Belleville Bound Paris Beyond The Baguette

Fun, informative, and delicious! A fantastic way to spend a day getting over jet lag! Allison was a wonderful guide!

It was a pleasure to joint the tour. Nicolas is a dedicated and enthusiastic tour guide, with great knowledge about the food and the French vibe. Loved to learn that French don’t spread butter in their breads. The walking was enjoyable, great to bring the family and also people with disabilities because the route is from the top to below. And we got to see some viewpoints and embrace the multicultural rhythm and spirit of Belleville. The food was well paced, at the end we were quite full, but not with a heavy stomach. We got to experiment new things and I can only say it was a lovely way of spending the day with my family. Kids and husband also loved it. So a big congratulations to Nicolas for such a great job. 👏

Absolutely loved it. This is not our first Culinary Backstreets tour, and won’t be our last. We always check to see what tours they have when we visit a new country and try to book one. Loved the experience as always. Big fan of all the 9-10 bites and sips we tried :) Definitely come hungry for this tour!

Lucia was a great guide, and I was so glad to be with a relatively small group (6 guests total). Enjoyed the variety of tastes (LOVED the Reunion Island stop and Hervais the Coffee Man), and that Lucia paired that with historical and cultural context. This was my second CB tour (the first was in Lisbon last year), and in both cases, they were fun and tasty ways to get to know a new place.

An excellent tour with Nicolas as a perfect guide. Highly recommend

I love food tours because they give such a great insight into a culture and this one was probably the best I have been on. It took me to a part of Paris I have never experienced. The cultural diversity and the different foods were an eye-opener. Our guide, Lucia, made everything to life. I can’t rave about this one enough!

I love food tours because they give such a great insight into a culture and this one was probably the best I have been on. It took me to a part of Paris I have never experienced. The cultural diversity and the different foods were an eye-opener. Our guide, Lucia, made everything to life. I can’t rave about this one enough!

Allison was wonderful........full of information and passion for the food, the people, and the area. She made herself available to us for any and all questions and advice. She made the tour!!!

Susan was our guide - she was incredible!

Susan was great! Lots of food and fun! Learned a lot about Paris and the French way! Food and wine were delicious! Susan is very knowledgeable!

This was a wonderful tour. It took me to a part of Paris I might not have explored otherwise. We visited a range of places - there was way too much food for me overall but it did represent some of the diversity of this city and its cultures.

Novel and interesting section off the beaten path. Sampled a variety of foods such as Algerian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, Haitian, and French.

This tour with Allison Kave was the highlight of our week-long stay in Paris. Allison is fantastic guide, whose enthusiasm for the Belleville neighborhood and its diverse cuisine is catching. Her expertise in pastry and baking (she’s the author of two cookbooks, ran a pie business and opened two cocktail bars) meant we learned a lot! We meandered the neighborhood, tasting food from bistro fare like escargot to moon cakes from a Vietnamese bakery. Since our legs couldn’t do the full five-hour tour (which we so enjoyed in Mexico City years ago), my husband and I booked the slower paced private tour. Having Allison to ourselves was a real treat but I’m sure she is just as informative and caring in a group. A terrific time—food, neighborhood and guide!

We had a great experience with Nicolas. He was very engaging, full of knowledge of the area and was accommodating to our special requests ( Parisian flan). All our stops were delicious & covered a broad spectrum . He was an excellent source of information on Paris in general & was kind to walk with us to place des Vosges, pointing out interesting things along the way, after the official tour ended Thank you Nicolas!

I was very much looking forward to this tour and after reading such positive reviews i would rather not be giving such mixed ratings. Susan, our guide, was great- she shared lots of interesting and relevant information and was a fun companion for our walk. BUT- the tour, including the starting location, had been completely altered only the day before. The update to the link about where to meet was only made AFTER we had set out that morning. Getting to the correct location involved phone calls and a rushed half hour taxi ride. (The original meeting place looked amazing- a patisserie that looked like a jewel box.! ) The new location, when we finally got there, was ok but we had already discovered better pastries just along from our hotel. We went on to sample some traditional French dishes at a boulangerie and that was just ok too. Then it was on to a Vietnamese bun shop to sample gristly sausage and bland vegetables. We ended up in a very past its prime bar ( plus disgusting bathrooms) drinking not very tasty cocktails. Luckily our guide remained dynamic and interesting company but the food we ate on this new route was not the introduction we hoped for and unworthy of the price of the tour.

We very much enjoyed this 5-hour food tour off the beaten path in the eastern arrondissements of Paris, sampling a bit of well-known French fare as well as international fusion. Allison Kave is an exceptional tour guide with vast experience in food/beverage as well as being a published cookbook author. I would advise you not eat before the tour starts, and do not plan for a large (or any!) dinner that evening. Great food and company, I highly recommend!

