This five-day Paris food tour is inspired by Julia Child and the cherished time she spent in Paris. Julia’s deep love of food and relentless curiosity led her to become one of the most beloved American culinary voices of the 20th century. Together with your host, acclaimed Chef Raffaele (whose illustrious career includes years at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris), we’ll follow in her footsteps on a journey that brings her story to life. Browse the bookshop she frequented, dine in cafés she and her husband Paul loved, and take part in a French cooking class at the legendary Cordon Bleu, where she studied. Along the way, you’ll also learn to make cheese, meet local tastemakers, and even explore Marie Antoinette’s little-known hamlet at Versailles. Through Julia’s eyes — and a touch of Chef Raffaele’s flair — you’ll connect with the heart and soul of French gastronomy.
To read the Condé Nast Traveler article about this journey click here.
• Touch down in the City of Light, where a private driver will “whisk” you to your five-star hotel.
• Enjoy a relaxed afternoon — our travel concierge team is on hand to arrange a private city tour to whet your appetite for what’s to come.
• In the early evening, step aboard a private Seine River cruise with Champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
• Dinner is a traditional three-course affair (just the way Julia liked it) paired with French wine at Chez Denise in Les Halles.
• Begin the day just as Julia did — with breakfast at Les Deux Magots café.
• Head to the Left Bank bookshop where Julia browsed for French cookbooks — Shakespeare and Company.
• Cross the Seine to a bustling Right Bank market, where Chef Raffaele introduces you to seasonal produce and specialty ingredients (some might even feature in your cooking class this afternoon!).
• Next up, a cooking class at Le Cordon Bleu, the very school where Julia spent six months learning about French cuisine.
• Tuck into the lunch you’ve just created in class.
• Afternoon and evening are free to spend as you wish.
• Enjoy a morning at leisure. Your Art In Voyage travel concierge is on hand to book tickets or arrange private visits to Paris’ best attractions (including the Louvre Museum).
• We regroup on Boulevard Saint Germain for lunch at one of the oldest coffeehouses in Paris — Café de Flore — where Julia and Paul often dined among rising and celebrated artists (it’s still a popular spot for celebrities!).
• In the afternoon, join a hands-on pastry class with a Parisian chef, learning to make one of Julia’s favorites — the classic French éclair.
• Tonight we dine on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower at its Michelin-starred restaurant Le Jules Verne, watching as the sun sets over the city.
• After breakfast, we make our way to Versailles for a private guided visit of the palace, gardens, and Marie Antoinette’s Estate (including her little-known Hamlet, a faux-rustic farm, complete with a lake, dairy, and wandering goats).
• Lunch is a picnic in the Park of Versailles, prepared by the kitchen team at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant at the neighboring Trianon Palace hotel.
• Back in Paris, enjoy a cheesemaking workshop in the afternoon, then return to your luxury hotel for a bit of downtime.
• Tonight, dinner comes in two parts: we start at Verjus restaurant in the Palais Royal (built in 1639 for Cardinal Richelieu), then move on to dessert at Brasserie Lipp — a Parisian institution and one of Julia’s go-to spots for something sweet.
• Begin your final full day in Paris with a visit to one of the city’s neighborhood markets, then enjoy a cooking class and lunch.
• The afternoon is yours to explore Paris — our travel concierges are on hand to arrange and recommend those best-kept-secret experiences.
• We regroup for cocktails at a favorite Parisian speakeasy.
• Our final dinner is at Le Grand Véfour — an opulent Louis XVI-style restaurant established in 1784 (originally named Café de Chartres) and Julia and her husband Paul’s regular date-night venue!
• This morning, a luxury private airport transfer will be waiting for you… But if Paris has worked its magic (it usually does), our travel experts can arrange a seamless onward journey — join Chef Kevin Fonzo in Mykonos (and enjoy a 10% discount for booking both journeys!), or let us tailor an extension to one of France’s neighboring regions — scroll to the “Add-ons” section below for details.
I just returned from a small group trip to Paris and it was such an incredible experience! From a private boat tour on the Seine to a guided tour of Versailles, from dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower to a cooking class at Le Cordon Bleu, the experiences were all amazing and the coordination of the trip logistics was flawless. Merci beaucoup!
I have just recently returned from my 3rd Art In Voyage curated tour, Cook Nice: On the Footsteps of Julia Childs. All I can say is that Mikael and his team are amazing! I was living a dream throughout my entire time in Paris. Never would I have imagined taking a cooking class at the Cordon Bleu or dining at Le Jules Verne Restaurant at La Tour Eiffel with its amazing views of Paris. From the moment I made the decision to go on this adventure, all of the planning details were prearranged and organized flawlessly. My only task was to arrive in Paris and begin experiencing all that Paris has to offer. From the champagne boat cruise on the Seine, the delectable food and wine tasting evenings, the pastry and cheese making classes not to forget beautiful Versailles and its gardens, these wonderful memories will last a lifetime. Our small group was fortunate to have Isabelle as our hostess for the 5 days in Paris. She is a kind, warm person and very knowledgeable in la gastronomy. Julia Childs would approve. We had an amazing time with her. Thank you AIV for making this trip a once in a lifetime experience.
I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Cook Nice Tour. From our accommodations, to our cooking classes, to the fabulous restaurants, everything was exceptional. We didn’t have to worry about a thing. I was so impressed with each activity and with the knowledge and care that our guide gave us. Thanks so much for a fabulous week!
Our day-to-day itinerary may, from time to time and prior to departure, need to be altered or slightly modified to address possible unforeseen logistical and weather challenges. In such rare instances, Art In Voyage guarantees delivery of the content of the itinerary yet, in a different order.
All listed retreats (hotels, villas, and barges) are, at times, subject to changes. In such rare instances, similar or higher standards will be upheld.
Travel insurance, once purchased, goes into effect upon payment of the premium. You have 15 days from that date to cancel it (providing no claims have been filed or initiated during that period). Beyond 15 days, it becomes non-refundable/non-changeable/non-transferrable.
In case of a cancelation at more than 90 days prior to departure, your deposit will be returned minus a $500 per person administrative fee.
In case of a cancelation within the penalty period: Find a replacement at least 30 days prior to departure and your journey will be fully refunded, minus a $500 per person administrative fee.