5 Perfect picnic spots in Paris – and where to source the goods nearby

Champ de Mars

Champs de Mars as seen from the Eiffel Tower / Image: Getty Images

Many pay through the nose to eat ho-hum food at sidewalk terraces with a view of the Eiffel Tower, but the truth is you’ll be far better served by just laying down a picnic blanket on the Champ de Mars. It should come as no surprise that this grassy expanse before Gustave Eiffel’s marvel of modern engineering is a popular spot; don’t expect a private picnic for two.

Wandering peddlers of everything from chilled rosé to cigarettes are liable to pester you every so often, as might backpackers looking for a light. But if you’re travelling with a gaggle of friends and want the most emblematic view in the city, this should undoubtedly be your picnic destination.

Stock up beforehand at: rue Cler, where you’ll find cheese, charcuterie, bread and loads of produce at shops standing shoulder-to-shoulder on this picturesque market street. Don’t miss the pink praline-studded brioche at Pralus for dessert.

Quais de Seine, Rive Gauche

Riverside dining awaits by the Quais de Seine / Image: Getty Images

Now that Notre Dame’s spire has been restored, the Quais de Seine once more afford gorgeous views of this medieval cathedral. Snag a seat on the southern banks of the river near the Jussieu metro stop, a spot beloved by locals and tourists alike. In summer, lovers of swing and tango often congregate here to dance in the evenings, adding free entertainment to the package.

Stock up beforehand at: rue Mouffetard, a cobbled market street teeming with excellent shops, including a branch of Liberté bakery, known for its sourdough loaves, and Mococha, a top-notch chocolate shop selling selections from a number of the country’s best chocolatiers.

Canal Saint-Martin

The Canal Saint-Martin looking particularly peaceful / Image: Alamy

For a waterside view that’s a bit more off-the-beaten-track, saunter down to the Canal Saint-Martin, which runs through the trendy 10th arrondissement. This narrow canal traversed by picturesque bridges is a local picnic hotspot, surrounded by loads of cafes and restaurants offering takeaway tipples. If you’re wondering where young Parisians hang out on a warm summer evening, look no further than this offbeat, occasionally raucous picnic destination.

Stock up beforehand at: the covered Marché Saint-Martin, home to an excellent cheese shop and several produce purveyors. Get your crusty baguette or a sliced sourdough around the corner at Mamiche, and don’t miss one of their unforgettable cream puffs.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

Soaking up the sun in Parc des Buttes-Chaumont / Image: Getty Images

If you want a bit more breathing room, but still with a youthful edge, get yourself to Buttes-Chaumont, one of Paris’s largest parks at a whopping 62 acres. This hilltop park boasts loads of different areas for picnicking, some with majestic views over the city and the Temple de la Sibylle, a replica of Tivoli’s ancient Roman Temple of Vesta. Plus, there are loads of quiet, shady corners perfect for date night. When night falls, locals know to head to Rosa Bonheur, a queer bar inside the park ideal for dancing the night away.

Stock up beforehand: around métro Pyrénées, where you’ll find everything you need along the avenue Simone Bolivar and rue des Pyrénees, and rue de Belleville. The sourdough at Urban Bakery is top-notch.

Parc Monceau

Greenery and tranquillity at Parc Monceau / Image: Getty Images

Buzzy spots are all well and good, but if you need a bit of space, head to the expansive, 20-acre Parc Monceau. Located in the ritzy 8th, Parc Monceau was inspired by the model of an English garden, with its more informal layout tailormade for wandering. It’s equipped with gorgeous features, such as an 18th-century rotunda, and follies, including miniature versions of an Egyptian pyramid, a Roman colonnade and a Dutch windmill. And since it’s within spitting distance of the 17th – a destination for new restaurant concepts founded by Top Chef darlings – it’s also a great spot for foodies looking to try something new.

Stock up beforehand at: rue des Lévis, where you’ll find some of the city’s best charcuterie, tinned fish and more. Score bread from Poilâne, a forerunner of the current sourdough mania, baking its emblematic loaf inscribed with a P for nearly a century.