So I think this is a good moment to update my oldest shopping posts on Paris. The season to be merrier is coming upon us and with that a shopping spree of enormous proportions the world over. And of course, Paris is tops for it. Therefore, here is my update on shoppingn in Paris! I have updated this older post up to 2022.
I will dare go into a very subjective territory but as many do come here for the shopping and gift given too, I will put my favorites over the years in some areas, and others not so favorite but of popular demand. This is not an exhaustive all- inclusive list, it is only my best shot of shopping places in Paris proper from a guy point of view ok. Hope you too can make it your own or bring on some more ideas in the comments area. Of course if need direction or help locating one of the list or other let me know.
There is many things to shop in Paris, from real luxury to common items, and all are magnificents. People sometimes think that items will be cheaper here, and asked me, but in reality most of the well known items are the same price when you compare shipping cost. Still, buying IN Paris is a heck of a lot better than elsewhere….
First a general overview will tell you the main shopping areas in Paris are in the 8éme arrondissement or district, they have the zip or postal code 75008. The haute couture or ready to wear goes from the city “golden triangle” from avenues Montaigne and George V to the rue Royale, rue du Faubourg St Honoré and rue St Honoré. Luxury jewelers are in the 1eme or 2éme arrondissement or 75001 and 75002 zip codes all around the place Vendôme ,and rue de la Paix. You have in the Marais area around 4éme or 75004 many interesting boutiques. You have my favorite area the chic 16éme or 75016 with clothing, perfumers, and home decor stores lining up rue de Passy and avenue Victor Hugo. Plenty of ritzy stores in bd St Germain des Prés and surrounding streets. As well as the Department stores known to all.
The tops streets here off ave Champs-Elysées are ave George V, Rue François Ier, Rue Marbeuf,rue Pierre Charron,Ave Montagne, all in the stretch from the Arc de Triomphe to the ave FD Roosevelt. Also, Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré,and Rue Saint Honoré, but ,also, Rue Royale,Rue Cambon,Rue Boissy d’Anglas,, rue des Pyramides, and Rue de Castiglione. Again, favorite shopping streets such as around Pl de la Madeleine,from blvd Haussmann up rue Tronchet ,and past the square to rue Royale,and blvd de la Madeleine.
The well known dept stores are the Galeries Lafayette. Au Printemps, BHV, and Bon Marché. Then you have some shopping centers or malls that are my favorite come and get all, stay warm or cool,and mingle with more local people, these are CC Bercy 2, by Porte de Bercy ; CC Italie 2 ,by Place d’Italie. The center of the Forum Les Halles is great for shopping ,eating and entertainment as well.
The stores for high tech/ books/ music , I love of course FNAC, love the Champs-Elysées, Forum, or passage du Havre by gare St Lazare. For telephony/mobile ,the best is mine own provider Orange , for visitor the one I found most friendly is at 125 Avenue des Champs Elysées on left hand side going up to the Arc de Triomphe. For more local books, cd, maps, dvd etc the Gibert Joseph stores are a must, see the one coming out of metro St Michel to your right, 26 Bd Saint-Michel webpage : https://www.gibert.com/stores/
For men’s business and nice combinations, mines are Boggi Milano ,at 38 Bd des Italiens. Webpage here: https://www.boggi.com/fr_FR/stores
JMWeston for shoes at 1-3 Boulevard de la Madeleine, 75001 not far from the Madeleine Church. Webpage: https://eu.jmweston.com/blogs/boutiques#526474 . The H&M stores but mostly the one at 1-3 rue Lafayette webpage: https://www.hm.com/om/store-locator/france/paris/h-m-paris-lafayette/ . The C&A stores but especially the one at Maine rue de l’Arrivée 3 near Montparnasse tower. webpage: https://www.c-and-a.com/stores/fr-fr/result.html
Beauty salons my dear late wife Martine like and went to Jean-Louis David several in Paris, our favorite is at 5 Rue du Havre by the gare St Lazare.Webpage: https://salons.jeanlouisdavid.com/fr/coiffeur/france-33/paris-75/paris-75108/jean-louis-david-245
When I need to get me a book in English I go to WH Smith at 248 rue Rivoli, 75001, English bookstore,and the service is great they can hold the book for you after finding it, they just did it again for me ::) Metro Concorde! English is well spoken ! webpage: https://www.smithandson.com/infosprat.php
I don’t have small children anymore but did a lot of loads here Bonpoint, you can get at dept stores too but do go to the main store 6 rue de Tournon, 75006.Metro Mabillon. Webpage: https://www.bonpoint.com/fr/storelocator
My oldest son is into restaurant and cuisine ,commerce, so he dwells into some good schooling here, if you are in Paris and need some cooking classes than head out to the Ecole de Cuisine Alain Ducasse, for the best . At 64 rue de Ranelagh 75016 metro Ranelagh line 9. very nice area too. Webpage: http://www.ecolecuisine-alainducasse.com/fr/accueil#
