A fire has destroyed the French capital's oldest covered food market, a popular street food venue named after red-clad orphans.

Axar.az reports, citing France24, that the Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges in the Marais district has existed since 1615, and draws its name from the red outfits that orphans wore at a hospital near the market until 1772.

Food & Wine ranked it fifth worldwide for street food this year, after other eating spots in London, Bangkok, the French city of Lyon and Mexico City.

"The market was completely destroyed" overnight from Sunday to Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier told reporters on site in the early hours of the morning.