Cheese and Chocolate in Paris

Cheese and chocolate are undoubtedly two of life's great culinary pleasures, and what location could indulge your tastebuds with these treats better than the gourmet city of Paris?

The French capital is a world-famous travel destination where you'll find a wide range of food experiences and activities to make a trip even more memorable. The city is known for its cheese and chocolate shops, making it an ideal destination for sampling artisan products.

Experience Cheese and Chocolate in Paris

If you want to taste French delicacies and learn more about cheese and chocolate in Paris, a private or group tour is a great way to do it. You can combine these gastro treats with cultural highlights, including museums and guided walks around the city or focus on more bespoke, individual tastings.

Cheese in Paris

The fantastic specialist cheese shops of Paris are known as 'fromagerie' and are scattered throughout the city. Many impromptu Parisian picnics come from buying fine-quality French cheese and a baguette from the bakery.

There are many different kinds of cheese produced in France. From varieties recognised worldwide, like Brie and Camembert and blue-veined cheese like Roquefort, to cheeses you might not find elsewhere. For an authentic Parisian experience, do try Comté, a city favourite and regarded as one of the best cheeses in the world. It is made from unpasteurised cow's milk produced in the Jura region of eastern France and is at once described as fruity, savoury, sweet and salty!

Interestingly, France's most commonly consumed cheese is not actually French. The most popular variety of cheese is Emmenthal, produced in neighbouring Switzerland.

Chocolate in Paris

Chocolate is also a sensation in Paris. The city is home to many chocolatiers and chocolate shops, some renowned worldwide, including Pierre Hermé, Ladurée, and Jean-Paul Hévin, where you will find a wide variety of chocolate treats, including truffles, macarons, and chocolate-covered pastries.

The city's most famous chocolate export is probably La Maison du Chocolat, founded in 1977 and now a global brand. Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse is another favoured spot for chocolate lovers, established by a chef with an incredible 21 Michelin stars.

If you're looking for memorable souvenirs from your trip, visiting a Parisian chocolate shop is an excellent gift option. Additionally, many of these shops also offer chocolate-making classes and workshops, allowing visitors to learn more about the art of chocolate making.

You can also visit the chocolate museum, "Musée du Chocolat", in the Marais district of Paris. It's a great place to learn about the history and culture of chocolate and to see some demonstrations of chocolate making.

Another sweet French speciality is chocolat chaud, typically served for breakfast. Traditionally, the drink comes with a baguette, which you can dunk into the hot chocolate. The many cafes of Paris are ideal places for indulging in this warming ritual and having an authentic French breakfast experience.

Top food experiences in Paris

Chocolate and cheese fans heading to Paris will find great food experiences to enhance their visit. Culinary walking tours let you explore local markets like the famous Marché d'Aligre and Marché des Enfants Rouges. Both of them are great places to find a variety of different types of chocolate and cheese. There are relaxed tasting experiences to gourmet afternoons that include lunch and allow you to really discover Parisian food.

If you're planning a visit to Paris, these are some chocolate and cheese-tasting experiences you will want to enjoy!

Chocolate tasting in Paris

If you want to explore chocolate in a new way, visit the chocolate museum.

You can discover the history and production of chocolate from ancient times to the present day, meet master chocolatiers and enjoy a hot chocolate and a bag of sweet treats to take home with you.

If you're more interested in eating the chocolate than learning about how it's made, there are some great food tours in Paris for you. Take a pastry and chocolate tour in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood to try artisan sweet treats. You'll see window displays showing off the skill of the expert chocolate makers in the area, and you will visit several pastry and chocolate shops to try their wares.

Walking tours in Paris

Alternatively, enjoy some French chocolate as part of a longer and more in-depth food tour.

This personalised experience is for small groups and includes a visit to a market, a walking tour with lunch, the opportunity to try chocolates and macarons, and a wine tasting with a professional sommelier to finish things off. This is a great fit if you're looking for a comprehensive French food experience that gives you a bit of everything. It lasts a whole day, giving you a unique opportunity to dive into Paris' food culture.

If you'd prefer a walking tour that's more focused on cheese, the Le Marais historical walking tour is the ideal food activity during your Paris trip. The experience involves a leisurely stroll around an idyllic neighbourhood, followed by a seafood tasting and a cheese and wine tasting.

If you want to avoid hectic sightseeing, this relaxing experience is a great way to explore the sights. Not only will you gain an insight into the food scene, but you'll also learn about the local area's history and how it has developed over time.

Cheese tasting in Paris

Another option is to discover the art of cheese and wine pairing in Paris. This experience takes place in a traditional wine shop in the Latin Quarter. It lets you sample four wines from around the country and various kinds of cheese, understanding how the options pair together. This is a lunch with a difference or an indulgent way to snack and enjoy a drink between meals.

Food and Drink Experiences in Paris

Paris is a fantastic city if you're looking for decadent food and drink experiences. Whatever your preferences, this destination has gourmet opportunities to suit everyone and is an ideal way to enhance your holiday, tantalise your tastebuds and create some lasting memories.

Browse our full collection of food and drink experiences in Paris to find the experience that's right for you.

A Guide to Paris Food and Drink

Paris has a rich cultural history, with lots of food and drink experiences available for foodies. Read this article A Guide to Paris Food and Drink on several things any visitor should consider doing while in Paris, as well as several accommodation options.