Gourmet Marais
The best-preserved medieval area in Paris, the heart of the Jewish community, the centre of the gay scene — the neighbourhood of Marais is as eclectic as the gastronomic treats you’ll try on this tour! Get ready to eat, drink, and explore your way through the city’s gourmet charms!
Marais Food and Walking Tour Highlights
- Wander through the best preserved medieval neighbourhood in Paris
- Sample a selection of some of France’s best wines or brandies
- Indulge in plates of cheese or charcuterie and taste a creation from Paris’s most famed macaron chef
- Discover the centre of the city’s Jewish and gay communities
- Spot the hidden squares, tucked-away alleyways, and marvellous churches of Marais
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, two different pastries and the best macaron in Paris, a platter of French cheese or charcuterie, and wine and liquor tasting.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Schedule details
- Duration: 3-4 hours
- Meeting point: In front of Notre-Dame Cathedral, under the statue of Charlemagne. Your guide will be holding a Paris Urban Adventures sign
- Starting time: 2.00 PM
- Ending point: Place des Vosges/Bastille
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Join a local guide to discover the enigmatic charms of France’s capital on this enlightening Paris city tour that pairs secret local hangouts with delicious food and wine — a winning combo!
You start your Paris tour in front in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral and then move on to the Hôtel de Ville, the city’s town hall, on the square where public executions were once carried out. Learn about the horrible death of Robert-François Damiens, the infamous man who tried to assassinate King Louis XV.
We then move on to the little tangled streets of the Marais to spot beautiful medieval churches, corbelled houses, and narrow lanes. We also pass by an iconic bakery whose baguette was elected one of the best in Paris and we try our first pastry, a delicious meringue known as a ‘merveilleux.’
Next, we visit Rue Saint-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, one of the oldest streets in the Marais, and today the centre of the French gay scene. Learn how this part of city, once sordid, became synonymous with trendy Paris, and a shopping hub for fashionistas and the core of “bobo” culture. While we’re here, we stop and sample a delicious macaron from one of Paris’ most famous pastry chefs.
Just a street away is Rue des Rosiers, the heart of the Jewish community. It’s a vibrant pedestrian street full of falafel stands and delicious Jewish-influenced delis. We enter a fabulous chocolate store to taste a butter-filled pastry, called Kouign Amann, a specialty from Brittany.
Our Paris tour then takes us back to South Marais, where the longest remaining piece of the 12th-century defensive wall of Paris stands. After a walk through the impressive Saint-Paul’s church, we stop in at a local wine bar, where we get a professional wine tasting. We sample some iconic French liqueurs like Cognac and Armagnac or “Old Plum” brandy. To accompany our drinks, we also taste some delicious French cheese or charcuterie treats.
From there, we move on to Paris’ oldest and certainly most beautiful square, la Place des Vosges, home of France’s national writer, Victor Hugo. From there, it’s only a short walk to our final destination, la Place de la Bastille, the former prison that was captured on July 14, 1789, triggering the French Revolution.
The area nearby is full of bars and restaurants, leaving you with plenty of options for carrying on with your evening in the City of Lights!
Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, two different pastries and the best macaron in Paris, a platter of French cheese or charcuterie, and wine and liquor tasting.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, souvenirs, and items of a personal nature, and tips and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring an umbrella for rainy days.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of six and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of six are permitted to join this tour free of charge so long as they eat from their parents’ meals. Please note that a special, separate meal will not be prepared for them. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of six. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
Local contact
Office phone number: +33 7 82 36 74 64
Email address: [email protected] -
Ms. Rebecca M. from Australia travelled on 16 Jun 2017:
Absolutely outstanding, Adele was an incredible guide – so knowledgeable, friendly and open.
Ms. Deborah B. from USA travelled on 24 May 2017:
Tim was our guide and he was magnifique! Thank you Tim!!
Ms. Helen M. from United Kingdom travelled on 17 Apr 2017:
Loved every minute of both tours! A fantastic experience which will always stay with us.
Mrs. Maret M. from South Africa travelled on 19 Jul 2016:
Absolutely fantastic! We loved it and we loved Adele! Would def do a tour again when we return to Paris.
Ms. Irina G. from USA travelled on 31 May 2016:
Our guide on the Marais Food tour was Adele. Adele is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and a very good story teller. She loved showing us around her favorite spots. One could feel how much Adele loves Paris she loves Paris and enjoys telling us about its history and present. The tour was small and Adele was able to make a personal connection with each one of us. It was very nice to meet people working in the local shops we visited. Everyone was nice and I cannot wish for a better introduction to Marais.
