Small Group Travel Blog: Expert Travel Tips, Destination Guides & Tour Advice

Welcome to the Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor travel blog, featuring expert travel tips, destination guides, cruise advice, airfare strategies, packing suggestions, and first-hand insights from more than 17 years of planning small group tours.

Since 2009, we have helped solo travelers, couples, and friends enjoy adults-only small group tours and luxury river cruises with quality hotels, expert local guides, thoughtful pacing, and personal service.

Explore articles on Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Peru, Newfoundland, Paris, Normandy, Santa Fe, Canada, Italy, and AmaWaterways river cruises — then view our current Small Group Tours and River Cruises.

31Oct

5 Places for Lunch in Paris

🥖 5 Great Lunch Spots in Paris Loved by The Traveling Professor

On our Traveling Professor small group tours to Paris, we always take time for a leisurely lunch — just like the Parisians do. Whether you’re near a famous museum, walking through the Latin Quarter, or exploring the Marais, here are five of our favorite places for a relaxing and delicious lunch in Paris.


🥐 1. Pâtisserie Viennoise – Sorbonne Student Favorite

8 rue de l’École de Médecine, 6th arrondissement
This charming café is a local gem tucked away near the Sorbonne. The students know where to find good food at good prices — their fresh salads and hearty sandwiches are perfect for a casual lunch. Don’t forget dessert: the pastries and coffee are reason enough to stop by.


🥙 2. L’As du Fallafel – Iconic Marais Street Food

34 rue des Rosiers, 4th arrondissement
In the heart of the Marais, L’As du Fallafel is practically a Paris institution. The line moves fast, and for good reason — their falafel pita is legendary. Crunchy, flavorful, and satisfying, it’s one of the best quick lunches in Paris.


☕ 3. Café Le Petit Pont – The Best View of Notre Dame

1 rue du Petit Pont, 5th arrondissement
This café’s food is good, but the view of Notre Dame steals the show. Grab a seat on the terrace, order a croque-monsieur or salad, and enjoy one of the most picturesque lunch spots in Paris. It’s a classic stop after visiting Île de la Cité.


🎨 4. Restaurant du Musée d’Orsay – Art Meets Appetite

Inside the Musée d’Orsay, this elegant restaurant is perfect for a mid-day museum break. You can enjoy a prix-fixe menu often under €25, served beneath grand chandeliers and Belle Époque décor. It’s one of the best hidden gems for a Paris museum lunch.


🥣 5. Restaurant L’Augustine – Lunch Among the Masterpieces

Nestled in the sculpture garden of the Rodin Museum, L’Augustine offers a peaceful, artful setting. The simple soups, quiches, and sandwiches make it an ideal gourmet break surrounded by Rodin’s masterpieces — a serene and quintessentially Parisian experience.


🇫🇷 Experience Paris the Professor’s Way

On every Traveling Professor Paris tour, we mix culture, cuisine, and conversation — just like the locals. From neighborhood cafés to museum restaurants, we’ll show you where to eat like a true Parisian.

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Who Writes the Small Group Tour Blog?

Professor Steve Solosky, The Traveling Professor, is the founder of Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, operating since 2009. A former college professor and author of The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris, Steve has planned and led small group tours throughout Europe, Canada, South America, and beyond. His travel expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, WCBS Radio, and The New York Times Travel Show.

Each article is written or reviewed from the perspective of a working tour operator who plans real itineraries, works with local guides and hotels, and helps travelers prepare for successful small group trips.

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