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Noknok: eat with locals in the Paris countryside

Discover the true essence of French hospitality with Noknok, a unique French company that invites you to savor authentic dining experiences in the enchanting countryside near Paris. Escape the city and spend 4 unforgettable hours (11AM to 3PM) with friendly local hosts in their charming old homes (at least 100 years old)—each a haven of rustic beauty and timeless character. 

Indulge in a traditional meal crafted with love, accompanied by delightful activities that immerse you in the rhythm of French country life. These exclusive, private experiences are all available for instant booking. 

All our welcoming hosts speak English, live in beautiful, quintessential French homes just 50 minutes to 1.5 hours from Paris by car (tip: use Uber) or train, and are carefully selected to ensure your journey feels personal and magical. Let Noknok show you a side of France that's warm, authentic, and unforgettable.

Meet our hosts: French (extra)ordinary citizens

Noknok! Who's there? At the heart of Noknok's unique experiences are hosts who are passionate everyday citizens—including teachers, journalists, researchers, pharmacists, artisans, and entrepreneurs—eager to welcome international travelers into their personal spaces. These culturally rich individuals are not tourism professionals but genuine locals motivated by the joy of cultural exchange, language practice, and sharing their local heritage.

Carefully vetted through a rigorous selection process (only one in ten applicants approved), each host undergoes a comprehensive evaluation by a Noknok representative who verifies the quality of their home, the authenticity of their experience, their foreign language proficiency (all hosts speak good English and potentially other languages like Spanish or German), and their ability to provide a warm, engaging welcome. While hosts do receive compensation for their participation, their primary motivation transcends financial gain—they are driven by a genuine desire to showcase their locality, share stories about their home and garden, meet fascinating people from around the world, and create meaningful cross-cultural connections. This approach transforms a simple meal into an immersive cultural experience, where travelers do not just visit a place but truly connect with its people, traditions, and local way of life.

Unique French food experiences near Paris: indulge in French cuisine, wine, cheese, bread, and pastries.

Step beyond the typical Paris city food experiences and into the heart of French culinary tradition with Noknok. Our hosts invite you to their charming countryside homes, where you’ll indulge in an unforgettable journey of French flavors and hospitality. Unlike Parisian restaurants or standard Paris food tours, Noknok offers a truly unique dining adventure. Each experience is a surprise—there’s no fixed menu. Your meal will include a starter, a traditional main course, a cheese selection with bread, dessert, and two glasses of wine (or Champagne wine). Our cheese courses are particularly special, showcasing regional varieties like Brie if you choose our hosts Emilie or Frédéric, sourced directly from local producers. It’s a rare delight even in Paris restaurants, but essential to authentic everyday French dining.

Some hosts, like Emilie, use vegetables and herbs from their own gardens, creating salads bursting with flavor—think crisp lettuce, aromatic shallots, parsley, and garlic. For dessert, expect homemade classics like crêpes, tarte tatin, crème brûlée, or seasonal fruit clafoutis, prepared with love and family recipes.

Noknok lets you savor the essence of French home cooking, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage since 2010, while creating unforgettable memories in the picturesque countryside.

Share a glass of wine (or two!) with your hosts!

Noknok's culinary experiences include at least two glasses of French wine paired with local homestyle cooking. Take Emilie, who not only serves wine but shares her handcrafted homemade liqueur in her 17th-century stone house, walking guests through its intricate preparation. In the Champagne region, hosts like Julien and Jorge offer extraordinary experiences. They invite guests to their historic manor for private vineyard walks and champagne tastings with local village producers—personal friends who share their finest vintages. From red and white wines to champagne, these tastings go far beyond standard wine tours or Paris food tours. Hosts craft memorable moments by sharing not just drinks, but stories, traditions, and personal connections that transform a simple meal into an unforgettable French wine journey.

Be enchanted by the charm of old typical French countryside houses

At Noknok, we curate an extraordinary collection of historic French countryside homes that transport guests into living history. Our carefully selected properties range from elegant Old Bourgeoisie manors and Maisons de maître to centuries-old farmhouses, watermills and rustic countryside estates. Each home is at least 100 years old, meticulously preserved to showcase authentic architectural charm. Dating from different eras, these stunning properties feature traditional stone walls, wooden beams, terracotta tile roofs, and beautiful gardens that tell stories of generations past. These homes offer travelers an intimate glimpse into the heart of rural French life, far beyond typical tourist experiences.

Take part in rural activities

Our experiences are not only about eating with locals in the Paris countryside or tasting wine with them. You will also explore typical villages, make traditional crêpes, gather herbs from a garden, feed horses, understand the winemaking process, take a stroll through vineyards, examine ancient coins found around the property, view Napoleonic artifacts... Each visit offers a glimpse into authentic French life, where time slows down and traditions come alive.

Take a day trip from Paris: Authentic culinary adventures in the French countryside

Escape the bustling streets of Paris and immerse yourself in a day trip to the serene French countryside with Noknok. Imagine stepping out of your Paris hotel at 9:30 AM, and by 11:00 AM (tip: take an Uber), you're warmly greeted at the door of a charming, centuries-old home. Noknok offers unique day tours near Paris, combining authentic French dining with local traditions and stunning rural settings. 

Just an hour to 90 minutes from central Paris by car or train, these day excursions allow you to trade urban chaos (or summer heat!) for tranquil countryside life. Every experience takes place in a historic home, lovingly preserved with stone fireplaces, exposed beams, and gardens brimming with seasonal blooms. Your host will welcome you with open arms, sharing their culture through a family-style meal.

Whether it’s a summer lunch on a garden terrace or a cozy winter feast by the fire, our experiences with locals reveal the heart of French hospitality—an unforgettable journey through food, culture, and countryside charm.

Noknok: Experience true French charm – authentic people, timeless homes, delicious food and wine, and rural activities.