Le Mouffe photo
Rue Mouffetard Market picture

If you love to cook, there’s really only one way to vacation in Paris. Skip the pint-size hotel room and rent an apartment with a fully equipped kitchen so you can enjoy the treasure trove of ingredients sold around the city.  Paris is dotted with open-air markets offering the freshest breads, meats and seafood, fruits and vegetables, and of course, cheeses. Fill your tote with artisanal finds in the morning and cook gourmet meals back at your own New York Habitat vacation rental in Paris at night.

Rue Mouffetard Market, or La Mouffe as it’s affectionately known to locals, is one of the city’s best-known markets. Located in the popular 5th arrondissement, this narrow cobblestone street is among the oldest in Paris and feels like a tiny village unto itself. You’ll find boucheries (butchers), boulangeries (bakers), poissoneries (fish stores), fromageries (cheese shops) and magasins du vin (wine stores) –  a true gastronomic paradise. The merchant street is also lined with restaurants and cafes, perfect for people watching while soaking up the sites and smells of the bustling market.

Located on the Left Bank in the fifth arrondissement, La Mouffe runs from the Place de la Contrescarpe, just behind the Panthéon, down to St. Médard Square. It’s open daily (except for Monday’s) and is best to visit in the mornings, as some stalls close in the afternoon. New York Habitat has dozens of charming apartments in the 5th arrondissement right along Rue Mouffetard, including:

La Mouffe Picture
Rue Mouffetard Market photo
This Studio rental in Latin Quarter (PA-3548), located one block away from the Rue Mouffetard district.

This 1-Bedroom vacation rental in St Michel – St Germain – Notre Dame – Mouffetard (PA-3216) is located near the Place de la Contrescarpe and all of the market activity. The apartment is on the first floor of a 19th -century building and features wireless internet and quaint street views.

Want to make a trip to La Mouffe part of your Parisian routine? Have you ever been to Rue Mouffetard Market or other outdoor markets in Paris? Please comment below.