Celebrating Thanksgiving in Paris – A Homeowner Story

When Suzanne and Jeff found themselves in Paris for Thanksgiving, it wasn’t part of a long‑planned European holiday. A hurricane in Florida had temporarily displaced them, leading them, quite unexpectedly, to spend the season in their August home in the city. What followed was a celebration that felt both different and deeply memorable.

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Jeff shared that even though Thanksgiving is distinctly American, celebrating it abroad felt surprisingly natural. Paris, with its cosy cafés and sense of occasion, offered a warm backdrop for the holiday. "We discovered Fouquet's, which was serving a traditional Thanksgiving menu, turkey included, but elevated with unmistakably Parisian flair.

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“While we didn’t have family with us that trip, it was nice to be among other Americans also celebrating,” Jeff told us. The holiday became less about the formality of tradition and more about simply marking the day together.

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What was meaningful to them was the freedom to create new traditions wherever they found themselves: “If you have cherished traditions at home, you don’t want to disrupt them. But when life changes and you want to create new ones, it’s wonderful to be able to do that in different places with these properties.”

Part of the joy of celebrating abroad is discovering how a different culture interprets a familiar holiday. As they quickly discovered, Paris has a way of making every tradition its own.

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At Fouquet’s, the kitchen created a Thanksgiving menu that honoured the staples but elevated every flavour. “It was their unique Parisian take,” Jeff said. “Absolutely brilliant.” Traditional turkey, but with the richness and finesse you’d expect from a French kitchen.

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And where there’s Thanksgiving, there’s usually football. Jeff laughed that they were able to find a sports bar, the Moose, in the Latin Quarter, where they watched the Steelers game surrounded by fellow fans. “It created a really fun atmosphere!” he told us. A little slice of home, tucked inside Paris’s winding streets.

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Inspired by their experience, and by our own time in the city, here are a few other spots to make a Paris Thanksgiving feel effortless:

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Septime: A Michelin-star favourite for a reason. The tasting menu leans into autumn beautifully: think roasted root vegetables, crisp-skinned poultry, wild mushrooms and elegant, brothy reductions. Perfect for a celebratory Thanksgiving dinner with all the finesse of modern French cooking.

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Bois de Boulogne: Take an unhurried walk through the park’s gardens and winding paths as the leaves turn amber and gold. It’s the closest thing Paris has to a classic American fall moment, perfect if you are missing a Thanksgiving morning stroll.

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Le Bon Georges: A neighbourhood bistro beloved by locals. Expect comforting, beautifully executed classics such as slow-cooked beef, creamy purées, roast chicken and seasonal vegetable sides, the kind of dishes that feel naturally Thanksgiving-adjacent without trying.

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Boulangerie Poilâne: Their apple tarts can be the ultimate substitute for your pecan favourites, and their buttery sablés make wonderful stand-ins for pumpkin pie. Or simply pick up a loaf of their signature sourdough to anchor your holiday table.

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Le Marché des Enfants Rouges: Paris’s oldest covered market is perfect if you fancy cooking at home. Look for autumn produce: chanterelles, squash, chestnuts, rotisserie poultry, farmhouse cheeses and fresh herbs, everything you need to create a French-inflected Thanksgiving meal in your home away from home.

Whether in Paris, Barcelona, London, or Rome, Suzanne and Jeff have learned that holidays abroad become less about replicating tradition and more about carrying the spirit of it.

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Suzanne’s advice to other American homeowners: “Embrace being somewhere new and stay open‑minded. If there’s an important tradition, like watching football, you’ll find a way to make it work.”

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Jeff adds that the key is immersion: “Wherever you stay at an August home, you can find a memorable experience.” Paris happened to be theirs, but the sentiment holds across every destination.

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Thanksgiving, after all, is about gratitude, connection, and finding comfort, things that travel well, especially when you’re stepping into a home that’s yours, wherever in Europe it may be.

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In the end, Thanksgiving travels well, especially when you have a home that meets you wherever you land.

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Want to discover how to create new traditions abroad with August? Click here to learn more.