Wonderful experience cruising the backstreets of Belleville. Visiting vendors that are producing unique food products was excellent. This is our fourth trip with Culinary Backstreets and have not been disappointed!

Personable and knowledgeable guide shared experiences we would have experienced on our own. Learned a lot about Parisian food culture and enjoyed wonderful, interesting foods

Allison our tour guide was fabulous, humourous and engaging! She spoke eloquently about the history of Belleville, its diverse people and places…all intermingled with delicious tastings of locally produced food. We probably would not have visited this neighbourhood had it not been for this tour away from the usual visitor attractions in Paris. Belleville is fascinating and everyone we met was lovely and friendly. The tastings included lots of pastries, Algerian tagine, burek and cola, a lunch at Mistral restaurant, breads, Japanese milk bread, coffee, plantain fritters, drinks to finish with bahn mi…we were full and satisfied. Thank you to Allison and the Culinary Backstreets team for such a great tour (our second one after the first in Istanbul).

I’ve been on many Culinary Backstreets food tours and they have all been wonderful. This Paris food tours was one of the best I’ve been on! Allison was an amazing guide, very informative, knowledgeable, passionate, and friendly. We explored the back streets of Paris and Allison uncovered so many hidden gems, not only in terms of incredible food and drink, but the people and stories behind them. Highly recommended!

Susan was a wonderful guide, friendly and knowledgeable. We had delicious food throughout the tour.

Great experience on our first culinary backstreets tour! Allison was a great guide — easy to talk to and took very good care of us. We ate plenty; no need for dinner reservations after! Totally worth the time and money spent. Look forward to trying more in the future!

Wow. This was an exceptional tour. We have taken tours with Culinary Backstreets in other cities and they have always been wonderful culinary and educational adventures. This one was no different. Lucia was a fantastic guide. She was informed and passionate about the cuisine and personality of the Belleville neighborhood. We learned a lot and enjoyed the food. Highly recommended.

A different way to see Paris and experience all its cultural and culinary influences. A wonderful tour with Nicolas—a kind, knowledgeable, and personable guide.

The tour was excellent! Allison was a great guide, a real expert but also very approachable and easy to chat with. I appreciated that the tour covered the history and the “why” behind the dishes that we ate. So much food - don’t eat breakfast beforehand!

Susan was an exceptional guide. She provided us with much information about Paris, food and wine! This was our third tour with CB (previously Istanbul and Barcelona) and each was as good as it gets!

A fabulous day starting at the market at Bastille tasting amazing produce and finishing with drinks at a corner bar with the friends we made over the day. Our guide, Susan, tailored the information to our interests of our small group and we learnt stories of the food scene in Paris.

Susan is amazing!! Highly recommend this tour for anyone who loves food.

We had the BEST time with Susan. She is so knowledgeable of both food and Paris. Within minutes, it felt like we were just hanging out with our foodie friend! She taught us so much, and I feel like we were able to try foods that we otherwise would have missed. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a fun and informative food tour!

I can’t say enough about our experience with Nicolas! He showed us a part of Paris where his parents called home, he was kind, considerate, SO knowledgeable, fun and caring, generous, and a great sense of humor…. Despite the heat spell, he went above and beyond to show us the historic water fountains and procured amazing beverages to sustain us as we ate our way through this unique and historical part of Paris…this tour had everything my heart and stomach wanted to experience in Paris! Nicolas was so knowledgeable as a chef, somalliere, and even works at the Cheese Museum near Notre Dame! I didn’t want the tour to end! He even helped me learn basic Paris Metro so I could travel to my next destination and arrive on time! 10 stars! Thank you Nicolas!😘💫👏

We did the tour with Nicolas, a former chef which was incredibly valuable. He also grew up in the area we walked around. It was great fun and all my questions (of which there were many) were answered in a positive and friendly manner. We were a small group of 4 and we wandered around and tried local food as well as some beautiful cheeses - and finished off with Pastis as the bar where Edith Piaf sang! Thank you Nicolas!!

Allison was an exceptional guide. Although we experienced temperatures reaching 107degrees during the tour , she was well prepared with misting spray, water, & most importantly delicious frequent tasting stops along the way. We all loved the stories that accompanied the yummy food and drink. We experienced places we would not have otherwise seen. Highly recommend Alison and this tour, no matter the weather!

Allison was outstanding. Besides serving us tasty food from several cultures in interesting locations, she spoke about culture. Our Austrian friends also enjoyed this walking tour. I would need more characters to describe Allison’s brilliance.

