The 8 Best Sandwiches In Paris

Chez Aline, the only outwardly remarkable feature of which is its oversized neon Z, is the place to go if you’re looking for the textbook definition of a French sandwich. This former horse butcher was transformed into a sit-in deli by Delphine Zampetti in 2012. The décor is pure vintage – Formica surfaces, retro tiles, and even the odd item of taxidermy – and the Prince de Paris ham and Borniambuc butter sandwich is as traditional as it gets. The price tag of €4.50 might seem high for such a simple meal but it’s quality all the way.

One for ham enthusiasts, Caractère de Cochon in the 3^rd arrondissement is the only shop in the entire city that is 100% dedicated to the pig in all its forms. The shelves are packed and the ceiling hung with every kind of cooked and cured ham imaginable, sourced from all over France. There are also pâtés, terrines, antipasti and sausages by their dozens. The lunchtime ham and butter sandwich costs €5 but you have your choice of meats to fill it with.

Freshly opened in autumn 2016, Pressing is a gourmet panini café in the lively 10^th arrondissement. It’s open for lunch and then, after a brief pause, into the early hours, making it a perfect pit stop during a night on the town. The bread is sourced from Gontran Cherrier, an amazing artisan baker, and the seasonal recipes are designed by some of the city’s top chefs. For €7.50, you can try Les Arlots head chef Thomas Brachet’s pork belly, snails, parsley, and horseradish panini or the avocado, carrot, pickled onion, and tandoori sauce creation of Galen Emery, formerly of KGB.

To get that chilled out, southern feel from your Parisian sandwich experience, head to Les Niçois. Sitting on the corner of the gorgeous Square Maurice Gardette in the 11^th arrondissement, this bright and airy restaurant specialises in pan bagnat, a Provençal sandwich famous for its round bread, juicy tomato, rich olive oil and strict absence of mayonnaise and salad. To further transport you to the Côte d’Azur, owners Luc Sananes and Olivier Chini have even installed a petanque ground in the basement. Open for lunch and dinner, you can enjoy your €4 sandwich with a refreshing glass of pastis.

Another great spot for pan bagnat is Bagnard, a small, pretty shop with a blue and white striped awning on the Rue Saint-Augustin in the 2^nd arrondissement. Celebrity chef Yoni Saada is behind this Mediterranean venture and, as you’d expect, the food is top notch. From Wednesday through Friday, you can also stop by in the evening for an apéro and some nibbles.

Over on the other side of the Palais Royal, tucked down a pedestrianised street, is Miss Bánh mì, a colourful canteen specialized in, you guessed it, bánh mì, the traditional Vietnamese sandwich. The crusty bread comes from the swanky bakery Eric Kayser and the standard fillings of grated carrot, daikon, homemade soya mayo, cucumber, coriander, chilli and fried onion are delicious in their own right. Add in beef with sake and pepper or roast veal with ginger, lemongrass, and coconut milk and you have an €8 sandwich that is to die for.

There are plenty of fast-food joints up in Pigalle, few of them worth stepping foot in. But if you’re in the neighbourhood and in need of a quick bite to eat then you are in safe hands at Zarma. This gourmet kebab shop is also famous for its 100% gluten-free fries.