Day-by-day eating plans for Paris. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

Paris weekend: the classics, done right ★ 4.5

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the dishes Paris invented, the cafes that wrote the rulebook, and one neo-bistro dinner. For a first-time visitor with two days and a baseline bistro budget.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: market, bistro lunch, natural-wine dinner

    Morning
    Marché Biologique des Batignolles on Boulevard des Batignolles at 09:00. Pain au levain from Poilane on Rue du Cherche-Midi (closed Sunday, open Saturday); coffee at La Fontaine de Belleville.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Bistrot Paul Bert, 12:30. Steak frites saignant, île flottante for two, half a bottle of house red. Walk the 11e afterwards.
    Evening
    Wine bar at Septime La Cave from 19:00, walk-in only. Move to dinner at Clamato for oysters and grilled hake if the queue is short.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: pastry, museum lunch, late dinner

    Morning
    Ten Belles (open Sunday) at 08:00 for the escargot pistache-chocolat. Filter coffee at Ten Belles on the canal.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Café de Flore on Boulevard Saint-Germain, 13:00. Croque-monsieur, a glass of Sancerre, the bowl of frites on the side.
    Evening
    Dinner at Clamato at 20:30 if you missed Saturday; otherwise dessert at Stohrer on Rue Montorgueil and a digestif at Le Mary Celeste.

Paris vegan: three days of plant-led cooking ★ 4.3

Vegan, three days3 days

A three-day plan for a vegan traveller: Abattoir Végétal, Jah Jah, VG Pâtisserie, the natural-wine bars that pour without gelatine, and the markets that supply the city's all-plant kitchens.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: market, abattoir-vegetal dinner

    Morning
    Marché des Enfants Rouges at 10:00. Buy fruit, drink fresh juice. Coffee at Holybelly 5 in the 10e (open daily).
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Wild & The Moon on Rue Charlot. Bowls, cold-press juice, raw cakes for dessert.
    Evening
    Dinner at Abattoir Végétal, 20:00. Closed Mon-Tue; book a fortnight ahead for a Saturday table.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: pastry, brunch, Latin-American vegan dinner

    Morning
    VG Pâtisserie at 09:00 for the all-vegan citron tart and a flat white from Boot Café next door.
    Afternoon
    Brunch at Season in the 3e Marais. Granola bowl and avocado toast; the Sunday brunch set is the steal.
    Evening
    Dinner at Jah Jah at 19:00. Caribbean-vegan rasta-cafe with rice-and-peas and jackfruit jerk; rum-and-ginger cocktail to finish.

  3. Day 3: Monday: raw vegan tasting, hidden bistros

    Morning
    Coffee at Strada Café in the 5e. Bread from Poilane on Rue du Cherche-Midi (open Monday; sourdough loaves are vegan).
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Sol Semilla in the 10e for quinoa bowls. Walk the Canal Saint-Martin.
    Evening
    Dinner at 42 Degrés, the raw-vegan tasting-menu room in the 9e. Seven courses, all under 42°C, natural-wine pairing.

Paris long-lunch week: five midday tables ★ 4.6

Lunch-led traveller, five days5 days

A five-day plan built around the long Parisian lunch, the city's best meal of the day for value, time and table-side conversation. Five rooms at €24-€75 each.

  1. Day 1: Monday: a quiet first lunch on Rue Cler

    Morning
    Coffee at Telescope. Croissant at Du Pain et des Idées (Mon-Fri only).
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Le Petit Cler on Rue Cler. Croque-monsieur, glass of Brouilly, a long pavement seat.
    Evening
    Dinner walk along the Seine; light bites at Frenchie Bar à Vins from 18:30.

  2. Day 2: Tuesday: long bistro lunch in the 9e

    Morning
    Mamiche on Rue Condorcet for cinnamon babka, then a long filter coffee at Coutume Café.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Le Bon Georges. Côte de bœuf for two, tarte tatin with crème fraîche, a small carafe of house red.
    Evening
    Cocktails at Bâton Rouge on Rue Notre-Dame de Lorette.

  3. Day 3: Wednesday: a long Lyonnais lunch

    Morning
    Coffee at Loustic in the 3e Marais. Pâté en croûte from Le Comptoir du Relais for a walking-around snack.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Aux Lyonnais. The €40 set lunch with the quenelle de brochet and Saint-Marcellin.
    Evening
    Wine bar at La Buvette from 18:00; arrive at 18:00 for a counter stool.

  4. Day 4: Thursday: a fine-dining lunch

    Morning
    Coffee at Fragments in the 3e. Walk the upper Marais.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Tomy & Co. The €98 five-course tasting at lunchtime is the deal of the room; book three weeks ahead.
    Evening
    Dinner at Frenchie Bar à Vins or a quiet wine at Le Garde Robe.

  5. Day 5: Friday: closing lunch at Septime

    Morning
    Coffee at Ten Belles. Walk the Canal Saint-Martin.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Septime. Reservations 21 days ahead at 09:00; lunch is the easier seating.
    Evening
    Cap the trip with a wine bar at Septime La Cave four blocks away or Clamato for oysters.
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