A lively scene at Le Marché des Enfants Rouges, showcasing its diverse array of food stalls. Bright, colorful produce and freshly prepared meals fill the market's aisles, with visitors enjoying vibrant dishes from around the world. The historic wooden beams of the market’s architecture frame the bustling atmosphere, bringing together the best of Parisian and international cuisine. Captured by TLC Paris.

Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges – Historic Covered Market & Global Bites in Paris

Haut Marais • Historic Food Market • Local & International Flavours

Marché couvert des Enfants Rouges – Paris's Oldest Covered Market

Hidden just off Rue de Bretagne in the Haut Marais, Marché des Enfants Rouges has been part of Paris life since 1615. Behind its discreet entrance, traditional market stalls mingle with small counters serving French and international food, creating a lively mix of neighbourhood shopping and casual dining. Come for lunch, fresh produce or simply the atmosphere, then continue into the surrounding streets of the Marais.

Explore Marché des Enfants Rouges
Historic Covered Market · Founded in 1615 · Fresh Produce · Market Stalls · Cheese & French Produce · Flowers · Casual Lunch Counters · French Cuisine · Moroccan Cuisine · Japanese Cuisine · Italian Cuisine · Lebanese Cuisine · International Food · Explore Paris by Cuisine · Neighbourhood Lunch · Local Market Atmosphere · Rue de Bretagne · Rue Charlot · Rue de Turenne · Rue du Temple · Square du Temple · Rue des Archives · Rue des Francs-Bourgeois · Musée Picasso · Musée Carnavalet · Le Marais · Haut Marais

TLC Paris Concierge note: Come hungry rather than treating Marché des Enfants Rouges as a monument to tick off. Browse the stalls, choose a counter for lunch and allow time to wander afterwards. Rue de Bretagne, Rue Charlot, Square du Temple and the smaller streets of the Haut Marais make this an easy half-day neighbourhood experience.

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Current Stock:

Highlights (evergreen)

Oldest Covered Market

Founded in the 17ᵗʰ century; a beloved Marais landmark.

Global Bites

Couscous & tajines, bento, mezze, pasta, crêpes, burgers & more.

Casual Seating

Communal tables and quick service; ideal for lunch.

Local Produce

Greengrocers, cheesemongers & specialty stalls alongside eateries.

With TLC Paris Concierge, plan a tasty loop through the counters — grab a seat for lunch or take your box to a nearby square.

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Address & Contact+

Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges — Historic covered market (since 1615)

39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris (Haut Marais)

Managed by Ville de Paris · Information and updates via the official page

Official page (paris.fr) ↗

Stalls & Food Court+

A lively mix of traditional market traders and small food counters, with cuisines ranging from Moroccan and Lebanese to Japanese, Italian and French.

Come for a casual lunch, browse before choosing, or pick something up to take away while exploring the Marais.

History & Character+

Founded in 1615, the Marché des Enfants Rouges is the oldest covered market in Paris still in operation.

Its name refers to a former nearby orphanage whose children were dressed in red — the colour traditionally associated with Christian charity.

Today the market blends this historic setting with contemporary Haut Marais life: produce, flowers, food counters, neighbourhood regulars and visitors all sharing the same compact space.

Seating, Payment & Practicalities+
  • Seating is limited and generally associated with individual food stalls.
  • Payment methods can vary by trader; carrying a card plus a little cash is useful.
  • Popular counters can develop substantial lunchtime queues.
  • Different traders may operate different days and hours within the market.
Opening Hours & Best Times+

Market and individual trader hours can differ, so check the current Ville de Paris information before making a special journey.

Lunch is the liveliest period. For a calmer look around, arrive before the main lunch rush; for atmosphere, come when the counters are in full swing.

Check current hours on paris.fr ↗

What to Combine Nearby+

The market is ideally placed for exploring the northern side of the Marais and works particularly well as a lunch stop during a walking day.

