Photo by © Biglove Paris
In the heart of a country famed for its love affair with meat and butter, France is slowly embracing a greener culinary path. In many of the country’s more metropolitan areas, from Marseille to Lyon, and even Paris, where traditional fare is still the favorite, we are witnessing a revolution, as numerous restaurants join the movement of making vegetarian and vegan food more readily available.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE
Diners in Paris are now encountering a delightful upheaval in their culinary experiences, with a handful of eateries wholeheartedly committing to a vegetarianism, while even more are infusing their menus with inventive meat-free and dairy-free options.
For our regular vegetarian readers — and those looking for some healthy recommendations for the new year — we’ve rounded up our top vegetarian restaurants in Paris challenging the conventional boundaries of French cuisine.
Wild and the Moon
Taking inspiration from West-Coast health food havens, Wild and the Moon champions organic, seasonal ingredients, served up in cold-pressed juices, nourishing smoothie bowls, vibrant salads, and daily hot plates. Attracting lunch crowds and coffee aficionados alike, their fully vegan menu boasts variety and flavor, and with several aesthetic locations around the city, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better vegetarian bite on the go.
See Wild & The Moon’s Paris locations here.
Le Potager du Marais
While health-focused vegan options dominate Paris’s meat-free scene, Le Potager du Marais stands out for its adaption of traditional French cuisine into equally indulgent vegan renditions. Satisfy your winter-food cravings with a range from seitan bourguignon to mushroom terrine and tofu blanquette, and end the meal with a comforting vegan chocolate mousse, crème brûlée, or tarte tatin.
Le Potager du Marais: 26 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris, France
Faubourg Daimant
With its unassuming entrance, it is easy to walk past this small gem of a vegetarian restaurant, centrally located in the 10th arrondissement. From succulent carrots glazed in ‘bbq’ sauce to mushrooms layered with squash and orange blossom or ‘vegetable carcass’ roasts, Faubourg Daimant redefines vegetable-based dining with ambitious meat-free dishes inspired by the seasons. Their innovative offerings are also complemented by a charming courtyard where you can enjoy your meal in the summer months.
Faubourg Daimant: 20 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75010 Paris, France
Arpège
For those looking for an haute-cuisine experience, Alain Passard’s Michelin-starred establishment is the place to visit. Having placed vegetables at the forefront since 2001, his menu is sourced from the restaurant’s gardens using only the freshest produce. The vegetable tasting menu, priced at €420, may not be budget-friendly, but the dining experience is a true culinary journey, reaching its pinnacle with Passard’s iconic “bouquet de roses” apple tart.
Arpège: 84 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
Biglove
Should French food wear you out, Biglove is the latest addition to the Big Mamma Group, a series of locally owned Italian restaurants favored by Parisians. Their only location dedicated exclusively to vegetarian fair, Biglove, much like any authentic Italian eatery, prioritizes showcasing the richness and indulgence of Italian cuisine, serving up soft morsels of cheese, olive-oil drenched breads, creamy mushroom pastas and seasonal pizzas.
Biglove: 30 Rue Debelleyme, 75003 Paris, France