A Follow-Up to “Paris with Teenagers: A Local Mom’s Complete Guide”
In my main guide, I shared the activities that tend to work for most families. The reliable rhythm. The balance between culture and fun.
But in our family, food is often the real highlight.
A museum and ramen afterwards? Yes, please.
A long walk followed by ice cream? Suddenly everyone’s motivated.
My older son is currently studying at a hotel and gastronomy school, so food isn’t just a hobby in our house. It’s a serious topic. Living in Paris, I honestly feel like we’ve tested almost every bakery, ramen spot, and pastry counter at this point.
If your teenager lights up more at a dessert display than at a monument, this is your version of Paris.
6 Food Experiences in Paris That Teens Actually Love
Paris is almost unfairly good for food-loving teens.
Here are the experiences that consistently work — from hands-on workshops to relaxed picnic moments and proper French lunches with a view.
#1 Learn to Bake Macarons in Paris
→ book the same workshop that we did here.
Learning something together is one of the best souvenirs you can bring home. Especially with a teenager.
You measure. You mix. You wait nervously in front of the oven. And when the macarons finally come out right, you celebrate properly. A pastry class is hands-on and focused, and it feels completely different from classic sightseeing. Less ticking boxes. More family time.
And if you love baking, there’s no better place than Paris to learn how to make macarons properly. Here, they’re not a trend. They’re taken seriously.
The good news is that you have options, depending on your time and budget.
→ Budget-friendly and great value: Macaron baking class at Galeries Lafayette
→ More in-depth 3-hour experience: Macaron workshop with Le Foodist
You leave with a box of your own creations — and a skill that lasts longer than anything you could buy in a souvenir shop.
#2 Le Gourmet at Galeries Lafayette
If you’re traveling with a real foodie fan, this place will feel like paradise.
Galeries Lafayette Gourmet is where many of the best caterers and pastry chefs in Paris come together under one roof. It’s perfect when everyone is hungry but no one agrees on what to eat.
Many of the most famous pastry chefs in France have a stand here. You’ll find macarons by Pierre Hermé, creations from Cyril Lignac, pastries by Philippe Conticini, desserts from Yann Couvreur, and treats by Vincent Guerlais.
You’ll also find babka and sabich sandwiches from Babka Zana, pastries from Meunier, and countless small counters and eateries.
If your family gets excited walking past bakery windows, this place is just right. And for you? It’s efficient, central, and easy to combine with shopping at the Galeries Lafayette or Opéra nearby. It’s also not far from Rue Sainte-Anne with the Little Tokio Neighbourhood.
#3 Eat Your Way Through the Marais
→ Want to taste the best of the Marais without overplanning? Reserve your spot here.
The Marais isn’t just a shopping hotspot. It’s one of the best neighborhoods in Paris for foodie teens.
This is one of the oldest districts in the city, with a strong Jewish heritage and at the heart of Paris’ LGBTQ+ culture. And where there’s history and community, there’s always good food. You’ll find falafel institutions, bakeries with lines out the door, trendy cafés, and the oldest covered market in Paris: Marché des Enfants Rouges.
If you prefer structure and the ease of mind, this Food Tour in LeMarais is a great pick. It’s relaxed, generous, and focused on crowd-pleasing favorites rather than fine-dining formality. You walk, you taste, you move on. It feels social and easy — which works beautifully with teens.
And just so you know: the legal drinking age in France is 16 when accompanied by an adult — something many visitors are surprised to learn. But no worries, there will also be alcohol free options available.
→ If this sounds like your kind of afternoon, check availability and book here
#4 Picnic Like a Parisian
If there’s one thing that always works with teens, it’s a picnic.
Paris is made for it. Parks, green spaces, wide riverbanks — and in the evenings you’ll see groups everywhere having what we call an “apéro.” Simple snacks, something to drink, and time together.
What I love about picnics here is the simplicity. You don’t need a plan or big preparations. Stop by a supermarket or deli, grab baguette, cheese, fruit, maybe pastries or chips, and you’re set. No reservation. No waiting. And it’s perfect when you can’t agree on a restaurant — or when the timing just doesn’t work out.
A few easy spots:
→ On the Champs de Mars with the Eiffel Tower in front of you
→ In the Jardin du Luxembourg
→ Along the Seine
→ By the Canal Saint-Martin
After a day of sightseeing and city rush, this kind of relaxed moment can reset the whole mood. You sit, you eat, you watch the city go by.
