When I think of Vegetarian Food in Paris, I immediately conjure up an image of freshly baked crunchy baguettes, soft and flaky croissants, an eclectic cheese platter, and desserts so gooey that they simply melt in your mouth. The gastronomic city offers enough and more options for vegetarian folks- all it takes is a bit of perseverance and planning to enjoy good vegetarian food in Paris!
The 3Cs of Parisian breakfasts – Croissants, Coffee and Chouquettes
Vegetarian breakfasts in Paris are seldom a problem because traditional Parisian breakfasts typically comprise a croissant and a coffee. Most cafés serve good croissants- you can experiment with a few close to your hotel. But if I would have to pick one, it would be Café La Tour du Temple. Their fresh croissants and coffee marked the perfect start to my day! If you prefer your coffee with milk, ask for a café au lait (coffee with milk) or a café noisette (coffee with a dash of hot milk).
If you have a sweet tooth, you can kick-start your day with a delicious pain au chocolat or chocolate bread – a light, buttery and flaky rectangle pastry similar to a croissant but filled with decadent chocolate – even better when it’s dark bitter-sweet chocolate.
You can also try a small bag of Chouquettes. These tiny little spheres of goodness really won me over. They are light as air, crispy and topped with sugar crystals. Chouquettes are essentially a type of pastry consisting of dough and topped with pearl sugar. They are usually perched on top of the glass pastry cases in bakeries and sold by weight. Head to Le Quartier Du Pain for these sugary treats that are worth every calorie!
Une crêpe, s’il vous plait
Crêpes are an excellent option for vegetarians in Paris. This traditional French delicacy is a thin pancake which is served with varied fillings from Nutella to mushrooms to spinach. Breizh Café in Le Marais dishes out amazing crêpes best enjoyed with a glass of apple cider. There’s a wide variety of savory and sweet crêpes to choose from which are prepared using organic buckwheat from Brittany- the origin of crêpes.
I had a market-fresh vegetable crêpe with comté cheese sans the egg. They can prepare a lot of their crêpes without eggs and meat for you. My dish was wholesome and delicious and probably one of my best meals in Paris. I finished off with a sinful sweet crêpe with caramel and artisanal vanilla ice cream. The flambéed crêpe Suzette is also a good option if you enjoy the zesty citrus flavor and orange rinds.
Say cheese
Another good option for vegetarian French food is a cheese platter or Une assiette de Fromage. Although this is not considered a typical main dish, something that you finish your meal with and share with everyone on the table, there’s no harm in having it as a main dish. From brie to camembert to comté to gruyère, take your pick, or try the assorted cheese platter. This is usually served with some grapes or fruit jam and bread. L’affineur Affine does great cheese platters of 2, 5, and 10 varieties of cheese; and they also guide you in the order in which they need to be eaten. Finish your meal with a baked cheesecake if you’re up for it!
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One more thing I highly recommend is picking up some bread and cheese from a local boulangerie and fromagerie (Psst! Alleosse is a great fromagerie), and a bottle of wine, and heading to the nearest garden. Park yourself on a bench or on the grass and enjoy the classic pain (bread), Vin (wine) and Fromage (cheese) while basking in the beauty of your surroundings.
This is a very natural thing for Parisians to do, and you will see lots of locals doing this; so there’s no need to feel out of place.
Of quiches and tarts
The quintessential quiche and strawberry (Tarte aux fraises) or raspberry tarts (Tarte aux Framboises) are great vegetarian snack ideas in Paris. There’s nothing like a crispy buttery crust with a luxuriously dense filling of cheese and vegetables- bliss in every bite. End with a luscious strawberry or raspberry tart and you’ll be good to go till dinner time.
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I tried Maison Hardel near Champs Elysees which is an artisanal boulangerie and patisserie, and it was quite good. This is literally a hole in the wall place with only Boulangerie written in bold letters. If it would not have been for my local friends, I would not have explored it. I heard Maison Laduree also does lovely strawberry tarts, but unfortunately couldn’t try it on my trip. But do visit and let me know what you think!
When you want a break from French food
Other Vegetarian Food in Paris
In case you’re tired of French vegetarian dishes and looking for a change, try the falafels in the Jewish quarter of Le Marais. The locality is dotted with lots of cafés, art galleries, and East European Jewish restaurants. Stroll along the cobbled streets and stop for a bite at Chez Hanna. It’s a tiny place and almost always full so you might have to do a takeaway. The falafels, fresh hummus, and grilled eggplant are tasty and filling and won’t create a dent in your pocket.
If you feel like trying some Italian food, head over to Café Caesar across the Arc de Triomphe for pizza or pasta. Given its location, I presumed it would be over-priced, but it is economical and has a cozy vibe.
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Another place I would recommend is the Restaurant du Musée d’Orsay. If you’re planning to visit Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie (which you must), try the restaurant inside Musée d’Orsay – you will feel like you’re dining in a palace with them magnificent chandeliers and beautiful frescoes adorning the ceiling. I had mushroom risotto and a glass of white wine; the risotto was not the best I’ve had but the lovely ambiance compensates for it.
Dessert
I finished my meal with a French dessert – Mille-Feuille (a pastry comprising thin layers of puff pastry filled with cream); it was rich and creamy and simply melted in my mouth. One bite and you’re in dessert heaven. That’s what Paris can do to you!
Which restaurants serving Vegetarian Food in Paris would you recommend?
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Vegetarian Food in Paris is a guest Post by Sunami Paigankar
I am a Communications professional by day, and travel is my passion. I capture my travel and culinary journeys on my blog- The Hungry Trotter. And I try to be spontaneous with my travel plans and itineraries, but my OCD gets the better of me. Every place has a unique story to tell, and I hope to bring these varied stories to you through my blog, and in the process inspire you to travel more. Join me on my travel escapades on The Hungry Trotter.
This is so informative and such a fun read. Need to try a few on my next visit to Paris. Great stuff Sunami
Nicely written, Sunami! This is quite helpful for vegetarian travelers like me 🙂 I have just returned from my Europe (Nordics) trip and had a hard time finding vegetarian food. I have bookmarked this post as it’ll be helpful whenever I plan to travel to Paris. Chouquettes look delicious 🙂
This is so informative and nice and is of a great help to vegetarians wanting to visit Paris and other places in Europe