Paris for Celiacs- My Thoughts Post-Vacay
Bonjour everyone! Long time no blog post! We’ve just got back from our week-long relaxation trip to Paris (except I’m actually writing this on the plane to our next destination-haha) and I have a few thoughts to share about the gluten-free scene.
As a disclaimer, let me just tell you that I love Paris. Wholeheartedly. I believe if I hadn’t moved to Florence I would’ve moved to Paris. The city is fast and stimulating while still honoring the European idea of slow living. If anything, this trip reminded me of how much I love the city and that I should make a point to visit more often since I’m so close!
But the gluten-free scene was really not what I remembered it to be.
For context, the last time I was in Paris I was 19 and backpacking through Europe while writing my undergraduate thesis. I was studying the ways culture impacts the quality of life for celiacs through auto-ethnographical analysis. In non-technical terms that means I was eating at gluten-free restaurants around Europe, writing about it, and getting my degree. Not a bad gig, I’ll admit. All this to say…I was still a bit of a naive novice traveler who was only diagnosed with celiac disease a few years prior and easily excited by any gluten-free option.
Fast forward to now when I’ve been living in Italy for almost 2 years and have built a career around promoting Italian culture to celiacs and helping you all travel safely. My perspectives are vastly different, to put it lightly. And, though I hate to admit it, it’s not so easy to impress me anymore.
So with that little preface, here are my updated thoughts on the celiac-safe scene in Paris.
Bakeries
Heavenly. I LOVE the 100% gluten-free bakeries in Paris. And rightfully so…I mean, where else in the world would you find better pastries than those in France? These especially excite me because we no longer have any dedicated gluten-free bakeries in Florence and yes, it has created a gaping hole in my life. I went to a gluten-free bakery in Paris every single day we were there and never had anything I didn’t like. If all you did while in Paris was eat at gluten-free bakeries, it would be a trip well spent.
Fast-Casual & Vegan Takeaway
I’m not sure why, but there seem to be a lot of fast-casual and takeaway spots in Paris…and they are almost all vegan or vegetarian. I suspect this has to do with COVID and restaurants having to pivot models to stay open because it was not this way when I was in Paris pre-COVID. These spots are great options for lunch while you’re out sightseeing and I quite enjoyed them. They are also awesome for picking up a few pre-made salads, chia pudding, juices, etc to keep in your hotel room. If vegan/health-centric food is your jam like me, you’ll have a blast in Paris. However, if you hate vegetables as much as my boyfriend aka travel companion (*romantic eye-roll), you might be out of luck.
International Cuisine
There is a good variety of international restaurants in Paris including Thai, Japanese, and Italian. Which is kind of fun if you want to be adventurous. But if you were hoping for some traditional French cuisine, I have bad news for you: there’s not a whole lot. Pretty ironic to not be able to find gluten-free French food in Paris. It’d be like coming to Italy and not being able to have any gluten-free pizza.
And speaking of Italy, I, unfortunately, can not sing the praises of the Italian restaurants in Paris. It’s not that they were bad, they just weren’t particularly wonderful. But let me be clear, I live within a 10-minute walk from some of the best gluten-free Italian restaurants in the world. I am about as spoiled as it gets when it comes to gluten-free Italian food and it is very hard to impress me now…occupational hazard of being The Celiac in Italy I suppose.
Sit-Down Dining
Finally, can someone help me understand why there is such a lack of sit-down dining options for celiacs in Paris? Is this just a gluten-free thing or are Parisians allergic to long dinners in general? I love the convenience of the fast-casual/takeaway places but then when it came to having a nice sit-down dinner together, we couldn’t find a whole lot.
I don’t say any of this to deter you from traveling to Paris…it’s a beautiful city and we had a lovely vacation. And we did find some great gluten-free spots. I just found it interesting how much my perspective has changed over the years.
If you’re planning a trip to Paris, I have a full guide to gluten-free Paris in my Thatch shop. It includes a list of gluten-free restaurants with short descriptions, their menus, and an interactive map that allows you to see where they’re all located, get directions, and check off the ones you’ve visited. It really is the most convenient way to visit Paris as a celiac!
What are your thoughts on Paris?? Gluten-free paradise or hot mess? I would love to hear your thoughts!