We all know Ina Garten as one of the world’s most beloved cooking experts. From hosting Barefoot Contessa for nearly two decades to publishing 13 cookbooks, the home cooking icon has been sharing her culinary wisdom for years. But did you know that she’s also an authority on the Parisian food scene?
Garten and her husband Jeffery fell in love with Paris while camping out (literally) in the city for a full four months, just a few short years after getting married. They became so enamored with the City of Light that they’ve now owned an apartment in Paris for more than 25 years — and they have an amazing list of local recommendations to prove it.
During the course of her long love affair with Paris, Ina has been dropping nuggets about where she loves to buy and eat food while there. Between a cookbook on Parisian cuisine, acting as a food correspondent for the Today Show during the Paris Olympics, posting on her own social media, and other moments when she’s shared her favorite places in Paris, she has provided a robust itinerary for the most delicious trip to France. The Barefoot Contessa has so many excellent Paris recommendations that content creator Justine Doiron has even assembled a walking tour of the city based on Garten’s go-to stops.
Of course, we’re always tuned in to what Ina’s saying, and we’ve kept track — and taken notes — of her essential Parisian pit stops over the years. From a patisserie with perfect eclairs to a fromagerie with cheeses from all over France, here are all of these places she’s emphatically recommended.
Berthillon
The Barefoot Contessa has said that the prune and Armagnac ice cream at this cafe and ice cream shop is one of her and Jeffrey’s favorite Christmas traditions. The famous establishment has been open since 1954 and feels luxurious thanks to both the rich confections it sells and the stunning wood paneling that covers nearly every surface. Of course, Berthillon has classic ice cream flavors like chocolate and vanilla, but it also serves more esoteric options like pine nut praline or orange carrot saffron sorbet. 31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004
Adriane M. Fleuriste
It might not peddle edible wares, but Adriane M. Fleuriste in Montmartre is a must-visit if you’re hosting (or attending) a dinner party while in Paris. While broadcasting with the Today Show last summer and on her own Instagram, Ina Garten has flagged this stunning florist as one of her first stops every time she’s in the city. The quaint floral shop is perfect for sourcing a bouquet to use as a tablescape or share with a loved one. Ina also has an easy formula for gorgeous arrangements: Choose the same type of flower in different colors or select several different flowers in one color. 4 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007
Maison Verot
Open since 1930, Verot is a classic charcuterie shop for all your dinner and snacking needs. It’s very French and quite indulgent. Here, you’ll find elegant terrines designed like extravagant cakes with tempting textures and colorful layers. Ina likes to go for a slice of the classic country-style Pâté en croûte, but the store also sells French sausages, hams, and other cured meats that are worth seeking out. The adjacent traiteur additionally offers pre-made dishes to go, including excellent savory quiches and roasted sausage with mashed potatoes. Multiple locations in the 3e, 4e, 6e, 8e, 9e, and 15e
Secco
The place to buy a real French baguette, as Ina points out, is a boulangerie, where bakers work through the night to craft the perfectly crusty loaves of bread. Boulangerie Pâtisserie Secco is the Barefoot Contessa’s recommendation for a fresh, quality baguette, and there are seven convenient locations. Make sure you grab a second loaf, so you can snack on one while you tour Paris, just like Ina. Multiple locations in the 6e, 7e, 15e
Café Varenne
Open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., this cafe is a quintessential Parisian all-day spot, where servers in black-and-white formalwear serve espressos, apéro, and late-night drinks. Ina stops here for a coffee on the terrace, but the cafe is also worth visiting for French bistro classics like escargot, onion soup, steak frites, and more — like Ina’s favorite pick, the salad with warm goat cheese. Oft-recommended, the cafe is indeed a tourist magnet, thanks to its English menu and comprehensive selection of well-executed French fare. Nevertheless, it’s very good and worth visiting, just be prepared to wait for a table. 36 Rue de Varenne, 75007
Le Comptoir et les Caves Legrand
It wouldn’t be a trip to Paris without some excellent wine, and this store is Ina Garten’s choice for an incredible selection of French bottles. Staff can help you select a regional wine that suits your taste, and you can take it to a park to picnic with a baguette and some fromage — or you can enjoy wine by the glass, paired with beautifully executed food, at the attached restaurant. 1 Rue de la Banque, 75002
Marché Raspail
This thrice-weekly market pops up on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, combining the lure of a street fair with a hyper-fresh farmers market. During the 2024 Olympics, Ina took the Today Show hosts on a jaunt through the stalls to pick up some snacks and picnic ingredients while raving about the produce picked just earlier that morning. (Her tour starts with the potato pancake vendor for an “incredible” hot snack.) Visit this open-air market for produce, viennoiserie, rotisserie chickens, cheese sliced to order, and so much more. Boulevard Raspail, 75006
Poissonnerie Du Bac
This Parisian fish shop is straight out of any seafood lover’s dreams. It’s the perfect place to browse icy displays for super fresh seafood and living crustaceans, but those without access to a kitchen in Paris can also leave with plenty of ready-to-eat prepared foods including carpaccio, seafood salads, and even round cake-like fish terrines adorned with shrimp tails — an only-in-France delicacy. 69 Rue du Bac, 75007
Poilâne
This beloved sourdough bakery has been a staple of Ina’s trips to Paris since her early days traveling abroad with Jeffrey. Now, she still loves the spot known for its fresh-baked loaves and sablés (butter biscuits in a signature scalloped round shape), which are available in a variety of grains. Definitely bring a sleeve back as a souvenir. Multiple locations in the 3e, 6e, 15e, 18e, and 19e
Fromagerie Nicole Barthélémy
Known for stocking some of the best cheeses in Paris, Barthélémy is a classic fromagerie to load up on lactose. Ina has endorsed the beautiful and delightfully intimidating specialty shop, recommending a trio for the perfect cheese plate: something creamy, something with goat cheese, and something sharp. Samples from the cheesemongers are ample for shoppers, especially those who ask questions and demonstrate a knowledge of cheese. Barthélémy is a lovely source for snacks and cheese plates while in the city, but a stop on your last day in town lets travelers stock up on vacuum-sealed cheeses to transport home. 51 Rue de Grenelle, 75007
Hugo & Victor Patisserie
When Ina endorses a patisserie, we run to the sweets. This award-winning dessert shop and ice cream parlor makes all the elegant French treats — including fruit tarts, eclairs, macarons, millefeuilles, and so much more. Many of the patisserie creations are available in individual sizes, so you can treat yourself to a chocolate tart or strawberry cream cake at the patisserie’s outdoor cafe tables. Shareable treats are available as well and are a super elegant end to a dinner party. 40 Boulevard Raspail, 75007
E. Dehillerin
In search of something to bring back from Paris for your own kitchen? Dating back to the 1820s, this kitchen supply store is the ultimate stop for pans, utensils, knives, bowls, and any other essential cooking tool you can imagine. If you want something that will give your home a French touch, snag some stunning copper cookware to hang on a wall. 18-20 Rue Coquillière, 75001
Le Récamier
Whether you want a sweet or savory soufflé, you can find a perfect one at this elegant restaurant set inside of a courtyard. The light and airy dishes come in a wide variety of flavors, including Burgundy snail and herb, Roquefort cheese and walnut, pistachio and chocolate, and Grand Marnier soufflés, to name just a few. Make sure you bring some friends with you so you can sample more than just one. 4 Rue Juliette Récamier, 75007