And for a while, you’re not tourists. You’re just part of it. Picnics are a lovely way to enjoy the Parisian life and spend a relaxed time among locals.
#5 Seine Lunch Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
If you want something that feels special but requires zero effort from your teen — and you — this is it.
The lunch cruise with Bateaux Parisiens departs right by the Eiffel Tower and glides along the Seine River for about two hours. You sit under a glass canopy, lean back, and watch Paris drift by. No walking and no pressure to focus. Just the city unfolding outside your window.
Instead of grabbing something quick between sights, you’re served a proper three-course French lunch at your table. It feels like a real experience — but without exhausting anyone.
For foodie teens, this works perfectly well. You get the food and the views and everyone gets a break.
→ Want to turn lunch into a real Paris moment? Check availability and reserve your cruise here.
#6 The Official Emily in Paris Food Tour
If your teen loves food and Emily in Paris, this tour is a real win-win.
You get to try proper French specialties — buttery pastries, galettes, cheese, wine — while also visiting the filming locations without having to hunt them down yourself. No screenshots, no guessing streets. It’s all woven naturally into the experience.
At the same time, you’re walking through one of the most beautiful areas of Paris: the Latin Quarter. Around the Panthéon and the Luxembourg Gardens, the streets alone are worth the stroll.
So it’s not just a themed tour. It’s good food, recognizable series moments, and a guided walk through a part of Paris you’d likely explore anyway — just done in a much more delicious way.
→ Curious? You can check availability for the Official Emily in Paris Food Tour here.
#6 Try the Ice Cream Shops in Paris
Even if it’s “just ice cream,” it works perfectly as a little break and a small treat between sights. It’s easy to integrate into your day and surprisingly valuable. I know it is in our family. Ice cream always works.
The most famous address is Berthillon on Île Saint-Louis. It’s been around since the 1950s and is known for its intensely flavored, artisanal ice creams and sorbets made with natural ingredients. They are often listed as one of the best ice cream shops in the world.
But Berthillon is only the beginning. Paris has plenty of excellent artisan ice cream shops, so you can easily turn this into a small tasting mission. One scoop here. Another flavor there. My families favorites are Glaces Moustaches and Pozzetto, both are in the Marais.
Also read: 7 Must-Try Ice Cream Shops in Paris
Quick Wrap-Up
If your teen connects to Paris through taste rather than towers, lean into it.
Bake macarons instead of buying souvenirs. Wander the Marais instead of rushing through it. Picnic instead of overplanning. Add a lunch cruise when everyone needs a break.
Paris takes food seriously. And teens who love food usually do too.
And if this isn’t your teen’s main interest, you can also read:
→ Paris with Teenagers: The Instagram & Netflix Edition
→ Paris with Teenagers: Pop Culture & Gaming Edition
→ Paris with Teenagers: Fashion & Beauty Edition
→ Paris with Teenagers: Active & Energetic Edition
Different teens. Different focus.
Same city — just experienced through another lens.
Want more Paris recommendations? Here’s my free Google Map with 200+ spots 🗺️
À bientôt,
Lena
Parisienne since 2006 🇫🇷
Sharing Paris life, French culture, cafés, food & honest travel tips
Join me on Facebook for updates and news about Paris.
NEW: The Salut from Paris Travel Guide:
Must-Haves for Paris:
- eSim card to stay online while in Paris. I used Airalo for my travels.
- You likely need a travel adapter to plug your devices.
- Travel Insurance – if you don’t have one, VisitorsCoverage is a good option.
- If your flight is delayed or even canceled, use AirHelp to get compensation.
Tours & Attractions:
- I book tours & activities through Get Your Guide or Viator.
- Museum & Landmark tickets can be cheaper on the official page, but they are often sold out.
- I love the GoCity Travel Passes for easy planning
Flights & Transportation:
- I use Omio to compare flight fares & connections
- Airport transfers I book through Welcome Pickup
- For car rentals, I use AutoEurope. It’s easy to compare prices
- Train Tickets, you can book through Omio
- Here’s my Parisian Metro Guide
Accomodation:
- Hotels in Europe I mostly book through Booking.com (check reviews carefully)
- Vacation Rentals through Airbnb or VRBO