Paris: Saint Germain Food & Wine Tour with Michelin Bakery

4.83

(145 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

There’s this low hum of conversation that floats out from the boulangerie on Rue de Buci — you can almost smell the butter before you step inside. Our guide, Camille, waved us over with a grin and handed me a piece of apple tart that was still warm. I nearly dropped it because I was too busy gawking at the pastry case. The crust flaked everywhere (sorry, Camille), but honestly, that’s how you know it’s good. We started our Saint Germain food & wine tour right there, surrounded by locals who didn’t even look up from their morning coffee.

I thought I knew French cheese until we ducked into this shop where presidents get their supply — apparently that’s a thing. The cheesemonger explained the difference between PDO and IGP labels while slicing something creamy and sharp; I tried repeating the names but gave up after the third attempt. It was all so casual but somehow felt like a big deal. Then came the bakery run by Thierry Marx (Michelin-starred chef — no biggie). The bread had this chewy crust and smelled like roasted grain; we stood outside nibbling baguette pieces while Camille told us how Marx is kind of an eccentric genius in Paris food circles.

We wandered past Le Bon Marché, sunlight bouncing off those crazy Art Nouveau windows. At one point, we squeezed into a tiny brandy shop that’s been around since 1905 — dark wood shelves stacked high with bottles I couldn’t pronounce. The owner poured us Armagnac and port; it burned in my chest in a way that felt oddly comforting. Someone made a joke about Hemingway needing this on cold nights here, which got a laugh from our group (and maybe an eye-roll from Camille). There was also chocolate somewhere in there — honestly, things got fuzzy after the second glass of wine.

I keep thinking about how ordinary people just go about their lives here — shopping for cheese or chatting at cafés where Picasso used to sit. Our day trip through Saint Germain wasn’t just about food; it was about feeling stitched into Paris for a few hours. Even now, if I close my eyes, I can hear the clink of glasses and smell fresh bread on the air.