France is not only famous for the Eiffel Tower, but also for its fantastic Parisian markets, the outdoor markets. If you’re visiting Paris at an even remotely warm time of year, you’re probably looking forward to exploring the markets around the city and greater France. We’ll have another blog out soon that gives a general overview of some of the best markets in Paris, but today, in honor of Bastille day in July, we’re going to focus on the Marché Bastille.
What is the Bastille Market?
The Bastille market, one of the best food markets in Paris, is best known for its stands with fresh produce (fruit and vegetables), olives, meats… and other amazing food and drink. While there are booths that sell everything from artisanal leather to crappy clothes and pans, the real gems are the various booths of lively vendors calling you in to taste a tangerine or buy a rotisserie chicken. This market is a great mix of fresh produce, artisanal foods, and everyday essentials. It’s a quintessentially French cultural experience, and we’re thrilled you’ll get to experience it on your trip.
As a local, if you shop at Bastille, or any market, consistently (nearly every week), you’ll find your way to your favorite booths and be surprised how quickly you’ll get to know the vendors. As you wander the market, be sure to do some people watching; it’s a joy to see people of all walks of life laughing together or haggling over the price of grapes.
Where is the Marché Bastille?
The Bastille market is located at the junction of the 3rd, 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements. The base of the market starts at the famous Monument de la Bastille, right off of line one, and runs along the Boulevard Richard Lenoir. You can easily use other metros to get to the market, however, either from the sides or the northern part of the market. Here are the best stops for access:
Bastille: Lines 1, 5, and 8
Chemin Vert: Line 8
Bréguet Sabin: Line 5
What are the Marché Bastille Paris Hours?
Note that the Bastille market is open on Thursday and Sunday mornings, from 7am. You’ll want to get there sometime before noon, as between noon and 1pm, vendors start to run out or wrap up around then, though technically the market is open until 1:30pm on Thursdays and 2:30pm on Sundays.
For more detailed information, check out the official page on the Mairie’s website.
What is the Bastille Market Known for?
Depending on who you ask, you may receive differing answers for this question, but we’ll round them up as best we can.
Large market with lots of vendors
Not all markets are as large or as varied as the Bastille market. If your vendor isn’t there, you’ll definitely find another!
Fresh, high-quality produce
The Bastille market has an exceptional number of organic stalls, known as “bio”. You can find a wide range of local produce that hasn’t suffered from pesticides. And if that’s something that’s not in your budget, there’s also plenty of important goods without the green labels for more affordable prices - just be sure to wash them well before you eat!
Mostly local shoppers
It’s true that not a ton of tourists visit this market. That’s starting to shift, but it’s primarily a place we locals go for groceries, and generally, unless you’re in an Airbnb with time to spare, visitors passing through have less of a need for groceries.
Ready-to-eat food
Don’t worry, we’ll dive more into this in a bit. If you happen to be in the market late morning or midday, you might want to grab an early lunch, because some of the vendors here sell incredible food. Oh, and the rotisserie chicken? Also amazing - and a total French staple for a Sunday lunch!
Is the Marché Bastille worth visiting?
If you have a little time to spare in Paris, the Bastille market is absolutely worth visiting. If you’re staying in the area, and have some free time in the morning on a Thursday or Sunday, a stroll through the market is a wonderful mellow way to spend your time. It’s a breath of fresh air from the overly crowded larger sites of Paris, like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre.
You’ll enjoy the market if you’re a foodie, if you love fresh fruit and vegetables, and if you enjoy people watching and seeing locals living their daily lives. You’ll also enjoy it if you’re looking to practice your French! Most basic French classes cover food, numbers, and greetings, and you’ll be sure to use all of those while buying a few apples at the Bastille Market.
That said, if you’re staying on the other side of town, it’s not worth crossing Paris for. If you have other things to do, this one can wait until your next visit. Or, you can find another local outdoor market near where you’re staying, and check that out. It might be smaller, but you’ll get the same local energy and similar delicious food.
Don’t have time for the Bastille, but want a taste of local food? Try a food tour of central Paris - it’s a party for the tastebuds.
What To Do in the Bastille Market
Here’s our idea of a good time at the Bastille Market.
Talk to vendors to learn about products and get recommendations
As mentioned above, use this opportunity to practice your French and learn a bit more about where French produce comes from! You’ll want to be sure to hit the market early if you’re looking for time to chat.
Build a picnic with bread, cheese, fruit, and wine
…And take that picnic to the Place des Vosges. More on this below.
Sample fresh produce and local specialties from different vendors
… but don’t help yourself! Many fruit vendors will lure you in with a slice of peach or a few berries. You can absolutely accept and taste test; with no obligation to purchase!
