The Best Picnic Spots in Paris, According to Locals

To me, a Parisian picnic is heaven on earth. Few pleasures compare to popping into a boulangerie for a warm baguette, grabbing fresh cheese from a fromagerie, crisp wine from a local bottle shop, and any other bits and bobs that suit your fancy—all in the pursuit of a perfect al fresco meal in the most romantic city on earth. Toss in a chic blanket and basket (maybe some cute napkins ), and it’s a quintessential Paris day.

On a recent two-month sojourn in the French capital , I spent much of my time en plein air , nibbling on whatever scrumptious specialty I could get my hands on. Aged Comté in a hidden garden behind Sacré Cœur, just-sliced saucisson on a pontoon boat down the River Seine, and a basket of fresh cherries next to a gurgling fountain in Jardin du Luxembourg. But despit