Vegan Food Near Me: 10 Exceptional Cafés and Restaurants in Paris – VegNews
Despite a centuries-old culinary tradition of butter, cheese, cream, and meat, a trip to Paris can be filled with divine vegan food at every meal. The cultural emphasis on organic and seasonal ingredients combined with the country’s recent embrace of plant-based dining has made for truly outstanding vegan options throughout the city, from dedicated vegan boulangeries to white tablecloth fine-dining establishments.
The evolution of vegan dining in Paris
The concept of vegetable-forward dishes is not entirely new in French cuisine. In fact, France has been a revolutionary player in the world of plant-based food. Renowned chef Alain Passard shocked the world in 2001 when he decided to remove meat from the menu at L’Arpége in Paris. Despite the bold move, Passard kept his Michelin star as a vegetarian restaurant. The forward-thinking chef put emphasis on fresh, local, and organic produce by buying land outside of Paris to grow his own vegetables. Although Passard eventually brought back fish and poultry to the menu, the impact was still felt in the culinary world.
Claire Vallée
Decades later, restaurant ONA by chef Claire Vallée made history as the first vegan restaurant in France to earn a Michelin star. Located near Bordeaux, the restaurant, which closed as a result of the pandemic, was completely free of animal products, right down to its furnishing and decor.
In 2021, Michelin-starred Chef Alain Ducasse took a turn at a mostly plant-based concept. The visionary opened Sapid, located in Paris’ 10th arrondissement, with a strong focus on sustainability, reducing food waste, and utilizing natural ingredients at affordable prices. Earlier this year, Ducasse launched Burgal—a vegan burger pop-up that took over a kiosk in the city’s Place de la Bastille.
Ducasse has been incorporating vegetarian dishes in his restaurants since the ’90s, not only to appease the occasional plant-based customer but to align with his own environmental ethics. “We will be careful of the planet, [mindful] of its scarce resources, of the men and women who cultivate, who fish, who collect,” Ducasse told France Info.
Jay & Joy
Paris is also home to the first vegan fromagerie, or cheese shop, in France. Jay & Joy launched in 2016, combining plant-based innovation with the tradition of artisan cheesemaking. The organic shop offers a delicious variety of vegan cheeses from brie to goat cheese in addition to several gluten-free and soy-free options.
10 vegan restaurants and cafés in Paris
There’s no doubt part of the Parisian charm comes from its historic roots and centuries-old traditions, but this hasn’t prevented the city from embracing modern ideas by …….