Oysters & Seafood
"French oysters (huîtres) are served raw on ice with lemon, shallot vinegar, or mignonette sauce. Eaten straight from the shell, slurped down in one go. Sizes range from 0 (largest) to 5 (smallest)—beginners should start with 3 or 4. Oysters are the star of 'plateau de fruits de mer' (seafood platters) which include clams, whelks, prawns, crab, and langoustines on ice. Best season is months with 'R' (September-April)."
Logistics
Moderate
Vibe
Fresh, briny
Duration
30 minutes
Best For
Seafood lovers
The Backstory
Oysters have been eaten in France since Roman times. Parisian brasseries adopted oyster bars in the 1800s when railway refrigeration allowed Atlantic oysters to reach Paris fresh. The tradition of eating oysters with white wine and bread-and-butter became bourgeois culture. Now oyster bars are everywhere, from Michelin restaurants to market stalls.
Local Secret
"Order 6 or 12 oysters depending on appetite. Fine de Claire (delicate, mild) and Spéciale de Claires (meatier, richer) are most common varieties. Slurp them straight from the shell—no chewing needed, just swallow. Use lemon or shallot vinegar sparingly. Pair with white wine (Muscadet, Chablis, or Champagne). Oyster season is September-April; summer oysters are milky and less prized. Prices: €2-4 per oyster at brasseries, €1.50-2.50 at markets."