Food court: our selection of the best food halls in France

Finding a restaurant that everyone agrees on when going out with friends, family or colleagues can sometimes be a headache, if not everyone has the same desires or the same tastes. Fortunately, for the past few years, new types of venues have been springing up in France: food courts, or food halls, inspired by North American or Asian concepts.

What is the concept of a food court?

The food court is a large space where you can find several food offers, mostly fast food, but not only. In this space, everyone is free to move around and order food or drink from one or more stands, and then eat or drink while sitting or standing. You can enjoy your pizza while your neighbour enjoys his sushi, and your neighbour his burger.

In Europe, the Italian concept of Eataly, as well as the Time Out Market in Lisbon, have contributed to the development of these new eating places. In France, you can find this kind of place in almost every major city. Here are the best food courts to try from Paris to Bordeaux, via Nantes, Toulouse and Lyon.

Parisian food courts

IN PICTURES The best food courts in France

Let's start with the capital: in Paris, despite the lack of large spaces available, several projects have been successfully launched. Starting with Ground Control, an independent living space in the 12th arrondissement: Latin American specialities rub shoulders with typical Northern French dishes, as well as Sicilian-style pizzas and dishes prepared by refugee chefs.

Not far from there is also La Felicità, in the 13th arrondissement: on 4,500 square metres, within Station F, the largest start-up incubator in the world, you can come and taste pizzas, tagliatelle and other Italian specialities.

Which food hall to choose in Bordeaux?

Next, we head for the South-West, with a city renowned for its wine: Bordeaux, which hosts a particularly interesting food hall: La Boca Foodcourt. On the banks of the Garonne, La Boca Foodcourt offers French specialities, with a rotisserie and a Corsican counter, but also world cuisine, with Mexican, Japanese and Spanish stands.

Les Halles du Lez in Montpellier

In Montpellier, the Halles du Le Z is located on the banks of the river Lez: on the menu, 24 corners dedicated to catering, offering Asian, Oriental, African, Korean and Middle Eastern specialties. Dessert stands, cafés and pasta bars, eggs and other fresh juices are also on the menu. Food that can be taken away or enjoyed at one of the 700 seats inside, or on the 1300 square metres of outdoor terraces.

⋙ Montpellier in line to be European Capital of Culture 2028

Grand Scène in Lille

In the North of France, a food court open 7 days a week was created in 2021 in Lille: Grand Scène is no less than 10 restaurants, two bars and coffee shops, and events throughout the year. The main theme? Street food, with the inevitable burgers, pizzas and tacos, but also a Breton creperie, a fish and chips and Greek souvlaki.

Lyon, capital of food courts?

As the capital of gastronomy, is Lyon also the French capital of food courts? Indeed, there are two XXL food courts in Lyon: Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a 5-minute walk from the Part Dieu train station, and the Food Traboule, named after the pedestrian shortcuts that are particularly widespread in Lyon. The first covered market in Lyon, opened in 1859, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is home to a large number of food artisans (cheesemakers, bakers, scallop shops, market gardeners, pork butchers, fishmongers and butchers), as well as several cafés, bars and restaurants, where it is possible to eat.

Food Traboule is nestled in the Tour Rose, a traboule located in the historic district of Vieux Lyon, with its Renaissance architecture, classified as a Unesco World Heritage site. In total, there are 12 counters to choose from, all offering fresh, seasonal cuisine.

Les Halles de la Cité, in Toulouse

Right in the centre of the pink city, the Halles de la Cité concentrates several stalls where Toulousans can have an aperitif or dinner around large wooden tables. Located in the heart of the Théâtre de la Cité, in Toulouse, the Halles de la Cité includes a flame-fed meat bar, a stand offering Asian steamed bites, but you can also enjoy sushi or cheese and charcuterie boards.

The Rennes food market, once a month

Here is a food court as greedy as expected every month by the inhabitants of Rennes and visitors: every first Sunday of the month, the central market, at La Criée, becomes a real food court, with many dishes from here or elsewhere prepared on the spot for less than 10 euros. In all, some forty restaurateurs, pastry chefs, brewers, producers and other food-trucks take over the market for the food court... and the convivial tables, in a friendly atmosphere!

⋙ What to do in Rennes if you like outdoor activities?

An online food court

If crowds don't appeal to you and you want to plan a meal with several specialities at home, The Original Food Court makes it possible to take away and deliver several dishes from various restaurants in a single order. This service, which is currently only available in the Paris region and Lille (but will soon be available in Nice, Nancy, Bordeaux and Marseille), allows you to mix and match and order Chinese dimsum, fried chicken and Argentinian dishes from several locations around your home, all to be collected or delivered in one go.

Future projects in France

Finally, in view of the success of food courts, several new concepts of gourmet halls will soon be launched in France. In Greater Paris, a huge food court is expected to open in 2022 in Montparnasse, while others are being prepared in Saint-Ouen and Pantin. The city of Nantes, in the west, has announced the arrival of a food hall for June 2022.