Guide to Paris- including plant-based eats & low waste shops
This Guide to Paris has been a long time coming! Rob and I spent a few days together in the City of Lights in December 2018 and it was magical.
There’s so much to see and do and this Guide provides a sampling of healthy eateries, sustainable stores and accommodations, and activities. It was amazing to be in Paris during the holidays and even better to relive our experience when writing this Guide.
Where to Stay:
I wanted to stay at a sustainable hotel and the Hidden Hotel was the perfect find. It’s a gorgeous boutique hotel located near the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees. From the moment you walk in, you feel like you’ve entered a calm oasis. It’s decorated with wood, stone, slate and ceramic accents and is extremely cozy. The rooms are small, but perfectly designed and the comfortable mattresses are from Coco-Mat, which crafts sustainable mattresses. The continental breakfast is a MUST. Rob and I fueled ourselves each morning with the most delicious coffee (espresso for Rob, Cappuccino for me!), fresh baguettes, and local food. The breakfast included a hot and cold buffet filled with fresh fruit, DIY yogurt/oatmeal, pastries, and eggs. Additionally, the bar makes amazing cocktails to be enjoyed in a very romantic setting. The service was great throughout the whole stay. I couldn’t recommend this hotel enough!
Where to Eat:
From local fare to healthy eateries, Parisian food doesn’t disappoint. Rob and I enjoyed a mix of it all. Here are some recommendations based upon where we ate and where we wanted to eat, but didn’t have the time!
- Hidden Hotel: The gorgeous breakfast buffet is the perfect way to start the day! It features local ingredients and delicious coffee. Plus, there’s an amazing cocktail bar in the evening.
- Sense Eat: This delicious Italian restaurant is completely vegetarian. We enjoyed great wine, pasta, and lots of vegetables. This is a great spot for a date night.
- VGT Bowl: Stop by this more casual restaurant for fresh juices, smoothies, acai bowls, salads, buddha bowls, and much more. The menu is packed with vegan options.
- Wild & The Moon: There are a few locations for this fully plant-based, gluten free, and plastic free restaurant. You can fill up on coffee with adaptogens, veggie bowls, pancakes, and amazing vegan desserts. It’s a casual spot, perfect for breakfast or lunch.
- Poilane: We had the loveliest lunch here one day. I enjoyed a vegan hot chocolate and veggie soup and Rob had a tartine. The bread was phenomenal so if you don’t have time to eat here, stop by the bakery for some baguettes to go!
- Noglu: Stop by here for vegan and gluten free desserts!
- Le Grade Epicerie Paris: This is a gorgeous market next to Le Bon Marche (an upscale department store). It’s definitely worth a walk through. You can also have a sit down or take out meal.
- La REcyclerie: Unfortunately, La REcyclerie was closed for the holidays when we were in Paris, but it looks incredible. It sells earth-friendly food and products and hosts different events.
- Hank Burger: We didn’t get the chance to eat here either, but it looks amazing. Definitely worth checking out if you want a vegan burger.
- Abattoir Vegetal: This vegetarian restaurant has vegan options and looks super cute. I want to go the next time we’re in Paris!
- Otium Paris: Here’s another vegan spot that we didn’t try, but looks great.
Sustainable Shopping- bulk stores, clothing & other eco-friendly items:
I always look for bulk stores and sustainable shops when abroad. I like to see what’s available and how other countries are approaching sustainable living. Using the Bulk Finder website from Zero Waste Home is great to track down the nearest bulk stores. Here are some of the bulk stores and sustainable shops we found:
- La Pistacherie: We enjoyed the most delicious candied pecans and pistachios from here. There were so many nuts and candies sold in gorgeous glass jars!
- Bic c Bon: These are all over Paris and have great bulk sections. I loaded up on dried fruit and nuts from one of the locations for the flight home.
- Carrefoure Bio: This is another chain that has multiple locations and a great bulk section.
- Naturalia Vegan: This is a 100% vegan health food store with a nice bulk section!
- Eykog: This sustainable fashion line has gorgeous clothing.
- Altermundi: This is a great place to get ethical and eco-friendly gifts!
- Noyoco: Another sustainable store with clothes and other items for a more eco-friendly life.
- Le Bon Marche: This upscale department store is beautiful. I loved walking around it!
What to do:
Rob and I walked everywhere and took in all the sights and enjoyed many museums. Here are our recommendations:
- Louvre Museum
- Musée d'Orsay
- Louis Vuitton Foundation
- Sacré-Cœur Basilica
- Notre Dame
- Arc de Triomphe
- Champs-Elysees
- Saint Germain (the Soho of Paris)
I can’t recommend walking around aimlessly in Paris. There are gems everywhere and it’s magical to roam the streets. I hope you can use this guide to enjoy your Parisian travels even more!