Food shopping in Montmartre beats a museum day. This small-group walk turns Rue Lepic and Rue des Abbesses into a real, hands-on guide to French ingredients and how locals buy them, led by Chef PJ. You also get wine lesson time and a sit-down meal that does not treat dessert like an afterthought.

I especially like the easy meeting spot outside Blanche metro, with clear guidance so you can start walking fast. I also love the way you finish with a true feast: lunch-style courses plus a dessert sequence that includes sweets with bubbles.

One thing to plan for: even though it’s listed as about 5 hours, the day can run longer because the meal and tasting portion takes real time, and Montmartre is a walk-heavy neighborhood with slopes.

Key highlights at a glance

• Chef PJ’s shop-to-table approach makes the neighborhood feel like part of the meal
• Place de Clichy gives you a great Moulin Rouge photo angle early on
• Rue Lepic shopping lessons teach you how to read labels and choose quality
• Wine, cheese, and charcuterie stops show you what to look for in France
• Le Petit Moulin wraps it up with a long, multi-course lunch and wine
• Dessert bubbles finale includes classics like chouquette and chocolate

Why This Montmartre Food Tour Starts the Right Way

Chef PJ’s Montmartre Food Tour is built around one simple idea: if you learn how to shop in France, you understand what you’re eating. This is not a quick-hit tasting where you nibble and shuffle. It’s a guided walk through Montmartre’s food streets, with stops at specialty shops and then a proper meal at Chef PJ’s place.

Logistically, it’s friendly. The meeting point is outside Blanche (75018), and the group stays small, with a maximum of 10 people. You’ll get a mobile ticket, and the tour is offered in English. That small-group size matters because you actually get time to ask questions in the shops.

The tour is also practical for real travelers. It’s near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. You should have a moderate fitness level, since you’re walking through Montmartre’s hills for several hours.

Place de Clichy: Get Oriented and Snap the Moulin Rouge Shot

Your tour begins at Place de Clichy. The guide starts with a map of Paris and tells the story of how Montmartre became such a beloved part of the city. This opening sets the tone: you’re not just walking streets, you’re learning why they matter.

There’s also a concrete payoff right away. Moulin Rouge is visible from this point, and it’s described as one of the best angles for photographs. So you get a visual anchor for everything you’ll see later.

The stop is short, about 15 minutes, so you won’t feel like you’re stuck waiting at the start. It also helps you get your bearings fast before you head into the denser shop streets.

Rue Lepic: Shop Like a Chef, Not Like a Tourist

Next comes Rue Lepic, a street where the lesson shifts from stories to shopping skills. This is where you learn how chefs think about ingredients and how specialty shops support that. You’ll visit multiple foodie shops and spend time learning how to judge what’s worth buying.

One stop is at a store that only sells gastronomy products made in France. That matters because it turns label-reading into a real skill, not a vague suggestion. You learn how to read labels and what different details mean in practice.

Rue Lepic is also where you start to understand the tour’s rhythm. It’s a walking tour, yes, but it’s timed so each neighborhood segment has a purpose: history first, then shopping education, then food stops that reinforce what you just learned.

Rue des Abbesses: Wine, Cheese Regions, and the Rules That Shape Flavor

Rue des Abbesses is the special shopping street segment of the day. Here, you visit a wine store, a famous butcher, and a cheese seller. You also learn about cheese regions and the laws in France that affect what you can call certain cheeses.

This part is valuable because it gives you a framework you can use later. Instead of memorizing names, you learn the logic behind categories and quality. When you’re back in a shop on your own, you’re more likely to notice what matters, like origin and production standards.

It also keeps things fun and varied. One minute you’re listening about how cheese traditions are protected; the next you’re looking at choices from different sellers. The tour makes the food culture feel local, not lecture-like.

The stop runs about 30 minutes, so it’s long enough to ask questions and move beyond just tasting.

Rue Tholozé and the Montmartre Windmill Moment

From Rue des Abbesses, you head to Rue Tholozé. This is where you see the famous Windmill of Montmartre. It’s a classic Montmartre landmark, but the tour places it at the right point in the day, after you’ve built context about the neighborhood and its food identity.

Right after, you proceed to Chef PJ’s. This transition is important. The walking and shop stops are about sourcing and understanding. Then you switch gears into the meal portion, where Chef PJ’s cooking and wine presentation take over.

The time here is about 20 minutes. Expect it to feel like a breather before the feast.

