Celebrate Thanksgiving the Paris Way: Food, Views, and Culture

Wondering how to enjoy Thanksgiving abroad? Paris has you covered in every way!

Published: March 23, 2026
Family Having a Thanksgiving Meal

Spending Thanksgiving in Paris puts a delightful twist on tradition—think golden roast turkey with a side of Parisian charm and world-class pastries standing in for pumpkin pie! Whether you want a classic American feast, a French-inspired holiday meal, or simply some cozy moments in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Paris is ready to serve up a Thanksgiving to remember. We’ve gathered top picks for dining, exploring and making the day special, from festive restaurants to sparkling city adventures. Get ready to raise a glass (or a croissant) and give thanks, Parisian-style! 

Our favorite ways to celebrate Thanksgiving in Paris include: 

  • Dining at Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner 
  • Having a Thanksgiving Picnic on the Seine 
  • Exploring the Musée d’Orsay for Artful Gratitude 
  • Savoring Seasonal Pastries at Parisian Bakeries 
  • City Views from Tour Montparnasse 
  • Joining a Fall Market Stroll 
  • Holiday Shopping at Galeries Lafayette 
  • Sipping French Wine Pairings at Les Caves du Louvre 
  • Enjoying a Seine River Cruise 

Dining at Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner 

Nothing says Thanksgiving quite like turkey and stuffing, and Paris delivers for homesick travelers and foodies alike. Head to Joe Allen, a long-loved American bistro decked out in NYC-style décor near the Louvre, for a feast of roast turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and classic pies—loaded with warmth and nostalgia. The restaurant bustles with locals, expats, and visitors savoring an authentic holiday meal.  

Another beloved spot, Breakfast in America, decks the tables with generous plates of Thanksgiving comfort (and the all-day breakfast is a bonus). Meanwhile, the American Church in Paris hosts a festive and friendly Thanksgiving dinner open to all, turning strangers into instant friends over pumpkin soup and pecan pie. Booking ahead is essential, as these spots fill fast! Whether you’re craving home flavors or just want to join in the holiday spirit, these restaurants guarantee a heartwarming Thanksgiving in the City of Light. 

Creating Your Own Thanksgiving Picnic on the Seine 

Why not swap a formal dinner for a Parisian picnic? Gather rotisserie chicken or duck from Marché Bastille or Rue Cler. Pile your basket with baguettes, French cheeses, seasonal apples and an early Beaujolais Nouveau, released just in time for the holiday. Find a spot along the Seine, perhaps the snowy Pont des Arts or beneath the Eiffel Tower, and dine with a view as boats drift by.  

Parisian autumn adds a cozy vibe—think crisp air, swirling leaves and street musicians in the background. Treat yourself to pastries or a tart from a nearby boulangerie for a sweet finish. This do-it-yourself Thanksgiving is spontaneous, budget-friendly, and impossibly romantic. Don’t forget a blanket for your riverside feast and a toast to gratitude, French wine in hand. It’s easy, delicious—and totally unforgettable. 

Exploring the Musée d’Orsay for Artful Gratitude

Musée d'Orsay

If you fancy celebrating Thanksgiving with creativity and quiet reflection, spend a few hours at the Musée d’Orsay. Housed in a stunning old train station, the museum fills with sunbeams through its vaulted glass roof—which feels especially magical in late November’s crisp light. Wander through galleries showcasing Impressionist giants like Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh, and soak up the beauty and history that surround you.  

Pausing in front of a favorite painting offers a delightful moment of gratitude for art, travel and adventure. The museum is less crowded than during peak spring, granting you peaceful space to meander. Grab a coffee in the grand clock café overlooking the Seine—a spot that’s both serene and striking. You’ll leave feeling inspired, refreshed and extra thankful for Paris’ creative spirit. 

Savoring Seasonal Pastries at Parisian Bakeries 

No Thanksgiving is complete without dessert, and Paris’ bakeries are ready to satisfy any sweet craving. Swap pumpkin pie for a glorious apple or pecan tart from Poilâne, where buttery crust meets perfectly spiced filling. Indulge in chestnut cakes or caramel-pecan flan at La Maison Pichard—just the right combination of seasonal and decadent.  

Pick up a few treats and enjoy a dessert picnic in a park or with coffee at your hotel. The fragrances of toasted nuts, cinnamon, and caramel will transport you—even without the pumpkin. It’s an easy, joyful way to celebrate Thanksgiving in Paris, one irresistible pastry at a time. 

Taking in City Views from Tour Montparnasse 

Step away from the Thanksgiving table and take in Paris from above at Tour Montparnasse. This modern skyscraper’s rooftop terrace boasts one of the city’s most sweeping panoramic views—Eiffel Tower front and center, the Seine winding below, city lights twinkling as dusk falls. As autumn sunsets come earlier, you’ll catch golden-hour magic and sparkling cityscapes, all while avoiding the crowds of more famous viewpoints.  

