I am not a big fan of chains, however, as with everything, there are exceptions to the rule. When it comes to dining, my exception is of Belgian origin and is called Le Pain Quotidien. I make it a habit to visit the various locations in the capital quite regularly, and I was already frequenting this brand when I was still in Lyon—that should tell you something! For the record, the first Le Pain Quotidien opened in 1990 in Brussels with the concept of communal tables and a bakery specializing in breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
Le Pain Quotidien
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Brunching at Le Pain Quotidien Charonne
In 2014, I had the chance to discover the new menu at Le Pain Quotidien, especially their brunch, which I hadn’t tried yet (shame on me!). I also really enjoy having lunch at Le Pain Quotidien, particularly when I am interning near Palais Royal, as I always find their lunch set menu good, well-balanced, and affordable. I am a fan of their soup of the day, always very flavorful, as well as their tartines.
What I appreciate about this brand is the brightness and luminosity of the restaurants, the always-nice decor, the quality of the products, and the kindness of the staff, which are always consistent. In recent years, the brand has also moved significantly toward a vegetarian and botanical offering, which accounts for a large part of the menus. As for the brunch, I find it really excellent. It is high quality, hearty, tasty, and priced similarly to other Parisian brunches. And the little extra? The all-you-can-eat spreads at Le Pain Quotidien, which are just super addictive. I particularly recommend the Noisella, which is to die for!
There are 3 different brunch formulas:
- Peasant Brunch (€23.50)
- Royal Brunch (€26.50)
- Botanical Brunch (€21.95)
The little extra at Le Pain Quotidien on Rue de Charonne: a wooden box with postcards and pens. You just write your postcard, and Le Pain Quotidien takes care of mailing it! Isn’t that nice?
Tested in 2014
Le Pain Quotidien
20-24 rue de Charonne / 75011 Paris
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Brunching at Le Pain Quotidien Bourse
The brand has moved significantly toward a vegetarian and botanical offering in recent years, which now represents a large part of the brand’s menus. In 2017, I was invited to discover the chain’s new Parisian location, right next to the Bourse metro station. Since I went on a Sunday, my friend Julie and I really wanted to have a little brunch with friends… As for the brunch, you find a quality, hearty, and tasty offering for a price equivalent to other Parisian brunches. And the little extra? The all-you-can-eat spreads at Le Pain Quotidien, which are just super addictive. I particularly recommend the Noisella, which is to die for!
So, to mix things up, we did a little combination; we selected one of the brunch formulas (the Nordic) and, on top of that, we supplemented it with a seasonal specialty, the Italian plate (€15.60), an Americano (€2.90), a cold-pressed seasonal juice with apple, carrot, melon, lemon, and ginger (€5.50), and a chocolate-banana muffin (€3.90).
The Nordic Brunch at €29:
- a plate with smoked salmon, herb ricotta, organic avocado purée, baby greens salad, and beet caviar
- sourdough bread and baguette + assortment of jams, spreads, and honey
- seasonal fruit salad
- slice of organic French toast style cake
- fruit juice of your choice
- hot drink of your choice
Tested in 2017
Pain Quotidien Bourse
33 rue Vivienne 75002 Paris
Open Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 8 pm
Find all my brunch reviews in Paris below:
⇒ All my Brunch addresses in Paris
MY ARTICLES ON GOOD BRUNCH SPOTS IN PARIS
⇒ Brunch from around the world
⇒ Brunch at Le Floréal Belleville
⇒ Brunching in Versailles
⇒ Brunch at Le Coq Hôtel
⇒ Healthy brunch at Foucade
⇒ Italian brunch
⇒ Brunching at Le Pain Quotidien
⇒ Brunch at Café Pinson
⇒ Brunching at Claus
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MAP OF MY FAVORITE FOOD SPOTS IN PARIS AND ILE-DE-FRANCE
Restaurant 
Bar 
Pastry / Bakery 
Tea Room / Coffee Shop
Brunch 
Ice cream parlor
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization required before any use
