A highlight of staying in a Paris apartment is the chance to live like a local and engage in the little errands of everyday life in your neighborhood. Stop in at the local pharmacy, wait with your neighbors at the bus stop, watch school children scurrying off to school with their backpacks slung over their shoulders.
Shopping the local markets and grocery stores is a treat not to be missed. France is a delight for foodies, and there are many grocery stores in central Paris . Local supermarkets (supermarche in French) are G20 on the rue St. Dominique near the Eiffel Tower .
There is a very nice and larger Franprix on Ave de la Bourdonnais. We love to roam the isles to view the selections of ‘slightly different’ foods, from cereals to cookies and biscuits. Both G20 and Franprix deliver.
A smaller version Monoprix has just opened next to the Ecole Militaire metro near rue Cler, called Monop. Open late and on Sundays, good price and handy!
On rue Cler itself you’ll find two small groceries: a Leader which is a discount type supermarket and a Fran Prix which is more upscale.
Also, we love visiting the Monoprix chain, which is like the French version of Target. The location of the Monoprix nearest the 7th arrondissement: rue de Grenelle just next to the Motte Piquet Metro. Walk to Ecole Militaire (the beautiful old building at the other end of the Champs de Mars gardens; it literally faces the Eiffel Tower) and turn right in front of it. Four blocks later and you’ll see the big Monoprix sign on the corner.
The other big Monoprix on the Left Bank is: 35-37 Rue du Bac , 75007 PARIS phone 01 42 86 44 30 (By the way, did you know the French invented the hypermart concept?)
To be truly French, you must visit Picard’s gourmet frozen food store for great selection of frozen items at affordable prices. They are located all over central Paris , but this address is handy to visitors staying in the 7th arrondissement: Picards, 195 RUE DE GRENELLE 75007 PARISTEL : 01 47 05 88 84.
I Love Picard’s Desserts!
Picard’s Frozen Dessert
It’s very common for the French to shop daily for their fresh baguettes, produce, cheeses, etc., for several reasons. Parisian kitchens are small and storage space is at a premium, so buying several weeks of groceries at a time is just not practical. Plus, the French insist on the freshest, best quality goods they can find. Daily shopping is part of the French culture, with loyal patrons visiting their favorite shopkeepers, socializing and catching up on the latest news.
We loved visiting all the food shops in the area when we stayed in the Chardonnay apartment 3 years ago. I especially remember the Picard gourmet frozen food store. We will be back!