If want to get an international wine go to Lavinia, 22 Av. Victor Hugo. Huge place with lots of choices, prices a bit high but hard to get foreign wines available as well as restaurant. Webpage : https://www.lavinia.com/fr-fr/caves/lavinia-victor-hugo If you want French wines then head for the Nicolas stores all over Paris; mine favorite is at 3 ave Mozart, 75016; neighborhood Muette, metro Muette line 9.Webpage: https://www.nicolas.com/fr/magasins/MOZART/s/00002300.html
My grand chocoholic place of great standing is the house of Debauve & Gallais, 30 Rue des St Péres, 75007: metro St Germain des Prés. Webpage: https://debauve-et-gallais.fr/en/
My favorite store even today in my new neck of the woods is Armand Thiery , my shopping in Paris was at 15/17 Rue Auber, 75009. Nor far from gare St Lazare or the Opéra Garnier. Webpage: https://www.armandthiery.fr/fr/magasins/paris-75/paris-15-17-rue-auber-890.htm
Another all time favorite even from the USA now locally is L’Occitane, some of our Christmas gifts came from there this year, in Paris our fav store is at 86 Avenuve des Champs Elysees. Webpage: https://fr.loccitane.com/boutique?id=02OCST067
Perfums at Fragonard at 196 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75007 webpage: https://www.fragonard.com/fr-int/magasins/-75/paris-196-bd-st-germain-8.htm
Great grocery shopping is Monoprix, my fav store is at 24 rue des Belles Feuilles,75016. various stores all over Paris, A more accessable and more food oriented store is Franprix, good store at 38 avenue Mozart,75016. again many stores throughtout Paris. Webpage: https://www.franprix.fr/magasins/paris_m5202
For home projects and the ever ending repairs around the house, etc, other than the basement of the grand magasin BHV, you can try Leroy Merlin at 52 rue Rambuteau,75004 Metro Chatelet. near centre Pompidou or Beaubourg . Its a national chain that I use near my home too. Webpage: https://www.leroymerlin.fr/paris-beaubourg Another local store of good quality is Bricolex, 178 ave de Versailles ,75016. Other locations as well. Webpage: https://www.bricolex.fr/magasin-bricolage/bricolage-paris-16.html
Again on my roots I always need to look for Spanish and American products and over the years these have been the best price/quality and selection. Cap Hispania, a Spanish grocery store in Paris. This is clean cut and run by Spaniards as well. It is at 23 rue Jouffroy d’Abbans, 75017. Metro Wagram .webpage at http://www.caphispania.fr/
American stores left, many many years here is The Real McCoy at 194 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 no webpage; nearest metro La Tour-Maubourg line 8. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/therealmccoy.paris/
Then there are many market or marchés in Paris, over the years we have settle to go to the Bastille market by bd Richard Lenoir, not only goodies but also the best arts around on Saturdays. You get there on bd Richard Lenoir on metro Breguet-Sabin and Richard Lenoir. One of the largest in Paris every Thursdays from 7h to 14h30 and Sundays from 7h to 15h,best. Paris tourist office webpage: https://en.parisinfo.com/shopping-paris/73869/Marche-Bastille
The other is a favorite of my wife , the marché des fleurs Cité now rename Elizabeth II at place Louis Lépine, near the Conciergerie. Open Mondays to Saturdays from 8h to 19h Metro Cité. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Marche.Aux.Fleurs.Reine.Elizabeth.2
You have nice stores in the blvd des Capucines, with Lacoste, another of my sons favorite at Cour d’Amsterdam inside the gare Saint Lazare ,webpage: https://www.lacoste.com/fr/stores/france/paris/lacosteparissaintlazare-661
Moving over to Pl Vendome to Opera along rue de la paix, lots of watch stores there but the Comptoir des Cottonniers ,at 31 Rur Tronchet webpage :https://www.comptoirdescotonniers.com/boutiques?countryCode=FR&city=PARIS
Other areas dear to me, as to cover all of Paris lol!!! blvd Saint Germain,Rue Saint Sulpice,Rue du Four, Rue de Sévres, and rue de Grenelle. Near blvd Saint Germain at 48 rue des écoles you have my outdoor favorite Au Vieux Campeur, bags winter and summer sports equipement camping etc, webpage https://www.auvieuxcampeur.fr/boutiques/Paris
You have one of my favorites at 27 Rue Marbeuf Façonnable, webpage: https://storelocator.faconnable.com/faconnable-rue-marbeuf-5cc1d2fbff49
In closing, these are sites that provide excellent info on stores, they are helpful in finding top quality items with current information. There are in French but so its the country, you get the real thing. Just click on th search symbol and put in the French word for what you are searching if doubt any translation service can help you such as bing or google etc or ask me. Webpage: https://magasins-paris.com/single-location/paris/
There you go folks, a dandy short and sassy shopping spree in Paris just for the merry season of many. The above are just the stores that I have been in, there are others, plenty others all over Paris, because Paris is a shopper’s paradise of the best in Paradise! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 