Paris Food Guide: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Exploring the local culinary scene is a favorite activity of mine whenever I travel. On a recent trip to Paris, I took a tour with a local Paris food guide from Paris a Dream, booked through Get Your Guide. On this tour, I explored Saint-Germain-des-Prés on the left bank (6th arrondissement). If your French is a bit rusty, that’s SAHN JEHR MAHN DAY PRAY said with a bit of French nasal flair. Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of my favorite foodie neighborhoods in Paris (Le Marais and Montmartre are the other two).

The package included a guided walking tour, detailed commentary about the foods to be sampled and the history of the area, and of course, delicious Parisian food!

The food servings were generous: enough for a full lunch with wine and dessert as well as several goodies to take home (a large brioche and generous-sized piece of cake as well as anything left over from other samplings).

At no time was I ever pressured to make additional purchases at any of the tour stops. I did make one purchase, however: some champagne jam at our first stop. Later in my stay, I returned to buy some pastries at two of our other stops.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris

Paris Food Guide Tour Stops

On this three-hour tour, we visited the following:

• A confiture shop filled with gourmet preserves, spreads, and honey
• A patisserie (pastry shop) specializing in cream puffs
• A patisserie specializing in brioche
• A gourmet olive oil shop
• A patisserie offering cakes as well as gourmet chocolates
• A charcuterie/deli
• An award-winning boulangerie (bakery)
• A fromagerie (cheese shop)

Exploring the Streets of  Saint-Germain-des-Prés

I met my Paris food guide Aliénore in front of the Église de Saint Germain des Prés, a large church in the heart of the neighborhood and across from the famed café Les Deux Magots. She was friendly, energetic, and eager to share her love of Paris and its history and food. It turned out that I was the only person on the tour that day (it was supposed to rain). Paris A Dream honors tour reservations without a minimum requirement (not all tour companies do this).

Exploring Saint-Germain-des-Prés

The Famous Les Deux Magots Restaurant

Aliénore said this was a rare case when she would give a private tour. When she discovered that I speak French she offered to conduct the tour in French, slowing down when I would occasionally get confused with some terminology. We did briefly speak in English, however, and her English was excellent.

Exploring the Rue de Buci

After a brief peek at Les Deux Magots, we made our way to Paris’ rue de Buci to sample some gourmet jams. This street is filled with restaurants, patisseries, and everything a foodie loves so I returned many times during my visit (stay tuned for a future article about this wonderful street). From there it was on to two different patisseries.

Shopping for Jam in Paris

At the first, I was able to choose a delicious choux (a bite-sized pastry similar to a cream puff). At the next, I selected full-size praline brioche that I was able to take with me. I loved it and returned for another later in my trip. I had a few questions about the different ingredients and options with the vast amount of pastries available and Aliénore was happy to provide detailed insight and help me find exactly what I was looking for.

Delicious Choux Pastries

The Delicious Praluline Brioche

Exploring the Cour du Commerce Saint-André

We then headed for the Cour du Commerce Saint-André, a historic pedestrian passageway in the heart of Saint Germain. This street, filled with shops and restaurants, is quaint and charming.  We had only one stop on this enchanting street, but I returned to it many times during my stay.

We walked past the famed Le Procope, the oldest cafe in Paris, and Aliénore explained the history and interesting stories behind this famous restaurant and street. Before leaving the Cour du Commerce, we popped into a specialty shop for some olive oil and vinegar tastings.

The Charming Cour de Commerce in Paris

Paris Food Market

If you’re in this area in Paris, I definitely recommend a walk down this lovely street. Another restaurant to check out is Un Dimanche a Paris (A Sunday in Paris). We didn’t stop during the tour, but it’s one of the places I enjoyed on my return visit.

Le Procope, One of the Oldest Cafes in Paris

Un Dimanche à Paris Restaurant

Patisserie, Charcuterie, Boulangerie, and More

After numerous samplings at our previous stop, Alienore reminded me that two of our biggest tasting were yet to come. When we stopped at another pâtisserie, I decided to take the pastry back to the hotel to save room for the remaining tastings.

Pâtisserie in Paris

A few blocks later, we stopped at a little charcuterie to sit down and sample a French charcuterie board. The owner was happy to describe his offerings and where they came from.

We then visited an award-winning boulangerie to buy some bread to eat at our final stop. The boulangerie was jammed with local people, who evidently all knew that this was the place to buy your baguettes and other baked goods.

Visiting a Paris Charcuterie (Deli)

French Baguettes

Paris Food Tour Final Stop: A Fromagerie

Our final stop was a delightful fromagerie, a cheese shop with a downstairs cave where visitors could enjoy cheese, wine, and champagne. The little “cheese cave” where we ate was a lot of fun and the selected cheeses were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the Beaufort cheese, made in the French Alps and similar to Gruyère. In the cave, we met a friendly couple from Philadelphia who offered to share their bottle of champagne with us.

Enjoying a Paris Fromagerie (Cheese Shop)

With Aliénore, My Paris Food Guide

I highly recommend taking a food tour when you first arrive in Paris – or any city for that matter. You’ll not only get a feel for the local neighborhood and sample some great food, but you’ll also get expert advice on where to eat during the rest of your stay.

Can’t get enough Paris? Check out my article on The Best Bakeries in Paris: 6 Places Not to Miss.