YOU’LL NEED THIS if you’re going to Paris !
We have recently visited the French capital for a couple of days ..not an ideal length as Paris would need way more time to be fully discovered, but we still got to check out some of the most amazing vegan eateries that the city offers and..oh boy…we were not disappointed!
I have to be honest: after traveling around France (in particular the Alsace region) and not finding much in terms of vegan options, we were pretty surprised to see how instead Paris was so vegan friendly …compared to the ‘meat-and-cheese-only’ rest of the country.
So we didn’t think about it twice when we realized we could finally make up for those previous weeks we spent almost starving LOL
So here is our personal list of vegan eateries you shouldn’t miss when traveling to Paris:
Breakfast
Let’s start with the “most important meal of the day”…
France is renowned for its fluffly pastries and croissants, which are usually pretty hard to find in plant based version given the nature of their main ingredients. It always pretty much feels like a dream finding proper vegan croissants , so when you get to actually find them it is extremely hard to stop from binging on them!
And imagine if in addition to scrumptious vegan croissants and pains au chocolat, a full display of mouthwatering cakes, treats, macarons, brioche, pies and rolls completely steals your eyes (and your heart) the right moment you step in! That’s what happens at VG Pâtisserie : the cutest little patisserie on Boulevard Voltaire. The variety of sweets displayed here is literally insane and everything looks just so pretty and perfect!
We tried the Black Forest cake and…man it was the end of the world!
Without even mentioning the most amazing vegan croissants for less than €1.50 (which is pretty shocking for us, coming from Sydney where you could easily be asked to pay up to $10 for one!)
There’s only on big WARNING about this place you should keep in mind: due to its popularity, the shop gets easily very busy so make sure to arrive early in the morning to not miss out on the best items! They open most days at 9am – closed on Mondays.
If you are an earlier morning riser, than Land & Monkeys is the place for you: with a few shops around Paris, they open every day at 7.30am, so you can plan your breakfast before enjoying a full day around the city.
Their offering is all vegan with freshly baked items like croissants, pastries, bread loaves but also cakes, sweets and savory delicacies (we got a takeaway sandwich for lunch that was insanely good!) . From the use of local organic flours to the choice of seasonal produce for their ingredients and the absence of palm oil in their final products, they are very dedicated to their mission to have a positive impact for the planet.
Plus, the outdoor sitting areas allow you to enjoy your breakfast surrounded by the magical beauty of Paris’ architecture and vibes. Definitely a place you want to add to your list!
Lunch
Next up is the PERFECT place for the perfect brunch: Aujourd’hui Demain .
Here you can find two types of options: a regular menu to choose from, which is available all week long, and a special weekend brunch menu at a fixed price offering three sweet dishes, a hot beverage and a cold drink.
Since we do love savory treats we went for the regular menu and we tried a bunch of amazing dishes (that we absolutely highly recommend) like:
– The Taramammamia: Tarama is traditionally a salty fish based dip which has been reinvented here at AD and turned into a totally veganised yummy spread to be enjoyed with freshly baked sourdough;
– Fish & Peas Shrimpz: garlic butter sauteed konjac prawns, served with rosemary potatoes, tartare sauce, veggies and pea guacamole;
– Soupe Corn Chowder: absolutely the best corn soup we have ever had! Omg the creaminess and the extra smoked paprika flavor …served with warm toasted bread…chef kiss!
– Hello Fall No-Mozza: probably one of the most colorful dishes ever. A combination of homemade vegan mozzarella, mixed roasted mushrooms, caramelized pumpkin and shallots
They also have a cute shop section inside the cafe, selling hundreds of vegan and eco friendly items, plus a full window displaying homemade cakes and desserts. Make sure to book in advance as they tend to get busy busy!
Not far from the Arc de triomphe, there’s an unmissable plant based sushi restaurant called Bloom Sushi . The design of this place is so fancy and well curated , and all the offerings on the menu are mouthwatering.
We particularly loved their Kimbap California roll (with kimchi, daikon, shiitake mushrooms, tempura spring onion , avocado and roasted almonds), the Bubba Gump Futo Maki (with plant based prawns, sundried tomatoes, peppers, fukujinzuke pickles and kimchi sauce) and the mini arancini, filled with shiitake mushrooms on a pesto & parmesan sauce.
This restaurant aims to give sushi a second chance with this fully plant based twist, by combining the love for the Japanese kitchen with the mission to preserve the marine biodiversity. All the ingredients used are seasonal and free from any chemicals and preservatives.
If you feel hungry after a visiting the Louvre museum, you can literally walk to this restaurant located just around the corner. Its name is Veget’Halles and we found out a really interesting fact about the history of its location: apparently the area used to be a large open food market in the past. Trucks loaded with cattle used to stop here daily to unload the poor animals to the local slaughterhouse located nearby. The situation changed in the early 70s when shops replaced the old market and now finding a fully vegan/vegetarian restaurant on site gives that good feeling of positive revenge for a good change.
Veget’Halles offers a fusion French-Asian menu, with dishes made of healthy and nutritious ingredients. We visited the place with some friends and shared a couple of options : an entree with mixed types of pates and homemade spreads (including a veganised foix gras), a Seitan scallop dish with mixed veggies, legumes and mushrooms, and the “Assiette du Sportif” : a huge plate with different types of plant based meats, mixed veggies and rice.
Dinner
If while in Paris you wish to try some traditional French cuisine, then Le Potager du Marais is the place to go. The simple interior design of this restaurant will give you “tavern” vibes, making you feeling like being hosted by a French family in their own home.
The menu is rich in typical renowned local dishes, made vegan, like the famous Soupe a L’Oignon (French caramelized onion soup topped with soaked bread and melted cheeze) , or the Roti de Seitan sauce Poivre Vert (Green Pepper Roast) and, our favorite, the Bourguignon de Seitan (seitan stew with red wine and mushrooms) to wash down with a glass of vegan Vin de la Maison.
We obviously couldn’t end such a beautiful traditional dinner in a better way than with the right choice of dessert: an apricot flavored Creme Brulee and a Cafe Gourmand (a fancy way to enjoy an espresso coffee served with four different dessert tastings).
Last but not least, our absolute top favorite restaurant in Paris : The Friendly Kitchen.
Hard to describe how good our experience at this place was: everything was just perfect, the atmosphere, the lovely staff and .. omg the food! So beautifully presented and with a unique combination of flavors, like their Satay Venere Risotto, one of the best dishes I’ve personally ever had!
The whole menu is also gluten free and it offers a variety of colorful dishes made with accurately chosen organic ingredients, all accompanied by a fine selection of wines from sustainable agriculture, craft beers and other organic drinks. Desserts are also to die for and since the menu changes seasonally you might not be able to find the same dishes we have tried, but one thing you should absolutely taste, if you’re lucky enough to book this restaurant in the right season, is their “Comme un cafe liegeois” : I can tell you I never drink coffee and I actually don’t even like it much…but this dessert was so freaking good it managed to completely overturn my perception of it!
Overall we had a great food-related experience in Paris . All these restaurants were so good and, looking at the way everything was presented, you can definitely tell French have this special taste for beauty and aesthetics. There’s only one very sad side about trying all this beautiful yummy food: prices in Peris are ridiculously high…so you can easily guess we ended up our little holiday nearly broke…but with very happy tummies!
So if, like us, you like to be poor but happy, make sure you plan a meal in these places and we can guarantee you won’t regret it!
Vegan Travel Diaries 