history food tours Reviews 

A guided food and wine tour in Paris that felt as much like a cultural journey as it did a tasting. With Mathieu Mercier leading the way, the tour became more than just sampling—it became connection. His mix of humor, history, and genuine passion brought every stop to life, making the experience feel personal, meaningful, and unforgettable.

From warm, freshly baked bread and perfectly aged cheeses to rich, silky chocolate crafted with care and tradition, each bite told a story. The wines—sourced from regions across France—showcased the diversity of the land, with every glass offering something distinct and deeply rooted in nature. The contrast to North American food culture became clear—I found myself appreciating a slower, more intentional way of living, one that’s deeply connected to place and process.

As my first trip abroad, this experience reached far beyond simple indulgence in food and wine—it became something grounding. It stirred a sense of inner peace, opening my eyes to a way of living that I’ve subconsciously been craving forever. It left me with a renewed perspective: to slow down, live with intention, and fully embrace each joyful moment and bite.

This is by far the best food tour I’ve ever experienced. The knowledge, the experience, the yummy food, and the most wonderful guide in Paris. Highly recommend!

We had an amazing experience with Mat! We were able to try so many different foods and learned a lot about the Marais during our tour. Mat was incredibly friendly and engaging. It was my mom’s first time in Paris and she said this was one of her favorite things we did. Highly recommend a tour with Mat if you want to eat delicious food and learn something while doing so!

My husband and I had the most wonderful food tour with matmerci.com. Mat brings the history of Napoleon and Josephine alive, between stops at the best of Paris’s delicious food shops, where we sampled amazing cheeses, patê, the best baguette, Josephine’s favorite pastry, and incredible chocolates and macarons, ending up at a lovely wine cellar with our purchases, and sharing them over a beautiful bottle of wine. An amazing way to see amazing French food and the best way to spend an afternoon, with a knowledgeable chef!

I was fortunate enough to join Mat on one of his history food tours on my recent visit to Paris.

Mat was extremely friendly and very accommodating, and from the moment we met Mat in Le Marais, we felt very at ease. He is very knowledgeable about the area's history and how it ties into the food culture.

You can tell he really loves what he does, and his passion comes through in his storytelling. He also knows all the right people for the best food! I can't pick just one highlight from the tour as the whole tour was a highlight. From the history and storytelling, to the amazing buildings, and the food and wine (and sabering the Champagne bottle!) everything was perfect.

As a travel agent in Australia, I would have no hesitation in recommending Mat to any of my clients travelling to Paris, in fact, I insist they take one of his tours!

Next time I'm in Paris, I'll make sure to take his Seine River Cruise (and maybe another food tour!)

I have done multiple tours with Mat. He is outstanding! Every tour is interesting and enjoyable. I highly recommend him!

Mathieu is an exceptional, charming tour guide combining his knowledge of history, food & wine with charm & humor. We had a fabulous time as he took us to his favorite “best of the best” boulanger, patisserie, cheese monger, chocolatier, and wine shop, tasting all along the way, ending up with a fabulous lunch in a delightful setting.
The greatest compliment to Mathieu is the next year (‘25) we returned with a group of friends and took his Napoleon & Josephine Tour. Our friends said it was their favorite day of the trip! He makes history come to life with his exciting storytelling & unique treats along the way.
A tour with Mathieu is not be missed!!

We had an absolutely wonderful food tour with Mat through the South Marais. From the very start it felt thoughtful, authentic, and perfectly paced. We began with a classic Parisian baguette, then made our way to a chocolate shop, followed by a fantastic cheese stop and a charcuterie shop where we sampled incredible meats.

The highlight of the tour was ending at a wine bar, where we enjoyed our cheese while sipping wine in an antique cellar. It felt like a cozy cave—intimate, atmospheric, and uniquely Parisian.

Mat was knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the food, the neighborhood, and sharing the experience. This tour was the perfect blend of history, culture, and amazing flavors, and it gave us a true taste of the Marais. Highly recommend!

Mat’s food tour was the perfect experience for our very quick weekend trip to see my sister and her husband. I loved mat’s storytelling abilities, and his spontaneity and enthusiasm for having us try new things. we ended up buying a galette du rois in which i became the queen of the day! 😂 Mat’s tour definitely made some really special memories and we learned a lot about Paris, the food culture and my boyfriend took home a bunch of cheese!

Always our favorite part of Paris! We have been on two walking and one boat tour with Mat! He's amazing and our entire family loves the experience! Must do!!!

I had the most wonderful day on what was truly the best food tour of Paris, led by Mathieu. His knowledge is incredibly wide-ranging—he seamlessly weaves together food, history, and modern Parisian culture, while also guiding you past beautiful historic churches and landmarks along the way.

Mathieu’s background as a chef and restaurateur adds an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the experience, creating a tour that feels both intimate and thoughtfully curated. He is friendly, warm, funny, and genuinely passionate about what he does, which makes the day feel effortless and special.

I can’t wait to book another tour with him. Anyone who chooses Mathieu will quickly see just how magical a food tour can be.

Had a great tour and experience with Matthew as our guide. He was so fun and knowledgeable. I would most definitely book another tour with him

One of the best food tours we have ever done. Memorable in every way. Our guide was energetic, funny and knowledgable. Lovee every minute!

Mat was so amazing!! He made our river cruise and food tour truly amazing! Such a great personality and super passionate

My daughter, mother, and I were in Paris for a few days and had a fabulous tour with Mat. He showed us several gems, and kept us entertained with the history. We highly recommend this tour to anyone!

Everything about Matt's Napolean food tour was fantastic! Matt's is a true Renaissance man with expert knowledge in Paris' history. He took us to wonderful sites on the tour explaining which cheeses, bread and Cognac might be consumed during a normal day in Paris. The samples of these foods with plentiful. His history lessons were told in a story-like manner I will never forget. The following day we were walking around Paris when someone called out my name. To my surprise it was Matt with a group of people on his tour. What a total surprise to not only see him again, but he remembered our names. I think he loves what he does and it shows in the quality and experience we had. Hope to meet with Matt again. I would recommend Matt to everyone.

Matt is an intrepid connoisseur in the Paris food scene. We learned about classic French foods such as cheeses, breads, and macarons. As we toured, he wove stories that featured local neighborhood markets, historic figures and noted landmarks. Loved his tasty tour!

I had such an amazing time on this Paris food tour! Our host was incredible – they knew so much about Parisian history, architecture, and especially the food, sharing all these cool stories that made everything come alive. We got to see some real hidden gems of the city that tourists never find, and the delicious snacks plus great wine were just perfect. Totally recommend it for anyone wanting a real and different taste of Paris!

Mat's food tour was the highlight of a spectacular week in Paris. He is the rennaisance man. Part food insider, part storyteller, and part historian. He brought the city, it's history, and its food to vivid life. And best fo all, he is great company and super fun!

This is a must tour for those looking for a food experience in Paris. The history and Mat’s knowledge was a huge plus. We learned about the history of croissants while having the best ones in the city, macarons, chocolate, and of course the best stop was the cheese and wine! We had so much fun and cannot wait to do it when we come back to Paris.