Inside, interactive displays tell Paris’ hidden stories, and the bar on the observation floor makes it easy to toast to gratitude with a glass of champagne. Bundle up and snap a selfie with those remarkable views as your backdrop—seasonal, festive and perfect for sharing with loved ones back home. Few experiences in Paris balance relaxation and excitement as seamlessly as this one. 

Joining a Fall Market Stroll 

Experience Thanksgiving the Paris way with a cheerful stroll through a bustling autumn market. Marché d’Aligre and Marché des Enfants Rouges brim with colorful produce—think crunchy apples, earthy mushrooms, and heaps of fresh herbs. Browse cheese stalls, discover French seasonal specialties, and pick up fresh bread or pastries for a homemade holiday spread.  

Many markets offer unexpected finds like American cranberries or festive sweets, letting you add your own twist to the feast. Tasting and shopping alongside Parisians is an experience in itself—delightfully informal, totally authentic, and full of energy. You’ll feel like you belong, whether you’re mingling with market-goers or simply people-watching over a café au lait. 

Experiencing Holiday Shopping at Galeries Lafayette

Woman on Balcony at Galeries Lafeyette

Start the holiday season in style with a visit to Galeries Lafayette. This iconic department store—nestled beneath a breathtaking stained-glass dome—goes all out from late November, dazzling visitors with extravagant Christmas decorations, sparkling lights and elaborate window displays. Each floor features French and international brands, plus gourmet treats and beautiful gifts for everyone.  

The rooftop terrace offers spectacular city views, adding a festive sparkle to your shopping day. Even if you’re not after souvenirs, wandering among the twinkling trees and smelling holiday spices makes spirits bright. Frequent live music, pastry pop-ups and fun photo ops turn shopping into a celebration. For a little extra magic, grab a seasonal pastry from the food hall and munch it while admiring the city stretching out beneath you. 

Sipping French Wine Pairings at Les Caves du Louvre 

Elevate your Thanksgiving toast with a wine tasting at Les Caves du Louvre, an atmospheric cellar once used by royalty. On guided tours and workshops, expert sommeliers introduce you to the world of French wine—helping you discover which reds, whites or bubbles suit your holiday meal. Guided tastings run from bold Bordeaux to bright Alsatian wines, complete with fun anecdotes and food pairings (think: cheese, charcuterie, or even cranberry-inspired treats).  

The candle-lit stone rooms feel mysterious and cozy, ideal for unwinding after a busy Thanksgiving. You’ll pick up a few wine secrets and maybe even blend your own bottle as a memorable keepsake. The whole experience is interactive, hands-on and warms you from the inside out—just what you want after a Parisian November day. 

Enjoying a Seine River Cruise 

End your Thanksgiving in style with a leisurely Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Cruise. As evening falls, Paris sparkles to life, and you’ll glide past iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Musée d’Orsay, each illuminated against the night sky—a storybook backdrop for the holiday.  

Panoramic windows, candlelit tables, and gentle live music create a warm, romantic atmosphere, perfect for savoring the breathtaking Parisian skyline in all its glittering glory. Toast to your adventures, snap unforgettable photos, and let the sparkling Seine set the scene for a Thanksgiving finale that’s both magical and timeless. 

 

Whether you crave a classic feast, a Parisian twist, or simple gratitude for the adventure, Thanksgiving in Paris is delicious, festive and entirely your own. Bon appétit and happy holidays! 

Enjoyed this? Check out Everything You Need to Know About Go City’s Paris Passes or Things to Do Near Tour Montparnasse 

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Things to do in Paris During The Day

