Rue Poncelet rue Bayen boasts one of the best and typically Parisian street markets – offering an oasis of the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, wines, cheeses, pastries, bakeries – the list goes on! If you really want to do 'the characteristically French thing' – then a visit to this market is definitely it. One can purchase a straw basket for just 10 euro's and then weave yourself through the crowd of French food lovers while pausing at all the stands to buy the food your heart desires.

Incidentally I think this is a great place to spot the 'authentic' Parisians - either walking around with their designer dogs, wearing berets, carrying a baguette under their arm or enjoying an espresso at one of the cafés (great photo opportunity!).

I do warn you that everything looks so good, that you will land up 'eating with your eyes' and probably buying more than you should. Who cares! The food is so good that it's an absolute necessity to let go and indulge!! The rue Poncelet street market is also considered to be, as markets go, a very classy one, so expect prices to be a little higher than a regular market. Along the street are also some of the best food stores Paris has to offer such as the fromagerie Alléosse, where many Parisians religiously make their way to this spot to buy its dazzling aged cheeses. So once you've queued for your warm French baguette, tub of cheese, a roll of salami, a bottle of wine, a handful of strawberries and a melt-in-your-mouth pain-au-chocolat, I recommend taking a 10 minute stroll to Park Monceau and setting up a little picnic on the grass under a tree next to the pond…

The rue Poncelet rue Bayen market is open every day (except Mondays) from 9:00 – 19:00 and Sundays from 9:00 – 13:00 and is located in the 17th aarondissement. The nearest metro is Ternes (line 2) – or it's just a few minutes walk from the Arch de Triumph.