How to Eat Organic in Paris

If you’re an eco-conscious traveler lucky enough to be heading to Paris, there’s no need to fear that you’ll have to leave your principles behind in order to sample the city’s famed cuisine: Paris has a wealth of organic dining options. Unlike a half-decade or so ago, when you had to do some serious digging to figure out where to find organic products, these days, even ordinary supermarkets have “bio” foods (pronounced “bee-oh”) on their shelves, and organic restaurants are sprouting up in the trendiest neighborhoods. Take a look below to see where you can find the best organic foods.

Organic Restaurants in Paris

Paris is home to more than two dozen organic restaurants. While most of these are vegetarian, a few offer organic meat dishes as well. Keep in mind that in France, restaurants can claim the label “bio” if approximately 80% of its products meet French ecological agricultural standards. Some restaurants, however, are careful to mark the dishes that are not 100% organic.

• Le Potager du Marais – This reasonably-priced vegetarian restaurant has one of the best reputations in Paris. Sit down at the long communal table for dishes such as Indian-style curries, eggplant caviar, stir-fried tofu and vegetables, and pasta. The dishes are 95% organic and the chef offers gluten-free alternatives upon request. Address: 22, rue Rambuteau, 75003. Tel. 42 74 24 66. Open every day from Noon – midnight. Main course: 12-15 euros.

• Au Grain de Folie. Not only is vegetarian, organic food served at this cozy restaurant, but the dishes are lactose, ovo, and vegan-friendly. The menu usually only offers two choices for the main course and the service is reputed to be quite slow, but many people find the wait-time and limited menu to be part of its home-style charm. Address: 24, rue de Vieuville, 75018. Tel. 01 42 58 15 57. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 1:00pm -2:30, and 7:30-10:30. Plate of the day – 12 euros.

• Phyto Bar. This restaurant serves organic meat and wild fish in addition to veggie dishes – not to mention organic wine and champagne! Dine here for notably innovative creations. Address: 47, Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005. Tel: 01 44 07 36 99. Open daily from noon to midnight. Appetizer + main + dessert – 18.50 euros.

• Soya. It’s not easy to find (the restaurant has no sign) but some say it’s worth the hunt for Soya’s delicious lentils and hummus. The menu is not strictly vegetarian and only 80% bio, however, the teas and coffees are 100% fair trade. Address: 20 rue de la Pierre-Levée, 75011. Tel. 01 48 06 33 02. Opening hours: from Monday to Saturday, from 8am until 7pm. Main course + dessert – 11-13 euros.

• La Chandelle Verte – This restaurant has the distinction of serving classically French bistro meals (think salad of duck gizzards) with principally organic ingredients. Items that are not 100% bio are indicated by an asterisk on the menu. Address: 40 rue d’Enghien, 75010. Tél. 01 47 70 25 44. Open Monday to Friday, for lunch only, from noon until 2pm. Appetizer + main + dessert – 19 euros.

Paris Markets

Many of Paris’s outdoor markets have at least one or two stands that sell organic produce, but the following markets are well-known to wear the “bio” label.

• Raspail Market – People come here to shop among the French glitterati as much as for the bursting stalls of organic fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses. And if you’re missing your weekly shot of wheatgrass juice, you can find it here. Be prepared to empty your wallet. Address: Boulevard Raspail, 75006. Open Sundays, 9am -2pm.

• Marché des Batignolles – A more laid-back version of the Raspail market with equally high-quality products, though only marginally less expensive. Address: Boulevard des Batignolles, 75008. Open Saturdays, 9am-2pm.

• Marché des Enfants Rouge – this quirkily named market (“Market of the Red Children” – referring to the red-robed orphans that used to reside there) isn’t entirely organic, but has the distinction of having several organic stalls with eat-in/take-away options. There’s also a stall that has superb collection of bio wines, and a very tasty organic restaurant, Au Coin bio. Address: 39, rue de Bretagne. Tues-Thurs. 8:30am – 1pm; 4pm-7:30pm; Fri.-Sat – 8:30-1pm; 4pm-8pm; Sun.: 8:30am -2pm.

Organic Shops in Paris

If you want to prepare your own meals, but don’t have time to go the market, you can easily find organic foods in numerous shops throughout Paris. Naturalia and La Vie Bio are omnipresent with 24 and 12 Parisian stores respectively. There’s also Bio Génération (with eight stores) and BioCoop (five stores), and a host of individual boutiques. The “mecca” for organic shopping, however, is Les Nouveaux Robinsons, which is just outside of Paris and offers 3,000 square feet of every organic product imaginable, including food, clothes, makeup, paper, linens, and more. Address for Les Nouveaux Robinsons: Place de la Republique, 93100 Montreuil-sous-Bois. Open Mon – Sat. 10am-8pm.

Supermarkets

Finally, there is the humble supermarket, which generally doesn’t have much by way of organic food. However, every supermarket usually has at least one section filled with bio products, such as soy milk, juices, rice cakes, crackers, jam, etc. The leading brand is “Bjorg” but there are others available as well – just look for any product that has a green AB label on it (AB is an abbreviation of “Agriculture Biologique,” meaning that 95% of the product has been prepared with ingredients that meet French ecological standards). On occasion, you may stumble across a supermarket that sells packaged organic chicken breasts, and you should be able to find organic milk and eggs pretty much everywhere.

Photo of Le Potager du Marais organic restaurant, Paris, France by digitalmama824

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About the author

Barbara Diggs is a freelance writer living in Paris, France. She has travelled to many European countries with her toddler son in tow, and firmly believes that traveling with a child is not only possible, but fun (if you plan in advance)!