What to Do in Paris on a Sunday
Sunday is Paris at its slowest rhythm. Because a good number of restaurants also close on Monday, reservations tend to pile up into Sunday evening, while the mornings belong to classic patisseries and the city's covered markets. This guide maps the 24-hour choreography of a Paris Sunday across twelve addresses, from the first croissant to the last cocktail.
Season matters. September-October and May-June are ideal. High summer (July-August) sees many places shut for the French holidays, and December is festive but comes with shorter trading hours.
Morning: Patisserie and Market
A Paris Sunday morning starts with breakfast at a classic patisserie, then a wander to a covered market. The four addresses below set the tone for the first half of the day.
- 01
The right way to open a Sunday with classic patisserie. Ladurée Paris Royale, the house's original tea salon near Madeleine, opens after nine in the morning. Settle in for a long sitting of macarons, croissants and a proper pot of tea before the day gathers pace.
Visit venue → - 02
Sébastien Gaudard Pâtisserie des Tuileries
Saint-Honoré & Palais-Royal · Pâtisserie & salon de thé · $$A classic pâtisserie and salon de thé facing the Tuileries, in the Saint-Honoré quarter. Sébastien Gaudard Pâtisserie des Tuileries is made for a Sunday morning: a refined pastry counter and a calm room for a pause before or after a walk through the gardens.
Visit venue → - 03
The oldest covered market in Le Marais, and it hums on Sunday mornings. Drift between the stalls, taste your way through them, then take a table among the crowd. This is the Paris version of a Sunday market outing.
Visit venue → - 04
A Breton crêperie in the heart of Le Marais, and the right call for a Sunday brunch. Order the buckwheat galettes and finish with the house salted-caramel sweets. An easy, satisfying detour between market and museum.
Visit venue →
Midday and Afternoon
Sunday midday means a classic bistro or a modern brunch; the afternoon means a Paris museum or a long stroll through a garden. Here are the four addresses for the middle of the day.
- 01
A classic bistro institution in Le Marais and an ideal Sunday lunch. The repertoire is old-school and dependable: confit de canard, the soufflé au Grand Marnier, and the kind of cooking that doesn't chase trends. Come hungry and plan to linger.
Visit venue → - 02
A Provençal bistro tucked into Le Marais, with the terrace open for a Sunday afternoon. Expect the flavours of Provence on the plate: ratatouille, pissaladière and a generous, sun-warmed spirit. A relaxed stop between the market and a walk.
Visit venue → - 03
A Mediterranean café on the Tuileries side, in the Saint-Honoré quarter, with one of the city's most coveted terraces. Loulou pairs easily with a Sunday stroll through the gardens, making it a natural midday anchor for the afternoon.
Visit venue → - 04
A wood-fire bistro in Le Marais and a fine alternative for a classic Sunday lunch. The kitchen keeps it plain and precise: steak grilled over the open hearth, frites, and not much fuss. Cosy, smoky and honest.
Visit venue →
Evening and Night
Sunday evening calls for a bistro dinner followed by a bar; the Paris choreography for a Sunday night is pared back and unhurried. These are the four addresses to close out the day.
- 01
A neo-bistro institution in the 11th arrondissement, with a tasting menu and a place on the 50 Best list. It may be closed on Sunday evenings, so check the reservation before you set your heart on it. On the weekends it does open, it's among the best high-end choices in Paris for a Sunday night.
Visit venue → - 02
A neo-bistro in the Sentier quarter, and a strong pick for a Sunday-evening set menu. The room is small, the menu fixed, and the courses shift with the season. If you can't get a table, the Frenchie Bar à Vins next door is the more relaxed alternative.
Visit venue → - 03
A modern speakeasy on the Sentier side, and the right register for a Sunday night. A small room, premium spirits and inventive cocktails make it an easy place to draw out the evening after dinner.
Visit venue → - 04
A speakeasy hidden behind a taqueria in Le Marais, with a mezcal-led list. It's the right closing note for a Sunday night on the Marais side of town, low-key and a little secret. Step through the back and settle in for one more round.
Visit venue →
The choreography of a Paris Sunday: morning pastry at Ladurée, a midday turn through the Marché des Enfants Rouges followed by a Marais bistro lunch, an afternoon walk through the Tuileries, dinner at Septime or Frenchie, and a nightcap at the Experimental Cocktail Club. Those five movements catch the right rhythm of a Sunday in the city.
One important note: many Paris restaurants are also closed on Monday, which can make Sunday evening busier as a counterweight. Book two or three weeks ahead to be safe.