With over 1,000 museums, around 400 parks and more boutique shops and cute pavement cafés than you can shake a very large stick at, there are dozens of things to do in Paris during the day. Here’s our pick of the crop. See the Sights Paris’s relatively compact center is easy to explore on foot but if you really want to max out your daytime sightseeing, there’s an abundance of other great ways to see the city. For sheer convenience, you’ll find Paris’s near-ubiquitous electric scooters tough to beat. Known as trottinettes to locals, these zippy little machines can be picked up and dropped off at hundreds of locations around the city, making them a super-easy way to get from A to B with minimal effort. Note that for safety reasons the speed limit for trottinettes is restricted to 10km/h in most parts of Paris. Join a guided Segway tour to tick off some of the city’s big attractions in, um, style. A self-deprecating sense of humor and a decent ability to stay upright are all you need to participate. Pass the mandatory training session and in no time you’ll be whizzing to big-hitting Paris landmarks including Les Invalides, the Arc de Triomphe and the soaring Pont Alexandre III with its photogenic Art Deco lanterns. Alternatively, plan your own tour itinerary and rent a Vélib bicycle – also available for pick-up and drop-off pretty much everywhere in central Paris. Meander riverside and through the city’s stunning parks, pausing to admire the fabulous architecture and smell the roses, and, of course, to pick up some still-warm pains au chocolat from a boulangerie along the way. Seine sightseeing cruises depart from the Eiffel Tower throughout the day and are particularly enchanting at sunset, while hop-on hop-off bus tours are another fine way to see the city, especially from the top deck on a sunny afternoon. Have a Picnic in the Park Picnicking in the park should be considered mandatory on any trip to Paris. Open-air markets and street food abound in the city, so putting a gut-busting lunch together is pas de probleme. Rue Montorgueil is brimming with fab boulangeries, fromageries and street stalls that runneth over with juicy, fresh fruits. Pick up some just-baked bread, aromatic cheeses, plump grapes and artisan wine then hit the oldest pâtisserie in town for a decadent dessert of creamy rum babas and éclairs. Or head to Marché des Enfants Rouges in the Marais for gut-busting fried sandwiches, galettes that fairly ooze cheese, and some of the best Moroccan street food this side of Marrakech at Le Traiteur Marocain. Now fully equipped for your al fresco feast, the question is which park? Decisions, decisions... In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars is a picture-perfect location for whiling away a few hours. Its sprawling manicured lawns and ringside views of the tower makes it an inspired location for your picnic – and a dozen or so selfies. One of Paris’s biggest parks, Bois de Boulogne contains – among other attractions – a château, a botanical garden and several lakes. Hire a boat to row across the largest of these (you’ll work up an appetite for sure), then walk off your picnic with a wander to the beautiful Parc de Bagatelle botanical garden, with its bountiful rose gardens and heavenly scents. The exquisite Luxembourg Gardens promise some low-octane pursuits including giant chess and the ancient French sport of pétanque. Head to Parc de la Villette for its fascinating series of architectural follies – there are 26 to find across the 137 acres of this huge green space, plus open-air music and cinema in the warmer months. Also in summer, take your picnic down to the banks of the Seine for the annual Paris Plages, where golden sands, deckchairs and ice creams are the order of the day. See Some Great Art Paris is a paradise for art lovers – and artists. Matisse, Modigliani, Manet, Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec are just some of the painters who went on to become household names after being inspired by this great city. No surprise, then, that you’re rarely more than a stone’s throw from an amazing museum or gallery. Of course, you can’t come to Paris and not visit the Louvre, home of the world’s most famous painting. Once you’ve ticked off the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo it’s time to experience what is hands-down the finest work of art in the museum. That would be the Mont Blanc, a decadent, gravity defying French fancy comprised of whipped Chantilly cream, meringue, chocolate shavings and chestnut vermicelli. You can view – and demolish – this bona fide masterpiece in Café Angelina on the first floor of the Richelieu wing. If you find the Louvre just a tad overcrowded for your liking, nearby Musée d’Orsay provides a less hectic alternative within the picturesque surroundings of the old Gare d’Orsay train station. The museum boasts one of the biggest collections of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art on the planet, with many pieces from Toulouse-Lautrec’s Moulin Rouge series and a number of Monet masterpieces, including one from his Water Lilies series. Other smaller but equally unmissable galleries include Musée de l'Orangerie in the Jardin des Tuileries, the Rodin Museum with its extraordinary seven-acre sculpture garden, and Renoir’s pretty garden at the Musée de Montmartre. Spend a Day in the Marais Picking a favorite district in Paris is like being asked to choose a favorite French fromage. There are just so many good ones to choose from! Set on the Seine’s Right Bank in view of Notre-Dame, the Marais is an entrancing maze of narrow, winding streets and alleyways that are chock-full of tiny independent boutiques, tempting pâtisseries and adorable pavement cafés. Grab a spot beneath the linden trees and watch the world go by in the Place des Vosges. This formal garden sits in the oldest planned square in Paris, hemmed in by atmospheric arcades and immaculate 17th-century townhouses with steeply pitched slate roofs. One of these – the former home of Les Misérables author Victor Hugo – is now a museum exhibiting furniture and works of art that belonged to (or were created by) the man himself. Indeed, for such a diminutive district, the Marais packs in a fairly impressive number of museums and galleries. Make for the Maison Européene de la Photographie for the best in contemporary photographic art, and don’t miss the Musée National Picasso-Paris, a stellar collection of over 700 paintings and sculptures by the father of Cubism. The legacy of Paris’s former Jewish quarter lives on in the Marais, primarily via its selection of kosher restaurants and bakeries. Make sure to treat yourself to a falafel wrap or pastrami sandwich at one of the excellent takeaway joints on the Rue des Écouffes or Rue des Rosiers – just follow your nose to discover true manna from heaven. Save on things to do in Paris during the day Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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