You don’t need any great standard of French to explain to the grocer that you’re having a “pique-nique” (External link) when shopping for your edible goodies. And after grabbing paté, olives, saucisson and a nice crusty baguette, you’ll be spoilt for choice for places to eat them in Paris.
Though some lawns aren’t always accessible to the public, many parks and gardens gladly welcome picnickers. Among the most famous are the Tuileries (External link) near the Louvre and Champ de Mars (External link) under the Eiffel Tower, both big on space and even bigger on views. For a quieter affair off the beaten track, try the Marais (External link) and its ‘secret’ gardens such as the Jardin des Rosiers Joseph-Migneret or Jardin Anne-Frank (External link) at the end of Impasse Berthaud. If you need tables and seating, the Jardin d’Éole (External link) has designated picnic areas – and if you’re pushed for time, some shops sell ready-packed picnics. So uncork the wine, kick off your shoes and enjoy a literal Déjeuner sur l’Herbe this summer.