This was our second Culinary Backstreets tour and it was fantastic! Paris provides the perfect backdrop of both traditional and emerging cuisines. Our tour guide, Susan, was a wealth of information regarding the food and culture. We enjoyed fresh farmer's market offerings (the goat cheese was divine), including oysters, prawn, and seasonal strawberries dipped with creme crue and chocolate mousse. The tour has a lot of walking, but you find hidden restaurant gems all along the way. (I didn't know you can refill spring water AND sparkling water from specific public fountains.) The sheer amount of food is overwhelming, so be prepared to overindulge. We highly recommend this tour to experience many hidden gems outside the tourist zones.

This was my second outstanding Culinary Backstreets tour, and if anything it was even better than my initial one in Porto. Lucia was an engaging guide from whom we learned about the culture of Paris writ large, as well as about its culinary history and its diverse, evolving food culture.

Perfect day spent with Allison touring areas off the beaten path in Paris. Great mix of French and immigrant dishes. Excellent way to spend a day for people who like diverse food and learning where it comes from.

This is such a great food tour! You will see a side of Paris you could never see on your own and each bite was delicious. Our tour was with Allison who taught us about the neighborhood and the stories behind the food at each stop. Time flew by tasting a diverse range of cuisines, cheeses, sandwiches, desserts, croissants, and unique dishes you would never find or order on your own. For anyone who's looking to go deeper than just touristy food Paris, we highly recommend this tour and the tour with Allison.

Susan was an excellent tour leader who was both friendly and knowledgeable. The food was excellent, ranging from the ones more commonly associated with Paris such as croissants and cheeses to ones I would not have found on my own like Algerian pastries and hibiscus drinks. I enjoyed our walk through the Bastille to Belleville.

A delicious, authentic taste of a Paris many tourists never experience. Susan was a knowledgeable, engaging, and well-prepared guide who brought the city’s culinary soul to life. You’ll learn about everything from baguettes, croissants, and Parisian tap water while enjoying countless memorable bites along the way. What stood out most was seeing the rich tapestry of modern France through its history and immigrant influences: North African pastry shops, Vietnamese banh mi and donuts, Malay gems serving excellent satay, and small local shops with incredible cheeses and specialties. And that Normandy butter… unforgettable. Most memorable of all was meeting passionate shopkeepers and restaurateurs preserving traditions and craftsmanship. They are the true heart of this wondrous city. A diverse, delicious experience that reveals a side of Paris many visitors miss.

Our food tour guide Susan B. was outstanding. She immersed us into a total Parisean experience, beyond just foods and beverages, as she related her own personal experiences living in Paris after growing up in Ireland. Susan exemplified everything good about Ireland with a French twist! Storytelling paired with food and beverages was the order of the day!

We did a small group tour with Susan as our guide. I can absolutely say, that it was one of my most favorite experiences during my short time in Paris. Susan was an absolutely phenomenal tour guide with so much knowledge and experience. Would totally book again!

Our guide, Susan was the best! So knowledgeable and fun!

This was a fabulous tour. We are so much delicious food and experienced an off the beaten track neighborhood. I felt like we got to see the Paris of today- vibrant and varied. All th food was so good - especially the food of different cultures. Our guide Allison was amazing and so talented- she has published cookbooks! We love Culinary Backstreets and always do their tours and this was one of th best!

Another fabulous tour with Culinary Backstreets! Allison was a terrific guide. Fabulous food choices: who would have ever thought I'd eat a durian donut!!

Our guide Susan was delightful and very informative. Our tour was a leisurely gastronomic extraordinary experience. We highly recommend.

Susan was an incredible guide! The tour was in a fabulous neighborhood where Susan highlighted the culture and history as we walked and ate. As the tour was on Sunday, Susan knew all the spots that were open, including the local food market. The pacing of the tour was excellent and Susan proactively thought of all the needs of the group including bathroom stops, water, and sitting breaks. The food on the tour was high quality with Susan's excellent selections and recommendations. I would take this tour again anytime!

What a great tour! I have been to Paris seven or eight times but this tour taught me sooo much. Allison was such a delight and she is so knowledgeable, and fun and helpful. Just everything you could want in a guide. All six of my friends loved this tour.

We love all Culinary Backstreets' small food tours. Our food tour through the entire 11th arrondissement to Belleville with Lucia was no exception: food stops ranged from Algerian pastries, fresh strawberries and fromage at the Marche Bastille to the best Banh Mi we have ever eaten and much more, ending with a final stop at Aux Follies in Belleville for an afternoon drink. Lucia was extremely knowledgeable, placing food in the context of history, both past and present. She knew the people at all our stops, plus many neighbors on the street whom we met in passing. Lucia adapted the tour to the requests and interests of our small group of 4. (An additional pleasure: we have always found our fellow Culinary Backstreets travelers to be interesting and fun to be with.)

Whenever I'm in a town with a Culinary Backstreets tour, I try to book it. This was no different. Truly got to see different neighborhoods and each stop was a treat. Susan was a wonderful tour guide and she cultivated a fun, open, and engaging atmosphere on the tour.