What To Eat at the Marché Bastille
Oysters
On the day you visit, there should be at least one Oyster stand, near the north western end of the market. You’ll notice it because there will be a few barrels to stand around that will be full with people slurping oysters and sipping white wine. Join them; it’s one of the best activities to do at a market in France.
Lebanese
Closer to the southern end of the market on the Eastern side, you’ll see a booth serving lebanese wraps. You can get full meat filled wraps, or something simple, like a pita rolled up with labné cheese and za’atar. They’ll also have savority pastries filled with things like feta or ground lamb. We’ve tried almost everything here. It’s all amazing, and the woman who usually mans the booth is an absolute delight.
Crêpes
After all, you are in Paris! Be sure to hit up on of the crêpe stands for a treat. When in double, choose the classic flavor: sugar and lemon juice. Fresh, sweet, sticky and the taste of France.
What To Buy for a Picnic at the Marché Bastille
Perhaps it’s a nice warm day outside and you’re hoping to pick up picnic materials to picnic on the Canal, the Seine, or elsewhere. From our years of Paris picnicking experience, here’s our best advice:
Grab the baguettes from a boulangerie around the corner
In our experience, the bread can dry out a bit at the market. It will still be delicious, but you’ll not regret grabbing your baguette at Maison Lendemaine around the corner.
Get the firmer cheese
We’re not kidding - super soft cheese will practically melt away! Go with a few hard cheese selections like the classic comté or the mouth watering beaufort. Then, go for something softer, like a stiff brie or a Saint-Felicin that at least comes with its own little clay pot. A goat cheese goes a long way too - if you can find one rolled in pimet d’esplette, you won’t regret it.
Seasonal fruits and veggies
Early summer, you have to try the strawberries. France grows great strawberries, so while they might not be local to the north, chances are they’ve only travelled a few hours to get to you. Peaches in the summer are also delectable. And of course, you can’t go wrong with some cucumbers and carrots to even it all out.
Seafood
…in certain circumstances! Some seafood stalls have oysters they can shuck for you, but that’s only worth it if you’re going around the corner. Otherwise, you can often find paella or seafood salads. If you’re moving straight on to your picnic after this, it’s worth trying some of these foods! If you’re waiting a while, we wouldn’t risk it.
Local meats and patés
You’ll be sure to stumble upon a stand selling rillettes (a kind of rustic paté), paté, and cured meats. Get only what you’ll eat, and don’t shy away from something new. Dried ham with hazelnuts? Pepper coated saucission? Yes please!
Wine
If you want to have the full market experience, you can absolutely buy wine there. However, we prefer to go to a wine shop where we can talk to someone about what we’re looking for and what might go well with the picnic. La Carté des Vins is a great wine shop. They’re super helpful and will definitely ahve some chilled white or orange wine for a hot day. Don’t forget to have them pop the bottle for you!
Looking for more stellar wine caves, or even better - a bar to sit down and have a glass? You’ll find tons of recommendations in our guide.
Our Tips for Visiting the Bastille Market
Ask Before Touching
Not all vendors want you to touch their fruit! They get tired of people bruising produce while testing for ripeness. Ask permission or study what the locals are doing before you dive in. And when in doubt, always ask their opinion. This is especially true for avocados. They always know which ones to give you to eat today, tomorrow, or later in the week. It’s like magic.
Always Carry Cash
This is less and less true, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Most booths accept cards now, and most without a minimum payment. But it can still be nice to pay with cash if you want, for example, one simple eggroll to munch on as you walk along. Not that if you’re going to ultra low priced deals at the very end of the party, like 10 sad lemons for 2 euros, they’d want cash for that.
Bring a Basket
It’s cute, it’s quaint, and things will get less squished than if you shove everything into a tote bag. Trust us, dealing with a crushed tomato in the bottom of your bag is no fun, if a bit of a right of passage.
Walk Around a Bit Before Buying
Walk around! Take it all in! Decide what looks best before you dive in. Otherwise you risk filling up your basket with berries that… well, aren’t the best the market has to offer.
Go Early
As we mentioned earlier in this blog, the early bird gets the worm. This is absolutely true on the French market scene. Booths will run out of eggs, rotisserie chicken, and seasonal produce very quickly, so it’s best to make an early morning of it and plan to head down around 9am. Plus, it’s nicer to visit when it’s not so crowded.
And after? Why not grab a coffee at Back in Black? Or take your purchases over to Place des Vosges for a Picnic? Perhaps you’d prefer a meal inside, in which case you won’t want to miss Petit Bao around the corner for some stellar Chinese food. Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got the answer over here at Paris in My Pocket.
Or, if you'd rather wander the neighboring arrondissements on your own, we can help you there as well. Here’s why we love the 3rd arrondissement, how to maxmize your time in the 4th arrondissement, what to do in the 11th arrondissement, and what we love in the 12th arrondissement. Paris is yours for exploring!
These are our top tips, but if you want to learn even more, than check out our video on the subject:
