Paris food at a glance
Paris is not a single cuisine. It is a city where bakeries, cafes, bistros, brasseries, cheese shops and markets sit side by side, and where dishes from every French region (and many other countries) are on offer. The foods people most often associate with the city are everyday ones: fresh bread, pastries, a simple steak and fries, onion soup and a good cheese. For the national picture, see our guide to favourite foods in France.
Bakery staples: baguette, croissant and pain au chocolat
A boulangerie is usually the first stop of the day.
- Baguette: crisp crust, soft inside, bought fresh and often eaten the same day.
- Croissant: buttery and flaky. A croissant made with butter is often labelled “croissant au beurre”.
- Pain au chocolat: a laminated pastry with chocolate inside.
- Other viennoiseries: pain aux raisins, chausson aux pommes and brioche.
Many bakeries also sell sandwiches, quiches and small tarts, which makes them a reasonable lunch option.
Bistro and brasserie classics
These dishes are commonly listed in guides to eating in Paris:
- French onion soup (soupe a l’oignon): caramelised onions in broth with toasted bread and melted cheese.
- Steak frites: steak, often entrecote, with fries and a sauce such as pepper or bearnaise.
- Confit de canard: slow-cooked duck leg with crisp skin.
- Escargots: snails in garlic and parsley butter.
- Boeuf bourguignon: beef braised in red wine.
- Croque monsieur: a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, popular in cafes.
- Steak tartare: raw chopped beef, seasoned and served cold. If you are pregnant, immunocompromised or cautious about raw meat, check with a health professional and skip it.
Cheese, butter and the market
French cheese is usually bought from a fromagerie or market stall, where staff will often help you choose according to ripeness and taste. Good French butter, including salted and cultured styles, is another thing visitors often bring up. Paris also has open-air markets across many neighbourhoods, which are a good place to put together a picnic. If you want to cook with French cheese at home, see our recipes with Reblochon.
Sweet Paris: macarons, chocolate, caramels and pastries
- Macarons: small almond meringue sandwiches with a filling, sold in many flavours.
- Chocolate: from bean-to-bar makers to traditional chocolatiers.
- Caramels: especially salted butter caramel.
- Pastries: eclairs, mille-feuille, tarte au citron, Paris-Brest and religieuse are common patisserie items.
- Hot chocolate: thick and rich in many cafes.
What locals tend to eat
Daily eating in Paris is a mix of the traditional and the practical. Many people grab a pastry or coffee in the morning, a “formule” (set lunch menu) or sandwich at midday, and eat a cooked meal in the evening. After work, friends may meet for an apero with drinks and small plates. Weekends often involve markets and longer lunches. Plenty of Parisians also eat food from other cuisines, such as Vietnamese, Lebanese, North African and Italian restaurants (for the home-cooking side of those flavors, see our Levant cuisine recipes and guide to Moroccan food and wine pairing), so “what locals eat” includes much more than the classic dishes.
Things to be careful of when eating in Paris
- Tourist-focused menus: restaurants with photo menus near major landmarks can be pricier and less distinctive. Checking reviews and looking for short, seasonal menus can help.
- Mealtimes: many traditional restaurants serve lunch and dinner within set hours and may close between them. Check opening times.
- Raw or undercooked foods: steak tartare, raw-milk cheeses and oysters are common, so ask if you have a health reason to avoid them.
- Allergies and dietary needs: tell the staff clearly. Vegetarian options are more common than they used to be, but not universal in traditional bistros.
- Bills: a service charge is generally included in menu prices in France, so tipping is usually optional.
A short list of ten dishes to try
- Croissant or pain au chocolat
- Fresh baguette with butter
- French onion soup
- Steak frites
- Confit de canard
- Escargots
- Croque monsieur
- A cheese course
- Macarons or an eclair
- Creme brulee or tarte Tatin
Cooking Parisian food at home
Many Paris favourites translate well to a home table, especially bistro dishes and pastries. Our French themed dinner party guide shows how to pace a bistro-style evening, and the French summer dinner page has lighter ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular foods in Paris? Bread, pastries, steak frites, onion soup and cheese are among the most commonly mentioned.
What do locals eat in Paris? A mix of boulangerie items, set-menu lunches, bistro dishes and many international cuisines.
Is Paris food expensive? It varies widely. Bakery items and set lunches are generally cheaper than sit-down dinners at well-known restaurants.