Tucked away in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in the 7th Arrondisement is Rue Cler – one of Paris’ most beloved market streets. The quaint side street is full of boulangeries, cheesemongers, fishmongers, delis, and butchers among the cafés.
During a weekend in Paris, we found Rue Cler without looking for it. After wandering through the Eiffel Tower ground, we were stuck in that weird time in the afternoon – starting to get hungry but, nowhere near dinner time yet. We noticed a few cafes spilling onto the street and thought "let’s give this a go" before we even clocked the bright red sign letting us know where exactly we were.
Rue Cler is more than dreamy cafes and bistros – though you are guaranteed an excellent meal. Rue Cler is a Parisian market street for Parisians. The surrounding households head to the street to do their regular food shopping as well as pick up the meats, veggies, and breads for their family dinners on Sunday.
But, we weren't there to find a family dinner - we were looking for a snack. And wow, the choice was endless!
The beauty of just stumbling upon something is one of the best parts of travelling. It was mid-January so heaters were essential, and we spotted a covered terrace with a free table directly under a heater, attached to Le Tribeca - a trendy little bistro where happy hour had just started. And honestly, what a find! The 3€ red wine from Bordeaux was absolutely sensational, and there was no way that we were going to skip a baked camembert when we spotted it on the menu! A small dish of deliciously creamy camembert baked in a white truffle cream sauce was the decadence you dream about with French food - we still think about this meal regularly.
Whether you’re looking for a quick drink, a full meal, or maybe you want to cook your own meal with French ingredients, Rue Cler is well and truly worth a wandering stroll during your Paris adventures.