Shopping in Paris

Window-shop with the best: A primer on Paris boutqies and department stores

Paris is a world shopping capital, home to haute couture, fine perfumes, gourmet foodstuffs, and fantastic markets.

The Paris department stores

On boulevard Haussmann rise Paris's two flagships of shopping, les grand magazins, the department stores:

Au Printemps Haussmann
64 bd. Haussmann
Tel. +33-(0)1-42-82-57-87
www.printemps.com
Métro: Havre Caumartin
Open TK
Galeries Lafayette
40 bd. Haussmann
Tel. +33-(0)1-42-82-34-56
www.galerieslafayette.com
Métro: Chaussée d'Antin La Fayette
Open 9:30am–8pm, to 9pm Thursday

Though techncially older (founded 1865), Printemps is a bit more modern and American-styled, with a large Food Hall in addition to the fashion, and Galeries Lafayette (founded 1896) is more Old World French, but both are very upscale and carry the ready-to-wear collections of all the major French designers and labels.

The city's big department stores also offer 30-minute free fashion shows every week from Easter to October: Fridays at 3pm in Galleries Lafayette; Tuesdays at 10am in Printemps (though check on that Printemps one before going, as it's not always offered).

Les boutiques

If you prefer to shop boutiques, the best concentrations of stores are in the adjoining 1er and 8e. No single street offers more shops than the long rue du Faubourg St-Honoré/rue St-Honoré and its tributaries. Even if you can't afford the prices, it's fun to have a look.

Big fashion houses like Hermés (no. 24; www.hermes.com) hawk ties and scarves, Longchamp (no. 404; www.longchamp.com) sells leather handbags, and Hervé Léger (24 rue Cambon; www.herveleger.com) does cutting-edge fashion.

Even better, you can get discounts on runway samples and slightly worn creations of the big names at Anna Lowe (104 rue du Faubourg St-Honoré; www.annalowe.com), and—down in the 16eme—Réciproque (89-101 rue de la Pompe, www.reciproque.fr), the largest luxury consignment shop oin Paris, offering slight bargains on a remarkably wide range of the big labels and top designers.

For a break from the clothes and accessories, La Maison du Chocolat (225 rue du Faubourg St-Honoré; www.lamaisonduchocolat.com) sells confections as rich as its prices, and Au Nain Blue (5 bd. Malesherbes; www.aunainbleu.com) reigns as one the fanciest toy emporiums in the world, currently in its eigth generation of family management since opening in 1836.

Jewels glitter on place Vendôme, just off rue du Faubourg, at Cartier (no. 23; www.cartier.com), Chaumet (no. 12; www.chaumet.com), and Van Cleef & Arpels (no. 22–24; www.vancleef-arpels.com).

Gourmet food in Paris

Some of the best food shopping is concentrated on place de la Madeleine, in the 8eme, home to Fauchon (no. 26; www.fauchon.com) Paris's homage to the finest edibles money can buy—though it faces serious competition from neighbor Hediard (no. 21; www.hediard.fr).

Don't forget your Paris outlet for caviar, truffles, foie gras, and other pâtés: Maison de la Truffe (no. 19; www.maison-de-la-truffe.com).

Paris markets

From the erudite Seine-side book stalls of Les Bouquinistes to the twittering bird cages and fragrant flower stalls of the Marché aux Fleurs near Nôtre-Dame to the rambling flea market of Clingancourt out beyond the 17eme, these are the famous street markets of Paris...