Paris: 'New York Times Journeys' Afternoon Wine, Cheese, Bread and Chocolate Tour

Itinerary
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Stop At: Saint Germain des Pres Quarter, Place St-Germain-des-Pres, 75006 Paris France

The area symbolises best the “left bank” in Paris where artists, writers, musicians and all what Paris had of “Bohemians” once lived. Quickly gentrifying, the area still remains a little something special. This is what we will try to unveil during this tour focusing on some of the most famous stores and sights of this Parisian neighbourhood.

Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Deyrolle, 46 rue du Bac, 75007 Paris France

Our first stop will be in the Deyrolle Boutique that is not all it seems upon first glance: it looks like a regular old gardening store from the outside but the second floor houses a unique ‘cabinet des curiosités’ that will make you feel like you have just stepped out of a time machine. A small private taxidermy museum awaits, filled with stuffed leopards and baby elephants, skeletons of various creatures and some odd mash-ups that look as if they belong in a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum instead of on the Left Bank.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Seine River, 75001 Paris France

The embankments of the Seine river are probably some of the most romantic places in Paris and offer a fantastic panorama on some of the most famous sights in the city. We will “flâner” as the French say, gently stroll stroll along the river, past the Louvre and the Institut de France for some great view.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Un Dimanche à Paris, 4, 8 Cour du Commerce Saint-André, 75006 Paris, France

At the former printing house of Jean-Paul Marat, another radical voice of the Revolution, we will taste the best hot chocolate in the city. The building, which also houses a medieval tower, is now home to Un Dimanche à Paris, a delightful chocolate concept store by Pierre Cluizel, whose family have been making chocolate for sweet-toothed Parisians for over 70 years. Together we will meet the managers and chefs in their exhibition kitchen and discover what it takes to produce these exquisite creations every day.

Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Cafe Pierre Herme, 61 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France

Burn off the calories you have just consumed taking a stroll along the iconic Boulevard Saint-Germain, past typical cafes and bars where the likes of JP Sartre and Samuel Beckett once sipped coffee, towards the Abbaye Saint-Germain-des-Prés, one of the oldest churches in Paris. We will stop nearby to taste sumptuous macarons at the Pierre Hermé store. Hermé was named Best Pastry Chef in the World in 2016 and as we all know, a pâtissier is judged on the quality of his macarons so it’s comforting to discover that Pierre has also been nicknamed the ‘Pablo Picasso of macarons.’ His pastries are like works of art, evoking a tinge of guilt as you take that first ruinous bite, which is soon forgotten as the sweet and tart flavors begin to tickle those tastebuds.

Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Boulangerie Poilane, 8 rue du Cherche Midi, 75006 Paris France

The next culinary stop will be at Poilâne, an institution in France. They have been making elaborately decorated sourdough bread in their wood-fired basement ovens here for more than 80 years, a large proportion of which is shipped out to fine dining restaurants around the land. Doctors have even prescribed the bread to their patients, claiming it is good for digestion.

Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Luxembourg Gardens, Rue de Medicis Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris France

We’ll then stumble towards the intoxicating Luxembourg Gardens, which were designed for the Medici family in the early 17th century. As no tour of Paris is complete without paying your respects to a certain tower designed by Gustave Eiffel, we’ll take you to a little known spot in the gardens where you’ll be able to spot the top of the iconic ‘Iron Lady,’ giving you an opportunity to take some alternative holiday snaps from a different perspective.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Fromagerie Sanders, 4 rue Lobineau Marché Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris France

the Marché Couvert (or covered market), is the place to buy some of France’s most delectable cheeses. At the Fromagerie Sanders, a cheesemonger who has been producing creamy curds for four generations, you’ll meet the owners and learn how their love of cheese has made their store one of the best places in Paris to find unusual varieties.

Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Bacchus and Ariadne, 4 Rue Lobineau, 75006 Paris, France

The tour will finish with an aperitif, that is a worthy representative the world over of French savoir-vivre (meaning ‘good manners’). At the winery Bacchus et Ariane we’ll experience this very French tradition, nicknamed l’apéro, and enjoy a friendly and cheerful moment together, drinking wine, sharing bread, trying more unctuous cheese and enjoying some casual chit-chat.

Duration: 30 minutes