Alcohol
The French love for the grape is legendary and unparalleled. Needles to say you won’t need to look far to find a place to buy alcohol. Supermarkets and grocers (epiceries) join speciality wine, champagne and beer stores in selling a huge variety of beverages. Not to mention the enormous array of bars, tabacs, restaurants and…
Art
Alongside food and fashion, it is art that makes up the third piece in the Holy Trinity of Parisian passions. From street portrait sketchers along the Seine and amateur painters vending their canvases in the Place du Tertre, to international artists displaying in galleries, finding pieces to your taste and budget is as simple (and…
Art & Craft Supplies
Even art and craft supplies take on a hip edge in Paris, where you’ll find beautiful, highly specialised stores. Take, for example, the boutique Michel Charbonnier, the city’s only dedicated origami store. Cross-stitch enthusiasts will find their Nirvana at Les Bonheur des Dames and Des Fils et une Aiguille. Phidar, with nine outlets around Paris,…
Baby Items
Having seen an explosion in the national birth rate over the past few years, Paris is well-equipped when it comes to all things enfant. In a city justifiably known for its exquisite children’s fashion, parents face a mind-boggling array of choice. At the top-end, Bonpoint and Tartine et Chocolat are two brands specialising in frills…
Beachwear
Though there’s not a speck of sand to be seen for miles except, of course, when the plage hits town come summer, Paris does a brisk trade in beachwear all year around. Eres, a dedicated lingerie and bathing suit chain, has multiple outlets and specialises in high-fashion styles. The luxury lingerie and swimsuit store La…
Bicycles
The last few years has seen a surge in construction of bicycle lanes across Paris, sparking a corresponding rise in cyclist numbers and courtesy of the city’s chaotic traffic, it has now become a favoured mode of transport. Helmets are required by law and, given most bike lanes are shared by buses and taxis, wearing…
Books
Foreign language is no barrier to finding good reading material in Paris for the expat and tourist community, thanks to a strong network of new and second-hand English bookshops. The best collection of contemporary new titles and international magazines is to be found at WHSmith. Though by no means the only outlet, the store offers…
Camera Equipment
Just as with computers and home electronics, amateur Parisian photographers and happy-snappers looking for well-priced camera equipment generally head to one of the chain electronic stores. FNAC, Darty, Surcouf, Conforama and Carrefour each stock a wide range of camera equipment and accessories. Prices are not what you would find in any of the larger cities…
Car Parts & Accessories
Depending on the make and model of your car, motorbike or scooter there is a long list of workshops providing parts and accessories. Most workshops, however, are located outside the borders of the peripherique in surrounding suburbs of Paris. Norauto and Euromaster are both chains with multiple outlets in the wider region of the Ile…
Clothes
From the razzle-dazzle of the seasonal prêt-a-porter and couture shows to the sheer numbers of clothing boutiques around the city, it’s patently clear that the fashion industry wields enormous economic and cultural power in Paris. This presence is a boon for the style-conscious, who will never want for choice, be they lovers of high-end punk,…
Computers
From PCs at FNAC to iBooks at the city’s dedicated Macintosh stores, finding the latest in computer technology is not a difficult task. But finding a great bargain? Now that’s another matter entirely. Though by no means substantially more expensive than computer technology in the US or UK, the low costs of Singapore and Hong…
Electronics & Home Appliances
While buyers can select from the full range of major international brands, prices for electronics and appliances are no cheaper than what you would expect to pay in the UK or the US. There remains, however, a sliding scale of prices. BHV, Darty, Conforama and Surcouf offer some of the best deals in Paris. All…
Eyewear
The optical industry is big business in France; government subsidies mean even fashion prescription frames warrant a reimbursement should your health insurance cover eye care. Needless to say the industry has decided to profit from this generosity, with the city’s many optical boutiques falling in to three distinct categories: independent boutiques selling some fantastically unusual…
Flowers
Saying it with flowers is made easy in Paris thanks to the plethora of chain and boutique florists – and the prices won’t make Cupid wince. Keep in season and floral arrangements are relatively economical; in spring tulips are particularly good value, selling for as little as €5 a bunch. Supermarket florists can provide surprisingly…
Food
Food, glorious food. Paris is a gourmet paradise, home to an endless number of eye-opening fine food stores, each more fantastic than the last. For everyday needs there is a good number of supermarkets (see Supermarkets or Hypermarkets) and health food stores (see Health foods), but the real joy is to be found in scouting…
Gifts
Searching for gift shops in Paris is like shooting fish in a barrel: the list of categories and addresses is never-ending. The city has an enormous retail culture with myriad speciality shops selling exclusive categories of goods: bear fans will be delighted by L’Ours du Marais; indulge your loved-one's passion for taxidermy at Deyrolle; Les…
Health Food
The concept of ‘health food’ is still a relatively new one in France but some specialist stores do exist. Naturalia is a chain of health food stores with 32 branches around the city offering gluten-free, lactose-free and organic pre-prepared foods, alongside healthy snacks, organic vegetables, vitamins, food supplements, and organic baby products and cosmetics. Bio…
Jewellery & Watches
The cluster of jewellery boutiques found around the moneyed neighbourhoods of the first and eighth arrondissements is no coincidence – who better to frequent these boutiques than the city’s affluent classes? Place Vendome is bling central, where just about every international luxury jeweller can be located, each display window more magnificent than the last. Gasp…
Kids
Age is not a prohibiting factor when it comes to being fashionable in Paris, good news for young trend-setters trying to convince parents that they really don’t have a thing to wear. Du Pareil au Meme is a chain store which sells inexpensive, brightly coloured clothing for children up to 14 years and new collections…
Lingerie
