City guide

France

One night in Paris, then three days in Champagne: five houses, a lot of cellars, and lunch at a two-star. Here's where to start, then the whole route.

9places

2stops

5champagne houses

4nights

Visited France 5 DAYS · 2025 Paris · Reims · Épernay

Start with these

A lunch, a cellar and a bistro

Champagne house Weekend lunch + visit Ruinart The oldest champagne house · Reims DrinkBlanc de Blancs, the signature: all Chardonnay, in a rounded clear bottle Book the weekend lunch

Champagne house Cellar tour Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage cellar tour · Épernay DrinkMoët Impérial, the flagship brut, created in 1869 On the Avenue de Champagne

Bib Gourmand Dinner in Paris Le Pantruche Bistro · Paris OrderThe Grand Marnier soufflé, the dessert the Michelin Guide singles out Open weekdays only

The route

Every place, stop by stop

1 Paris2 days in 2025 · Stayed at Renaissance Paris République

Bib Gourmand Le Pantruche Bistro Order The Grand Marnier soufflé, the dessert the Michelin Guide singles out ParisDinner

2 Champagne4 days in 2025 · Stayed at Les Crayères

Champagne Ruinart Weekend lunch + visit Drink Blanc de Blancs, the signature: all Chardonnay, in a rounded clear bottle ReimsDay 1

Champagne Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage cellar tour Drink Moët Impérial, the flagship brut, created in 1869 ÉpernayDay 2

Champagne Perrier-Jouët Dégustation menu at the bar Drink Belle Epoque, the prestige cuvée in the bottle painted with white anemones ÉpernayDay 2

Champagne Veuve Clicquot Visit and tasting Drink Yellow Label Brut, the signature non-vintage, known by its orange-yellow label ReimsDay 3

Champagne Taittinger Tour and tasting Drink Comtes de Champagne, the prestige blanc de blancs, aged in the old abbey cellars ReimsDay 3

Polychrome Taittinger’s restaurant and bar Know A different guest chef runs the kitchen each year. Lunch is seasonal, with Taittinger pairings ReimsDay 3

Les Crayères The château hotel History A château finished in 1904 for the Marquise de Polignac, of the Pommery family Reims3 nights

★★ Michelin Le Parc Fine dining at Les Crayères Know The hotel’s two-Michelin-star dining room. Lunch is served Wednesday to Sunday ReimsLunch

Where the houses are

One avenue, one hill, 46 minutes by train from Paris

Avenue de ChampagneÉpernay Both Épernay houses we visited are on this one street, a short walk apart.

Moët & Chandon · 20

Perrier-Jouët · 28

No. 1 · town center No. 75

Saint-Nicaise hillReims The Reims houses moved up this hill from 1768 on, Ruinart first, and dug their cellars into old chalk pits. Our hotel, and both lunches, are up here too.

the hill Ruinart Veuve Clicquot Taittinger Polychrome Les Crayères + Le Parc

We went Where we ate Where we stayed Both are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Drawn to show order, not to scale.

Still on the list

Saved for next time: more cellars

Avenue de Champagne MercierCellar tour on a little trainChampagne de VenogePrestige tour + barAndré BergèreGrower champagne

Reims MummChampagne house

Paris Aux Crus de BourgogneClassic bistro, a friend’s pick