If you’re thinking about skipping the big Thanksgiving feast back home this year, Paris is the perfect place for a quick escape. Of course, Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in France, but that definitely doesn’t mean you have to go without your turkey fix.
A handful of Paris restaurants serve up authentic Thanksgiving feasts, and there are also plenty of other perks to visiting Paris at the end of November, from fewer crowds to better hotel deals. To help tempt you to visit at this time of year, here are my favorite things to do on Thanksgiving Day in Paris.
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Image Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
Savor a traditional Thanksgiving meal
You don’t have to worry about missing out on a delicious Thanksgiving meal if you’re visiting Paris at the end of November. A handful of restaurants around the city put on special Thanksgiving menus, from full-on traditional feasts to French-meets-American versions.
Just don’t leave it until Thanksgiving week to book. These dinners are pretty popular (and even some French people go), and tables can disappear pretty quickly.
Here are my top picks for Thanksgiving dinner in Paris:
- Breakfast in America €€ – This American-style diner with two branches in Paris is a great choice if you’re after the real deal. You’ll get all the Thanksgiving fixings complete with pumpkin or pecan pie.
- Treize au Jardin €€ | WA* – Sitting across from the Luxembourg Gardens in the 6th arrondissement, this friendly modern café puts on a slightly creative Thanksgiving meal.
- Joe Allen €€ | WA – This New York-style bar and restaurant in Les Halles serves up a special Thanksgiving feast that should really hit the spot.
- Benoit €€€ | WA – This historic bistro, run by famous French chef Alain Ducasse, adds a French touch on Thanksgiving. The menu changes each year but usually features free-range turkey, cranberry, gravy, and refined versions of classic sides.
- Ralph’s €€€€ | WA – If you’re after a chic setting for your Thanksgiving meal in Paris, go to the posh restaurant in the Ralph Lauren boutique in the classy Saint-Germain district.
*(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Gather your own Thanksgiving dinner supplies
If you’re staying in an apart-hotel, or have a little table in your hotel room and don’t mind getting creative, you could always put together your own Parisian version of Thanksgiving. Now you won’t find all traditional Thanksgiving items here in France, such as cranberry sauce and turkey (it’s served at Christmas instead), but you can pick up a mouth-watering roast chicken, some oven-baked potatoes, and other tempting items that are close enough to what you might enjoy back home.
There are tons of amazing food stores in Paris, and you can find some of the best on market streets, like the Rue Cler, Rue Montorgueil, and Rue des Abbesses. Here you’ll find all the shops you’ll need in one place instead of having to trek across the whole city.
Or, you can find all kinds of tasty food items at a Paris food market, which is a wonderful experience at any time of year.
If you’d like a little help navigating all those cheese, meat, and produce stalls, consider joining this great Paris local food market tour (WA). You’ll be accompanied by a French food expert who can show you how to shop at a Parisian market like a pro and give advice on the best items for your special Thanksgiving in Paris meal.
Score an amazing deal on an upscale Paris hotel
One of the best things about visiting Paris around Thanksgiving is that it isn’t peak tourist season. This means much fewer crowds, but also some pretty tempting hotel deals.
This could make your overall trip more affordable, or use it as an excuse to upgrade. If you’re saving on the usual high-season rates, you could treat yourself to a higher-end hotel, a bigger room, a gorgeous view, or even a little spa time.
We’ve got a bunch of fantastic options in the Paris hotels section of our site, but these are a few you might want to check out:
Get your Christmas shopping done early
If you’re spending Thanksgiving in Paris, you might as well make the most of it by also getting a head start on your Christmas shopping.
Paris’s reputation as an incredible shopping destination definitely lives up to the hype. The city is packed with gorgeous shops, independent boutiques, and French brands that make perfect gifts. Plus, there’s something extra special about bringing home a little piece of Paris for everyone on your Christmas list.
And if you’re strategic, you can actually save a lot of money by doing some VAT tax refund shopping. If you need some inspiration on where to go shopping, check out my guide to the best shopping areas in Paris.
Or, if you’re feeling stressed about trying to find Paris’s best boutiques, you can book this private shopping tour (WA). Your guide will tailor the experience to what you’re looking for, take you to the right places, and save you a whole lot of time (and potentially some very questionable impulse purchases).
Tour the Louvre with fewer crowds
One of the big perks of visiting Paris in late November is that there are fewer tourists around, making it a pretty great time to tackle the Louvre (WA). It’ll never exactly be empty (it’s the most visited museum in the world, after all), but it should be MUCH calmer than during the busier months.
If you can swing it, I’d aim for a weekday visit. Weekends tend to bring in more French visitors and European weekenders, so the museum can get a little busier.
It’ll absolutely be less busy, but it’s still a HUGE place. You can breeze through the museum and see all the main masterpieces by joining this Louvre highlights tour (WA). I’ve done the tour myself and loved our guide’s passion, deep knowledge, and knack for getting us smoothly around the vast museum without making us feel like we were on a forced march through its never-ending rooms.
See some festive holiday lights
Late November in Paris can bring its fair share of grey skies and chilly days, but luckily, the city starts putting on its festive sparkle around this time.
The big department stores usually have their spectacular Christmas window displays in place by mid-November, so you can already get your festive fix while strolling around the city. Most of the other holiday lights are also up by around November 20th, so a Thanksgiving trip comes with a lovely bonus of experiencing some holiday magic in Paris.
Some of the bigger Christmas markets open up by the end of November, giving you a chance to browse the stalls, grab some hot wine or cider, and snack your way into the festive spirit.
Explore Paris’s beautiful covered passageways
A rainy or chilly day is no reason to hide away in your hotel all day. Instead, duck into some of Paris’s gorgeous historic passages couverts, covered shopping arcades dating mostly from the early 1800s.
With their glass ceilings, pretty architecture, and lovely boutiques, they’ve got a special magic and make the perfect rainy-day activity. You can explore a little slice of old Paris while staying warm and dry.
I’ve included all my favorites on Day 1 and Day 4 of our Paris Itinerary, but definitely don’t miss the Galerie Vivienne and the Passage du Grand Cerf. Both have plenty of character and are lined with cool boutiques and cafés. You can also be guided through the nicest ones and learn about their history on this Paris covered passageway walking tour (WA).
Gaze at glamorous interiors without going to Versailles
The Château de Versailles (WA) might be high on your Paris bucket list, but late November isn’t really the most magical time to trek out there. A huge part of the château’s appeal is its stunning gardens, and by late autumn they’re looking more dreary than magical.
Luckily, you can still admire lavish interiors without leaving Paris. Overlooking Place de la Concorde and a short walk from the Louvre is the Hotel de la Marine, an 18th-century regal home that has totally stunning interiors. It’s got grand rooms, gilded decoration, and plenty of the over-the-top glamour that you were probably hoping to find at Versailles, just without the trip out of town.
If art and opulent interiors are your thing, head over to the Musée Jacquemart-André (WA). Tucked away in the elegant 8th arrondissement and one of my favorite museums in the city, this former mansion belonged to wealthy art collectors. The building itself is almost as impressive as the art that’s on display. It also has a romantic tea salon that you can linger in after you tour the museum.
After checking out my tips on Thanksgiving in Paris, are you looking for other great things to do in Paris at this time of year? Read these next:
