La Coop

Set right by the Luxembourg gardens, La Coop is perfect for lunch after a stroll in the park, or for an early dinner before catching a show at the Odéon theatre. A colourful café and haven of produce from the Beaufort valley in Haute Savoie, La Coop specialises in Beaufort: a firm raw milk cheese with a smooth, creamy texture. It's sliced straight off the wheel and sold alongside other Savoie specialities: Reblochon, Tomme and Abbaye de Tamié. Beyond, a large grocery area offers traditional Savoyard produce like crozets (buckwheat pasta squares), génépi liqueur, cured meats, fruit juices, soups, Mont Blanc beers and more. 

Downstairs in the basement, there's an intimate dining area beneath an arched ceiling. A selection of four cheeses is reasonably priced at €10, served on a slate with a small serving of mâche salad and lightly toasted slices of brown bread. Try a few pieces of the flavoursome Beaufort and perhaps the melting Tomme de Brebis sheep’s cheese, or the Reblochon Fermier, which leaves an exquisite nutty aftertaste. A self-service dispenser offers eight wine varieties (red and white), chosen to complement the cheeses – a light and fruity Mondeuse Savoie, for example, or a more powerful Bourgogne Chevalier d’Eon Pinot Noir 2010.