza, you get what you pay for. Jardin des Plantes is only a few blocks away, making it an ideal stop before an afternoon of picnics.

practical information:

Marché Monge- 1 Pl. Monge, 75005 Paris, France

metro station: Place Monge

opening hours: Wednesday; 7 AM-1: 30 pm/ Friday and Sunday; 7 am-2:30 pm

You now know our picks for the top 12 food markets in Paris! I hope that you’ve found this guide helpful, and that you’ll love discovering all the goodies Parisian food markets have to offer (read this article to learn more about some of the stranger things French people eat!). If you have any questions or would like more information about anything, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

See you soon in Paris!