It’s hard to decide how to spend your time in Paris, France. After you land at Charles de Gaulle you could opt to take a bite out of the decadent white truffle and roasted Piemont hazelnut slivers macaron at Pierre Hermé or maybe you want to spend your first night in a hotel that was once a former boulangerie (French bread shop). The options are endless, but there are only a few places that remain open round the clock every day which is part of the reason Au Pied de Cochon is the perfect pit stop for jet lagged travelers.

 

The Stravinsky Fountain (La Fontaine Stravinsky) is fountain with sixteen sculptures that move and spray water. Sculptors Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle created it in 1983, and you can find it near the Centre Pompidou at the Place Stravinsky.
Thingamabobbers and Whirligigs – The Stravinsky Fountain (La Fontaine Stravinsky) Near Centre Pompidou is Among the Many Sites to See in Paris

 

Au Pied de Cochon is a stalwart of the Parisian dining scene located in Les Halles, not far from Centre Pompidou.

 

A plate of oysters (huîtres) at Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Paris is Your Oyster – Huîtres at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

The French bistro has been in existence for more than 70 years.

 

A plate with a traditional French onion soup recipe (soupe à l'oignon gratinée tradition) is on display on a shelf in Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Au Pied de Cochon First Opened Its Doors in Paris, France in 1947

 

You’ll find attentive waiters dressed in formal attire whizzing about serving delicious classic French dishes like foie gras, French onion soup (soupe à l’oignon gratinée) and frogs’ legs (cuisse de grenouille).

 

Steamed mussels (moules cochon façon hortense) in a cast iron dish are one of the many popular dishes you can eat at Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Nice Mussels – Steamed Mussels and Fries (Moules Frites) is One of the Many Classic Dishes You Can Snag at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

A word to the wise, Au Pied de Cochon is the perfect place for foodies and adventurous eaters, but if you aren’t a fan of heads or feet attached to your dish, you may want to opt for dishes you’re familiar with.

 

Vacherin du pied de cochon consists of layers of meringue and ice cream in pig cake form at Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
I Like Pig Butts and I Cannot Lie – Pig Dishes Come in All Shapes and Size Including Meringue and Ice Cream Cake Form (Vacherin du Pied de Cochon) at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

The house dish is a number of variations on, what else, pig’s foot (pied de couchon grillé).

 

In addition to Au Pied de Cochon, here’s a list of other neat little local spots we love across France.

 

You can snag a fatty pig paw smothered in Bernaise sauce or even have it stuffed (facri façon Périgourdine) with potatoes and mushrooms.

 

A pig's foot door handle at Au pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Go Pig or Go Home – Pig’s Feet Are Everywhere (Including on Door Handles and on the Menu) at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

The way we see it offal (the parts of animals you won’t usually find for sale in an American grocery store like entrails, feet and internal organs) shouldn’t be cast away.

 

Wondering what the fork you should eat for dinner tonight? Curious about some of the other amazing grub spots we’ve tried around the globe? Here are some of our favorite restaurants around the world.

 

We’re fans of making use of the full animal rather than letting it go to waste, but we also understand that some European traditions can be hard for Americans to stomach which is why we’re mentioning it.

 

A plate of French fries (frites) at Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Every Day is Fry Day at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

We aren’t judging (clearly we’re fans of jamón cones and fresh Ibérian ham), but after watching a number of our table neighbors send their pig’s feet back because they couldn’t bear bite into it, we thought it best to mention this to you dear reader in hopes that you don’t order something unfamiliar and send it back because it isn’t a fit with your palate.

 

Scallops with lemongrass emulsion, vegetables and parmesan (noix de Saint Jacques émulsion aux coquillages, niçoise de légumes et parmesan) at Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Frankly Scallop, I Don’t Give a Clam – The Tasty Noix de Saint Jacques at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

We loved every dish we tried at Au Pied de Cochon from the mussels (moules) to the scallops (noix de Saint Jacques) and the sea bream (daurade royale). Our absolute favorite part of the meal though was the dessert.

 

A plate of European sea bream surrounded by lemongrass emulsion, artichokes and potatoes (daurade royale, émulsion de coquillages à la citronelle, artichauts et pommes grenaille) at Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Nothing Fishy Here – European Sea Bream (Daurade Royale) at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

The pig cake (vacherin du pied de cochon) is as adorable as it is tasty and every meal ends with a pig shaped meringue for each guest. Needless to say there are a lot of smiling children and adults at the end of each meal at Au Pied de Cochon.

 

A sweet pig head. Vacherin du pied de cochon consists of layers of meringue and ice cream in pig cake form at Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Pig-Headed in the Best Possible Way – Dessert is Served at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

If you’re on the hunt for a classic taste of Paris, Au Pied de Cochon is the type of place you look forward to visiting time and time again. We hope this Parisian gem remains open both day and night, for many more decades to come.

 

An exterior street view from the sidewalk outside of Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Paris, France.
Au Pied de Cochon in Paris, France

 

Au Pied de Cochon
Address: 6 Rue Coquillière
75001 Paris, France
Hours: Open 24 Hours, Seven Days Per Week
Phone: +33 1 40 13 77 00
Email: reservationpieddecochon@blanc.net
Pricing (All in Euros): Pig Foot Dishes €22.00 to €26.50, Pig Head €28.00, Oysters and Crustaceans €8.00 to €30.50, Entrées €9.00 to €21.50, Meat Dishes €22.50 to €89.00, Fish Plates €20.00 to €41.00, Salads and Tartare €17.50 to €26.50, Desserts €9.00 to €10.50