Le Petit Moulin: The Feast, the Wine Lesson, and Dessert Bubbles

The heart of the experience is at Le Petit Moulin, Chef PJ’s restaurant. The feast portion starts here and continues with a long food sequence, about three hours. This is where you should come ready to eat, because the tour is designed so you end hungry, not just full of samples.

You may try French classics such as coq au vin or beef bourguignon, plus other house specialties. The exact dishes can vary, but the format stays consistent: courses come in stages, and they connect back to what you learned at the shops.

Wine is included, and there’s a wine lesson and tasting. This isn’t just drinking on the job. You’re taught how to think about wine standards and what you’re tasting. If you like food and wine pairings, this is the part that makes the whole day feel cohesive.

Dessert also has its own moment, with a dessert stroll that includes bubbles. That combo tends to make the finale feel celebratory without turning into a chaotic bar stop.

The Sweet Finish on Rue Lepic: Chouquette and Chocolate

After the main meal, the tour wraps with another time out on Rue Lepic, about 20 minutes. This segment is focused on bubbles and sweets. You start with a chouquette and finish with chocolate.

That’s a smart way to end. It keeps the last impression sweet and light, after the heavier lunch courses. It also gives you a final chance to slow down, talk with your group, and reflect on everything you picked up about shopping and food standards.

If you have a sweet tooth, this is the section you’ll actually look forward to while you’re still in the lunch portion.

Price and Value: What You’re Really Paying For

The price is $162.18 per person, and it can feel steep at first glance. But the value comes from combining several things that would cost you separately in Paris: multiple specialty-shop visits, snacks and lunch, wine and wine tasting, and a dessert sequence that extends beyond a single pastry.

Also, the tour includes alcohol beverages by default. That changes the economics. In many food tours, wine is an add-on. Here, wine lesson and tasting are part of the package, and there’s also a bubbles-and-sweets dessert finale.

You should also factor in that it’s a small group (up to 10). Smaller groups usually mean more time at each stop and more conversational Q and A. This matters if you want more than a checklist of what you ate.

Tips are not included, so you may want to budget extra for the guide based on your satisfaction.

Dietary Needs, Alcohol Options, and Who This Fits

If you’re vegetarian, there is a vegetarian option available upon request. If you have food allergies, message with your allergy needs before the tour so the team can respond. Alcohol is included, but you can request a non-alcohol version as well.

The tour notes that participants must be 16 with parental permission for alcohol. So if you’re traveling with teens, check how your group will handle that.

This tour is best for people who enjoy learning while walking. If you like history, you’ll appreciate how the tour connects Montmartre’s story to the way people buy and eat food now. If you’re more of a sit-and-stare traveler, you might find the shop-and-walk format less relaxing.

Also, shoes matter. Montmartre has hills, and you’re on your feet through multiple street segments. You don’t need to be an athlete, but moderate fitness helps you enjoy it instead of rushing through it.

How Long to Block Off Your Day (It Can Run Long)

The tour is listed as about five hours, but build in buffer. Some experiences run closer to eight or even nine hours, mainly because the meal and tasting portion takes time. That doesn’t feel like a problem on the day itself, but it can matter if you have dinner reservations or evening plans.

My advice: treat the tour as your main event. If you plan it as a side quest, you’ll feel squeezed. If you treat it as your anchor for a half-day, you’re more likely to enjoy every shop stop and the full dinner-like flow at Le Petit Moulin.

Should You Book Chef PJ’s Montmartre Food Tour?

Book it if you want a Montmartre experience where the food culture feels practical and local. You’ll get a mix of street storytelling, shop education, wine lesson time, and a real feast that goes beyond small bites. The small group size also helps you leave with more than a few photos.

Skip it (or think twice) if you’re on an ultra-tight schedule or you hate alcohol-focused meals. Even with non-alcohol options available, the tour’s structure includes wine and bubbles, and some days run longer than the headline timing.

If you love markets, specialty shops, and learning how to choose better ingredients, this tour is exactly the kind of day that makes Paris feel personal instead of packaged. For many people, it’s the standout food-and-wine day of the trip.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for Chef PJ’s Montmartre Food Tour?

The tour starts in 75018 Paris at Blanche. It begins outside the metro station, and you’ll be shown a map at the start.

How long is the tour?

It’s listed at about 5 hours, but you should allow extra time because the meal and tasting portion can extend the day.

Does the tour include wine and other alcohol?

Alcoholic beverages are included, along with a wine lesson and tasting. Non-alcohol options are available if you request them.

Is there a vegetarian option?

Yes. Vegetarian is available upon request.

Can you accommodate food allergies?

Yes, but you need to message with your food allergies so the team can plan for them.

What group size should I expect?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers, so it stays small.