Thing to do
Palais Garnier Visit
Self-guided or guided visits of Charles Garnier's opulent 1875 opera house, including the grand staircase, the Grand Foyer and Chagall's auditorium ceiling.
Marché des Enfants Rouges
Paris's oldest covered market, founded in 1628 in the Haut-Marais, where produce stalls sit alongside counters serving food from around the world.
At a glance
- Type
- Covered food market
- Area
- Haut-Marais, Paris, France
- Official site
- paris.fr
Good to know
- Step-free access
- Food stalls
- Producer stand
Why we recommend it
The Marché des Enfants Rouges is the oldest covered market in Paris, founded in 1628 in the Haut-Marais. Its name recalls an orphanage nearby whose children wore red clothes. The market sits behind a modest entrance on Rue de Bretagne, and once inside it opens into a cluster of covered alleys lined with produce stalls, food counters and shared tables. The City of Paris owns the market and lists it as accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Today it is less a place for weekly shopping than an informal food court. Alongside fruit and vegetable sellers, a cheese counter, florists and a producer stand, there are counters cooking food from many places: Moroccan tagines and couscous, Japanese bento, Lebanese mezze, Italian dishes and French crêpes and sandwiches. Most stalls have a few stools or tables, and the turnover is quick, so it works well for a casual lunch while exploring the Marais. Vendors change over time, so check what is open when you arrive rather than heading for a single counter.
The market suits solo travellers, families and groups who want different things, since everyone can order from a different stall and sit together. It is best at lunchtime on weekdays, when it is busy but manageable. Weekend lunchtimes are crowded and seats are hard to find, so arrive early or go mid-afternoon. The market is closed on Mondays. Paying by card is accepted at most counters, but carrying a little cash helps at smaller stalls.
Allow about an hour for a meal and a look around. Prices are moderate for central Paris, and it is a good alternative to a sit-down restaurant when you want something quick. After eating, Rue de Bretagne has bakeries, cheese shops and cafés worth browsing. It is an easy place to pick up picnic supplies before heading to a park.
Filles du Calvaire on metro line 8 and Temple on line 3 are both about five minutes' walk away. The market makes a natural stop between the Musée Picasso, the Musée Carnavalet and the boutiques of Rue Charlot and Rue de Saintonge, and the Square du Temple, a small park with a pond, is just across the street.
Marché des Enfants Rouges FAQs
How old is the market?
It was founded in 1628 and is considered the oldest covered market in Paris.
Is it step-free?
Yes, the City of Paris lists it as accessible to people with reduced mobility.
What can I eat there?
Counters serve Moroccan, Japanese, Lebanese, Italian and French food, alongside produce and cheese stalls.
When is it closed?
The market is closed on Mondays.
When is the best time to go?
Weekday lunchtimes are lively but manageable; weekend lunches are crowded, so arrive early.
Is there seating?
Yes, most food counters have stools or shared tables, though seats fill up quickly at peak times.
How do I get there?
Filles du Calvaire on metro line 8 and Temple on line 3 are about five minutes' walk away.