If you're craving a good piece of meat, there's nothing like stopping by a good charcuterie or butcher shop in Paris to pick up a delicious sausage, a beautiful cut of meat to impress your loved ones at home, or a delicious country terrine!
In the capital, as elsewhere in France, it is not uncommon to come across signs bearing the words boucherie-charcuterie. But do you know the difference between the two? In fact, these two terms do not mean quite the same thing, although they are both closely linked to the world of meat.
Butcher shops are dedicated exclusively to the sale of raw meat, whether beef, veal, lamb, pork, or poultry. The butcher selects, debones, trims, and prepares the cuts for cooking, and you'll find raw products—ribeye steaks, leg of lamb, veal tenderloin, and offal—cut according to the rules of the trade.
Charcuterie, on the other hand, requires a different set of skills. It involves transforming meat, mainly pork, into cooked, salted, smoked, or dried preparations. The charcutier is a craftsman who makes a wide range of ready-to-eat products, such as cooked ham, rillettes, terrines, sausages, and pâtés en croûte.
In short, butchers provide the raw materials, while charcuteries offer a processed version that is ready to eat! These two complementary professions, deeply rooted in French gastronomic tradition, keep ancient skills alive, passed down from generation to generation. To enjoy them, head to the best butchers and charcuteries in Paris!
Les Halles d'Issy Biltoki, Issy-les-Moulineaux's food court and gourmet market
On the banks of the Seine in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Les Halles Eiffel has given way to Les Halles d'Issy - Biltoki, a huge 1,000 m² market and gourmet food court that welcomes you from breakfast to dinner in a festive atmosphere. Here you'll discover a range of 20 ultra-committed craftsmen and merchants, determined to delight you with the finest products. [Read more]
Maison Vérot, contemporary charcuterie with the seasons
Pâtés en croûte, pies, terrines, gold-medal-winning white ham and delicatessen dishes: Maison Vérot, a benchmark charcuterie, is constantly renewing itself with the seasons. [Read more]
A Wecandoo workshop to make your own sausages at Viande & Chef
Wecandoo's workshops make it possible to discover traditional craftsmanship in the company of an experienced artisan. Like this friendly sausage-making workshop at Viande & Chef, a stone's throw from the Canal Saint-Martin. [Read more]
Charcuterie Joly: the new address of Meilleur Ouvrier de France Pascal Joly
Pascal Joly is opening a second charcuterie shop in the 15th arrondissement. It's a friendly place to share that will quickly make your mouth water when you see the charcuterie creations of this Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France): his legendary pâté-croute, homemade terrines, famous fromage de tête... They all look so tempting! [Read more]
Bidoche: the butcher shop that hides a meat restaurant in Paris
Vegetarians, pescetarians and vegans, please refrain! As its name suggests, Bidoche celebrates the finest meats from France's carefully selected terroirs with an original concept: a restaurant hidden behind a butcher's shop! [Read more]
The best food shops and local stores in Paris, our top picks
Butchers, bakers, cheesemongers, fishmongers, greengrocers, wine merchants... Food shops are at the heart of Parisian life. Much more than just places to buy, they are trusted addresses where people return for quality, advice and the pleasure of eating well. This way to good addresses! [Read more]
The best food shops and local stores in Paris, our top picks
