DAIRY FREE IN PARIS
I know many of you are blessed with the ability to easily digest lactose. Some of you may even have a problem with dairy in the United States, but then go to Europe and to your utter delight, you realize you can eat all the cheese and gelato that you desire without upsetting your stomach. I am not talking to you in this article!! I am talking to the people who simply cannot or will not eat dairy. This article is lovingly dedicated to you.
I have noted four vegan restaurants (and one vegan donut shop) on this list that I truly love, but please know that there are more and more vegan places that are popping up in Paris every day, and this is by no means an exhaustive list! For me, vegan options are nice because then I automatically know that something is dairy free without having to guess. The rest of this article is devoted to a bunch of places that I love that have specific menu items that are dairy free, very clearly state their allergens, or are open to adapting a dish so that it is dairy free. This list includes restaurants of varying cuisines, such as Japanese, Italian, and French. When I am with someone who is not inclined to go to a vegan restaurant, having this list on hand is convenient so that I’m not stuck somewhere with nothing to eat! Again, this is in no way a complete list, but these are just some that I have experienced and loved.
I have also written an article on all of my favorite sweets in Paris (here), and have noted when there are vegan or dairy free options. It can be hard navigating a city for the first time when you do not know the language, but enjoying good food in Paris should not be one of your struggles!
Boneshaker Donuts
Boneshaker Donuts is fantastic. All of the pastries (and drinks!) are vegan and made fresh each morning. My favorite treats are the Speculoos Donut and the Cinnamon Roll.
Le Potager de Charlotte
At the helm of Le Potager de Charlotte (my favorite vegan restaurant in Paris) are two brothers who have been vegan for several years and did us all a service by opening their restaurant in 2015! While the kitchen strictly uses vegan ingredients, the menu still points out vegan allergens like gluten, peanut, sesame, sulfites, etc., if there are additional ingredients you hope to avoid. The menu is constantly changing to reflect seasonal offerings, and everything is truly delicious. Snag a reservation so you don’t have to wait!
Land&Monkeys
Land&Monkeys was my first introduction into the world of vegan baking in Paris. Now are the croissants and pains au chocolat exactly the same as ones with tons of dairy in it? No. But are they close enough and is it worth it to save your digestive tract on vacation? Yes. Land&Monkeys also has salads and sandwiches, all of which are vegan. The big draw to me is that there are multiple locations throughout the city. When I need to run in and grab something quick, Land&Monkeys is my go-to.
Aujourd’hui Demain
Aujourd’hui Demain is a super casual vegan restaurant, but more than that it is a concept store. This means that after you enjoy your meal, you can browse the refrigerated food section, the little shoe area, and more! Similarly to Le Potager de Charlotte, Aujourd’hui Demain lists vegan allergens like lupin, sulfites, etc. Additionally, there are plenty of gluten free options, which are pointed out on the menu. I particularly liked the garlic bread with their roasted red pepper hummus. Note that I thought the pastries were a little dry, and I’d sooner run to Boneshaker or stroll to Land&Monkeys for a sweet treat.
Riz Riz
Riz Riz is a very casual vegan eatery. A little bonus is that they are also completely gluten free and boast zero waste! I loved their sweet potato waffles with guacamole and pomegranate seeds.
Café Mareva
Café Mareva is a very casual café in Paris where I like to grab breakfast. Their menu items are mostly geared towards people who would like to eat lactose free, but there are some items that are gluten free as well. I particularly like their sweet potato waffles with guacamole (similar to Riz Riz). Please check their allergen list on their website for more details!
Jun
Jun is a lovely Japanese restaurant in the 6th arrondissement. The menu does not explicitly refer to allergens, but many of the offerings are dairy free, vegan, and gluten free. I absolutely adore this restaurant, the kind staff, and the ambiance. I always get the gyoza, tanuki rice, and chicken.
Hachi Bento
Hachi Bento is another Japanese option in Paris, just over one neighborhood in the 5th arrondissement. Hachi Bento does not openly refer to allergens, but many of the offerings are dairy free. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here, and will be going back!
Clasico Argentino
Clasico Argentino has a couple of locations around Paris, and is home to delicious empanadas! I always go for the vegan empanada to rule out any allergens for me, but there are plenty of vegetarian empanada options if that is something that works for you or someone you are with!
Pastasuta
We have hit some Japanese and Argentinian spots, but this list cannot be complete without Italian. You will find that even though you are in Paris, people still want Italian food no matter where they are in the world! Pastasuta is a very small casual restaurant, where I enjoyed delicious rigatoni. The menu specifically notes if something is vegan or vegetarian.
Arrivederci Pizzeria
For a place that specifically showcases pizza, Arrivederci Pizzeria is delicious. I go for the vegan pizza option on the menu. The menu also notes when something is vegetarian.
Pizzeria Iovine’s
Another pizza option, Pizzeria Iovine’s allows cheese lovers to get their pizza while you can enjoy a dairy free one – as noted on the menu!
Didon
Now the cuisine we have all been waiting for – French! While French restaurants are usually synonymous with butter and cream, there are dairy free French dining experiences (if you look hard enough), and Didon happens to be absolutely delicious. This chic restaurant notes when a dish is vegetarian or vegan, and even displays a list of allergens on their website.
Hébé
From the people who brought you Didon, Hebe is a Mediterranean restaurant. Just like Didon, Hebe points out if a dish is vegetarian or vegan on its menu, and displays a list of allergens on their website. I could not choose between the two restaurants, as their menus are always changing!
Le Choupinet
Le Choupinet is one of my favorite casual French restaurants. You will find classic French items on the menu, and while there is no specific allergen list, the staff is happy to answer any question you may have. I am able to order the rotisserie chicken with fries completely dairy free, which is delicious!
La Crêperie
A trip to Paris is not complete without a crêpe, and La Crêperie has a savory vegan crêpe option!
Le P’tit Troquet
Le P’tit Troquet could possibly be my favorite French restaurant with a dairy free dinner in Paris. The atmosphere is very charming, and the staff is kind and friendly. Most importantly, on their website menu, they note out all of the allergens, and there is a wide variety of dairy free options to choose from!
Les Petites Mains
Les Petites Mains is a restaurant attached to Palais Galliera, a museum dedicated to fashion and the fashion industry in the 16th arrondissement. The opening times of this restaurant are quite fickle, so I would check their website. Les Petites Mains is on this list because they list out allergens on their menu and there are dairy free options, but I was not thrilled with the food. In fact, the best part of the restaurant is the view of the Eiffel Tower.
Sourire
Sourire is a tapas bar (that actually has three locations, but I always go to the one in the 5th arrondissement). This is an example of a restaurant that doesn’t necessarily come out and tell you that something can be made dairy free, but I have been to Sourire several times and they have been able to adjust dishes to make them without lactose each time! For example, I have ordered their burger and chickpea fries plenty of times without dairy! Please know that there are many restaurants like Sourire, and it never hurts to ask if they have an allergen list that they can share with you in advance!
Maslow Restaurant
Maslow is a bustling completely vegetarian restaurant, so that is enticing to a lot of people off the bat. However, as we lactose-free humans know – not everything vegetarian is dairy free. Luckily, Maslow’s menu clearly points out when something is vegan (which means no dairy, yay!) and bonus: when something is gluten free. Menu items change, as Maslow likes to reflect what is the freshest in that particular season.
Please note that this list is updated as of January 2024. It is important to check a restaurant’s website for the most up to date information on closures, allergens, and menu items, as these are always subject to change. Bon appétit !
