Paris' Culinary Bookstore Librairie Gourmande Is A Must-See For Foodies

Paris is on virtually everyone's travel itinerary. The famed city is known for its elegant food, extensive history, Haussmann architecture, sophisticated culture, and so, so much more. As the crown jewel of Western Europe, Paris usually makes an appearance on most European travel itineraries, but with so much to see and do in the city, it can be a daunting task to pick your personal must-see destinations. And, today we're adding to that dilemma.

If you're visiting our page, that means you're likely a bit of a gourmand yourself. One of the best parts of traveling can be enjoying local cuisines and discovering new snacks. Paris, being one of the best food cities in the world, can truly satisfy any craving. With quaint cafés, food stalls, and high-end restaurants on nearly every street corner, it's relatively easy to find a place to indulge. However, we recommend adding one overlooked locale to your already over-packed food destinations list: La Librairie Gourmande.

For those unfamiliar with the French language, Librairie is actually a false cognate. This quaint spot with iconic bright pink lettering is a welcoming bookstore in an easily-accessible spot in the city. Just north of the 1st arrondissement, the store is in the middle of a busy area, perfect for finding boulangeries and cafés within walking distance after filling yourself with foodie knowledge.

The bookstore has been around since 1985, according to the store's website. Both gastronomy professionals and cooking enthusiasts have flocked to the location for decades to immerse themselves in the "widest range of cookery and oenology books." If you're a French speaker, you can browse books on the lower level, but English books are located on the upper floor, according to Tripadvisor.

There is plenty to discover in this bookstore. The official website for the Paris Region says their collection covers everything from, "table-setting, day-to-day cooking, regional food, international cuisine, desserts, wine, drinks and cocktails, and even literature, history and detective novels covered, you're sure to be impressed." We're positive adding this to your travel itinerary will be worth it.