Vegan Stores… in France! 

Self-catering, especially for vegans, is a very popular way to travel in France.  Not only does it provide for a much cheaper meal than eating out in an expensive French restaurant, but picnicking often comes with gorgeous views and fascinating people-watching.

And let's be honest: more often than not, the vegan options at French restaurants -- if indeed they have any! -- are not that great.  They're more likely to be boring salads, tomato sauce pasta or pizza-with-no-cheese.  You're not going to starve, but neither will any of this get you excited for your next meal. 

The idea, when traveling, is often to be able to sample the local cuisine, and this is where self-catering can help.  We're not exactly talking about making a soufflé here, but it's entirely possible to try local products and dishes, including perhaps some of the best plant-based cheese on the planet!

The good news here is that France just happens to have quite a decent number of 100% vegan grocery stores, and even more non-vegan stores are choosing to stock vegan products.  The list grows every day.

So pack some utensils, napkins and plates, find a cute town square or a spot on a Mediterranean beach, and head over to one of the following grocery stores ("épicerie", in French), to stock up for that perfect self-catered French meal!

The State Of Vegan Food in France Today

On a recent visit to France, we went to a local hypermarket in Bayeux and we were blown away at just how many vegan options there were: vegan meats, deli slices and even a few brands of cheese.    If you don't know Bayeux, it's a small touristy town in the north of France, so definitely not vegan-central.  The fact that the supermarket here had any vegan products at all was a definite eye-opener and proof that France is definitely trending the right way.

Tips for Shopping at Vegan Stores When Traveling

We recommend you get a small cool bag (see picture below) and a couple of ice bricks and stock up in one of the bigger cities when you arrive.  You're more likely to find a good selection of vegan items here.  You'll be aiming to get the necessary ingredients for sandwiches, a wonderful picnics or perhaps a nice vegan spread at your gites or Airbnb.   Even if there is not one close to your cute French village you are staying in, with a little bit of planning you can have sandwich avec du jambon et du fromage vegan style. 

If you're out and about for the day, whether sightseeing in town or hiking around the countryside, assembling your lunch before you go makes it a lot easier.  

Cheeses like vegan camembert can actually get very stinky (just like their dairy counterparts) in just a couple of days, even with efforts to keep them cool.  So eat those ones quickly.

The List

Below you'll find a list of ALL the vegan grocery stores in France as well as shops where you can stock up on shampoo, soaps and all the items you will need for traveling in France.  France has amazing products and we wholeheartedly recommend you try and support these incredible shops who are really helping to make veganism more accessible in what is still a very proud meat-eating culture.  

You will see that they are categorized into the different regions of France, so scroll down to the region you are visiting and take note!

• Central Paris
• Northern France (Lille)
• Normandy & Brittany (Rouen, Brest, Rennes)
• La Loire (Nantes)
• Southwestern France (Bordeaux, Toulouse, Dordogne, Bayonne)
• Alsace (Strasbourg, Mulhouse)
• French Alps (Annecy, Buis-les-Baronnies)
• Provence (Marseille, Nice)

If we have missed one or another one pops up, please let us know below in the comments! We want to keep this article as current as possible.

If you like it, PIN IT!

CENTRAL PARIS

Un Monde Vegan

One of the first 100% vegan grocery store in France.. if not THE first!   This shop has a huge selection of awesome products, including many you may never have seen before.  Their website is a great place to visit and start jotting down a shopping list.

Click here for the google map location.

Mon Epicerie Paris

Vegan retail shop offering plant-based milk, mock meats, vegan cheese, ice-cream, ready-to-eat food, snacks, vegan beer and champagne.

Click here for the google map location.

Naturalia

This is a chain of grocery stores that you'll spot all over Paris, and while most stock a generous selection of vegan items, they also have 4 100% vegan stores!  Click on the links below to find one near your location:

• 39/41 rue Richer 75009 Paris - this is their biggest store, in the 9th arrondissement
• 149 rue de Rome 75017 Paris - in the northwest of central Paris
• 39 rue Merlin 75011 Paris - near the Père Lachaise Cemetery
• 43 avenue de Paris 94300 Vincennes - on the east-side of central Paris

La Maison Végane

Only open a couple of years, this has a range of cheese, cosmetics, soaps and even ice-creams.   It's on the edge of central Paris so not as central as some of the other listings on here, but still worth a visit if you happen to on the way to/from La Défense.

Click here for the google map location.

Aujourd'hui Demain

Vegan concept store in central Paris. It has a café attached.

Click here for the google map location.