Meet some of the people from Vincennes with their shops and restaurants. What’s more, they are not far from the town hall and the church (Notre-Dame de Vincennes). Not to mention, it is nice to have a few addresses you can go to when you are visiting a town or city you don’t know. However, I am only giving you the ones I am familiar with. When I get to know a new one, I will add it to the list. And to conclude, why not find something in the shops to have a picnic in the “Bois de Vincennes”, if you are here when the weather is pleasant. Come to Vincennes as a tourist and leave as a local.
In the rue de Midi (starts next to the “Cours de Marigny” and the town hall):
Fresh roasted coffee, tea, gourmet foods and chocolate
LA BRÛLERIE DE MIDI run by a nice couple, Dominique and Stephan, for 18 years (3, rue de Midi) is the only traditional coffee roasting shop in Vincennes. The shop also has tea, various gourmet foods, chocolates and sweets. You will also find other items such as teapots and coffee makers. If you need gifts, you will find ideas here. http://bruleriedumidi.free.fr
Chocolate, ice cream and macarons
JEFF de BRUGGES has been in Vincennes for 22 years (1ter, rue de Midi – on the corner of rue de Midi and rue Raymond de Temple). They have absolutely scrumptious Belgium chocolates and ice cream (when the weather is warmer) from Bruges, Belgium, and in the winter, luscious hot chocolate.
There is a macaron shop, AUX MERVEILLEUX DE FRED, (1, rue de Midi) where they have mouth-watering macarons and other traditional pastries. https://auxmerveilleux.com/vincennes/fr/ They are next to an ice cream shop LA CRÈME (1bis, rue de Midi) that makes delicious ice cream.
Musical instruments and a music library
Near the church, Notre-Dame de Vincennes, and on the Church Square, you shouldn’t miss the music and musical instrument shop and workshop, LARGHETTO (84-86 rue Raymond de Temple) run by Gaël and Guillaume. The shop has been around for over 40 years. Guillaume repairs and restores musical instruments (plucked and bowed stringed instruments). They can repair, restore and fabricate some string instruments and have all kinds of accessories. Gaêl is a specialist of a large selection of sheet music from over 150 editors.
Besides violins, cellos, violoncellos, double bass, violas, violas de gamba, and guitars of all kinds, you might find some unusual instruments such as a mandolin, a lute, a ukulele, a balalaika and wind instruments such as flutes, saxophones, clarinets, trombones and trumpets. They also have music keyboards. Additionally, they are specialists of smaller instruments for children. Feel free to ask them any question you might have. And ask them about any instrument you might be looking for. https://www.larghetto-musique.fr/
Rue de Fontenay:
Rôtisserie, homemade foods and charcuterie
If you turn left on rue de Fontenay, after the Café de Marigny, you will find ROTISSERIE TESTA (67, rue de Fontenay). A “rotisserie” is a shop where they serve freshly roasted meat. Here you will find excellent quality and tasty roast chicken and meat among a nice selection of other delicious freshly-made homemade foods and charcuterie, etc. Frédéric Testa and family, who have been there since 1968, will serve you with a smile.
Bookshop and events
Keep on walking down rue de Fontenay until you get to a rather large bookshop, MILLE PAGES (91, rue de Fontenay), founded by Francis Geffard in 1980. There are several events every month, evenings with authors (some of them English-speaking) and films for example. You will find postcards, if you need them. They also participate in the English speaking book fair and conference, Festival America every two years. The next festival will be in September 2024. https://www.millepages.fr/
Rue de l’Église:
Clothes shop
Turn left on rue de Château and turn right on “rue de l’Église”, you will find MULTIPLES, a women’s clothes shop. Sizes range from 38 to 52 or 1 to 7 including pants, blouses, tops, dresses, skirts, belts, handbags, jackets, coats and various accessories. Adama running the shop since 2014 will gracefully help you find something you like and tell you if it doesn’t look good on you. Additionally, she has a talent for putting and matching clothes, colors, and accessories together. And her clients like her so much, that they drop in to see her from time to time. If you are lucky, you will find promotions or sales.
Some restaurants, etc.:
French
If you want good traditional French food, you should go to “LA TABLE DE TROYS” (2, avenue de Paris, across from the castle), one of my favorite restaurants. This restaurant is a “rotisserie”, a “brasserie” and a traditional French restaurant. So you can find succulent roast and grilled meat (French family-farm/free-range), sauerkraut, seafood, duck, fondue, foie gras among other dishes.
About the meat: the beef and veal (Parthenais)come from the family farm in Anjou. (The Parthenais is one of the oldest French cattle breeds raised essentially for its high quality lean meat.) The cattle on the family farm is guaranteed without OGM and they are given no preventive antibiotic treatment. The cattle feed free-range essentially on prairie grass.
The menu changes every day. They also make their own ice cream and sorbet made with natural products and no artificial colors and more than 20 different flavors. They also have homemade desserts. https://www.la-table-des-troys.com/carte-menus
Chinese
The best Chinese takeout in Vincennes since 1995 is CHEZ KIM on 25, rue de Montreuil. After Mille Pages bookstore, keep on walking(on the left side of the street) until you get to rue de Montreuil and then, turn left. And there it is, on the opposite side of the street. I have been going there since I first came here when my flatmate told me it was the best Chinese takeout in Vincennes. They take great care in what they make. Now the younger generation has taken over under Alexi since 2014. Additionally, there are moderately priced lunch menus and meal boxes (such as Bo-Bun, Pho, etc.) you can try. https://fr.restaurantguru.com/Chez-Kim-Vincennes
Lebanese
Try homemade Lebanese food at MIAM MIAM (18, rue de Montreuil). Khadija and Mohamed running the restaurant since the end of 2010 will be glad to serve you some typical Lebanese food. Find the usual Chawarma, Falafel, Kebbe, Taboulé, Baklava, and menus among quite a selection. You can dine in or order to takeout.
Italian
And if you want to see a couple of Italian restaurants across from the castle, at 22, rue de Paris, you will find BARTO, with nice sized portions. https://barto-pizza.fr/
Another style of Italian restaurant, more expensive but quite good, DEL POZZO, is at 2, rue de Paris.
Asian street food/Sushi Bar
Why not try a Thai run Asian street food, sushi and poke bar shop called PAPYLEE at the entrance of the Monoprix supermarket on rue de Montreuil across from the RER ! Pat is one of the very pleasant and helpful people to serve you (afternoon/evening). Sometimes, they have samples for you to taste. There is a large selection to choose from, including Dim Sum, wok, finger and rotisserie food. There is a microwave oven to warm up whatever food you decide to get. You can also order a Sushi platter 24 hours in advance. https://papylee.com/
And a Pharmacy for your various needs:
If you need a pharmacy for any reason, you should go to 33, rue de Fontenay, where you will find LA BONNE NOUVELLE and some very nice, friendly, and helpful people. The pharmacy belonging to Mme Coeuille has been there since 2010. She is helped by Mariam, Sabrina, Gabriella and Jakadi. It is the pharmacy I prefer to go to. Besides being a pharmacy, they also have organic and vegan products. They also deal with phytotherapy, homeopathy, skin and hair products, vitamins, products for babies and even perfume among other things.
For all of the above, you can mention that you found their address on my website.