  • Rue de Bretagne — cafés, food shops and neighbourhood life
  • Rue Charlot — independent boutiques and quieter Marais character
  • Rue de Turenne — fashion, galleries and design
  • Square du Temple — a green pause nearby
  • Musée Picasso — an easy cultural addition
  • Carreau du Temple — exhibitions, events and contemporary neighbourhood culture

TLC Paris tip: don't make the market the entire destination — use it as the food stop in a wider Haut Marais walk.

Transport & How to Get There+

Métro: Filles du Calvaire (Line 8) · Temple (Line 3) · Arts et Métiers (Lines 3 & 11).

The market sits directly on Rue de Bretagne, making it particularly easy to reach on foot while exploring the Haut Marais.

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Description
Historic Covered Market, Street Food, Fresh Produce, Lunch & Haut Marais Life

Marché des Enfants Rouges

Tucked behind Rue de Bretagne in the Haut Marais, Marché des Enfants Rouges is Paris’s oldest covered food market and one of the neighbourhood’s liveliest places for lunch, produce and casual eating. Historic market stalls sit alongside small counters and kitchens serving an international mix of dishes, creating an experience that feels part traditional Paris market and part informal food destination.

Best For
Lunch, market food & local atmosphere
Atmosphere
Lively, informal, historic & multicultural
What To Expect
Food counters, produce, flowers & small market stalls
First Visit?
Yes, especially for lunch in the Marais
Location
39 Rue de Bretagne, 3rd arrondissement
Nearby
Rue de Bretagne, Rue Charlot & Musée Picasso
Visit Time
45–90 minutes, longer for lunch
Highlights
International food, produce & historic market character
Visitor Highlights
Marché des Enfants Rouges · Paris Food Markets · Covered Markets Paris · Oldest Market in Paris · Haut Marais · Le Marais · Rue de Bretagne · Rue Charlot · Market Lunch · Street Food Paris · Fresh Produce · Fruit & Vegetables · Flowers · Organic Food · French Food · International Food · Moroccan Food · Japanese Food · Lebanese Food · Italian Food · Sandwiches · Crêpes & Galettes · Couscous · Tagine · Bento · Casual Lunch · Outdoor Lunch · Foodie Paris · Les Enfants du Marché · Alain Miam Miam · Local Markets · Paris Markets · Musée Picasso · Rue de Turenne · Rue des Archives · Rue Vieille du Temple · Upper Marais Shopping · Independent Boutiques · 3rd Arrondissement · Weekend in Paris

TLC Paris Concierge note: Come hungry rather than treating Marché des Enfants Rouges simply as a sightseeing stop. Browse the market first, choose whichever counter appeals to you, then continue along Rue de Bretagne and into the smaller streets of the Haut Marais. Rue Charlot, Musée Picasso and the independent boutiques around Rue de Turenne and Rue Vieille du Temple make it particularly easy to build the market into a half-day neighbourhood walk.

Le Marché des Enfants Rouges – Paris’s Oldest Covered Market in the Haut Marais

Dating back to 1628, Le Marché des Enfants Rouges is Paris’s oldest covered market and a cornerstone of the Haut Marais. Beneath its wrought-iron roof, stalls overflow with seasonal produce, artisanal cheeses, fragrant flowers, and ready-to-eat specialties from around the globe. It’s a feast for both palate and senses—where you can move from Moroccan tagines to classic French pastries in just a few steps.

Its name—“Market of the Red Children”—harks back to an orphanage whose residents wore crimson uniforms, weaving a thread of history into today’s vibrant food culture. The market still holds that mix of tradition and openness, attracting both longtime locals and curious visitors.

After exploring the stalls, step into the surrounding neighborhood. Just a short walk away, you can browse refined art at the Musée Picasso, discover French contemporary ceramics at Galerie Vauclair, wander along Rue de Bretagne for more cafés and boutiques, shop vintage couture at Les Trois Marches de Catherine B, or explore the creative energy of Rue Charlot. Together, they form a Haut Marais experience that is as authentic as it is unforgettable.