Ina Garten's Delicious Pro Tip For Exploring Paris

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When it comes to incredible food, excellent taste, and good times, there's no better expert than beloved cooking icon Ina Garten — especially when it comes to Paris. Garten first encountered the city as a young woman traveling with her husband, Jeffrey, before he began his studies in Washington, D.C. But they weren't staying at five-star hotels and dining in Michelin-starred restaurants at this point in their life; 50 years ago, it was just them, a tent, and a gas cooking stove. To save money, Garten's plan was to buy fresh food at local markets and cook at their camping spot. Though that might sound like a total bummer to many, it was a life-changing experience for her, especially with the key insight to source some good French bread and begin strolling.

In an excerpt from her 2016 cookbook, "Cooking for Jeffrey," she wrote, "Our first stop was Paris and it was a revelation to me [...] I discovered French street markets and simple, seasonal food that was based on incredibly good ingredients." The foodie couple fell so hard for the City of Lights that they ended up buying an apartment there, which they've now owned for more than two decades. 

So when Garten gives you a pro tip about Paris, you'd better listen. In a 2025 Substack post, she responded to a fan's query asking what to do if they only had 2-3 days in Paris. Her response? "My recommendation for anyone visiting is simple: put on your best pair of walking shoes, grab a baguette, and wander around the city on foot. You never know what delights you might stumble into."

Many of us think of Ina Garten as the queen of the Hamptons, where she kicked off her culinary empire, but she's also an esteemed expat in Paris. After her and Jeffrey's culinary camping trip in their youth, he promised they'd come back later with a little more wisdom and a lot more money. Truly a man of his word, Ina and Jeffrey purchased a charming pied-à-terre in the posh seventh arrondissement back in 2000. Twenty-five years later, she's more than happy to share her list of favorite food destinations in France, from where to buy the best baguette to how to spend an afternoon at the city's famous markets.

It makes sense that her suggestion is to grab a great baguette and just start walking through the city in search of delicious things. Unlike most American cities, much of Paris is made for leisurely strolls. Her suggestions for enjoying the city aren't about rushing from monument to monument; they're about learning how Parisians actually live. Though Garten certainly isn't a stranger to fancy restaurants, she tends to favor classic bistros, tiny cafes, and markets that locals rely on. She's also a fan of grocery stores and charcuterie shops and gives plenty of tips on what she buys to throw the best dinner party. It's obvious that Garten doesn't approach Paris like a tourist but rather a second home, so it's no wonder she suggests keeping your days simple and focusing on the food and the authentic city.