Lingerie is big business in the city of romance, where stylish underwear is deemed just as important as fashionable outerwear. Not particularly enamoured by fetish styles, lingerie boutiques appear to subscribe to the notion that classically elegant sex appeal will win hearts over garish outfits. And for those seeking sex kitten-style glamour, the city’s lingerie…
Luggage & Leather
Whether it’s Louis Vuitton and a trip on the QE2, or Samsonite and a Ryanair skip to Glasgow, finding the right luggage and leather accessories is easy in Paris. Albertson’s Maroquinerie in the 9th arrondissement stocks quality leather goods at wholesale prices, selling everything from leather cigar holders to gloves and briefcases, and bulk purchases…
Medicine
Like boulangeries, pharmacies can be found on just about every street corner, distinguishable by the flashing neon green cross above the doorway. They are independent businesses governed by the Ordre de Pharmaciens. Having trained for seven years, pharmacists are qualified to give medical advice, so it’s worth heading to the nearest pharmacy – not the…
Mobile Phones
There are three mobile networks covering Paris: Orange, SFR and Bouygues. Each network offers its own chain of stores selling phones and plans, alongside The Phone House and France Telecom boutiques. As mobile phone specific shops these are the best places to head, each offering a range of plans and services in dozens of locations…
Music, DVDs & Videos
Music aficionados find no shortage of shopping options in Paris, where both mainstream lovers and vinyl collectors can find their own piece of instrumental heaven. For conventionalists, international chain Virgin Megastore lives up to its moniker with a multi-storey complex on the Champs-Élysées selling the entire range of musical categories alongside listening stations, a bustling…
Musical Instruments
There are literally dozens of shops dealing in musical instruments, song books and instrument repairs around Paris so there’s bound to be one for you. For guitars, Lead Guitars in the 9th arrondissement sells both new and vintage acoustic, electric, classic and jazz guitars, providing guarantees of between six months and five years depending on…
Outdoor Goods
Perhaps unsurprisingly, comprehensive outdoor good stores can be tricky to locate, which makes Au Vieux Campeur – a chain of outdoor stores with 23 outlets scattered around the 5th arrondissement – such a great find. Each boutique has its own speciality, be it mountain climbing gear, running equipment, hiking shoes, camping foods and sports nutrition…
Party Accessories
Throwing anything from an elegant dinner party to a lively kid’s bash is made easy in Paris courtesy of the great number of caterers, party accessory boutiques and the odd party-hire company operating within the city. Party accessory specialist, Tutti Frutti, has multiple outlets around Paris selling everything from streamers, garlands and balloons to themed…
Perfumes & Cosmetics
In a city where even a Sunday morning visit to the boulangerie requires an acceptable level of dress and styling – no jogging bottoms, please – the beauty industry is correspondingly large in size and presence. Centres for beauty treatments are a dime a dozen, ranging from budget to hyper-luxe; from specialist boutiques like nail…
Pets
Parisians are serious pet owners. Dogs and cats are more often than not pedigree and bought at exorbitant prices from reputable breeders and pet specialists. The latter you will find among the plant vendors along the Quai de la Megisserie; conditions are decent though slightly cramped so visiting the litters of beautiful puppies in wire…
Second-Hand Items
Paris is one city where second-hand doesn’t mean second best. Where fashion is concerned, second-hand stores, known as depot-ventes, attract a large following among wily shoppers seeking the many vintage bargains to be found among racks of clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children. The biggest of these is Réciproque with seven separate…
Shoes
With literally hundreds of shoe stores in Paris catering to all tastes, sexes and ages there is no need to strut the streets in shoddy footwear. Department stores Printemps and Galeries Lafayette offer the best general selection of both evening and day footwear in town for men, women and children. Le Bon Marché is a…
Souvenirs
The problem in Paris is trying to escape the souvenir shops rather than finding them – especially around the major tourist landmarks. Around the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur prepare to be propositioned by the multitudes of merchants illegally selling miniature replicas for as little as €1 a piece. Remember that it’s very easy to…
Sports Goods
Sunday morning at the Bois de Boulogne, Paris’ largest park, is a sight to behold with runners, cyclists and rollerbladers all battling for space on the myriad of paths winding through the woods. It is the one morning a week where Parisian’s bow at the temple of exercise. Though not known for their dedication to…
Stationery
Office Depot is the first port of call for business and standard stationery requirements. The number of stores across Paris is innumerable, prices are low, fidelity cards are available and the range of goods – from pens to printer paper – is expansive. More limited ranges of basic stationery at very reasonable price points are…
Tailoring
Lusting over the latest Lanvin without the credit limit to back it up? Tailors, known as retouchers, occupy hole-in-the-wall boutiques in every neighbourhood and will undertake all manner of services, from taking up a too-long hem to making three-piece suits from professional patterns. There are a few tips to remember: bring your own material, even…
Textiles
Historically, Sentier in the 2nd arrondissement has been the centre for textile sales in Paris and today that tradition continues. On rue de Sentier and rue d’Aboukir you will find dozens of boutiques selling an enormous range of fabrics at both wholesale and retail prices. Spread over five storeys, the Marche Pierre in the 18th…
Toys & Games
If having children hasn’t already resulted in the enthusiastic embrace of a second childhood, an afternoon touring the city’s toy stores should swiftly change this. Irresistible are the games hand-crafted in wood at Au Nain Bleu, a specialist toy store since 1836. Buy interactive games, robots and see permanent magic shows at Musée de la…
Wedding Items
Here comes the bride. And she can be…off-the-rack, all-in-white, made-to-measure or authentic-vintage. From franchise boutiques to couture design salons, you will have no trouble finding all you need for the big day. Those seeking a walk-in, walk-out purchase will find a great selection at L’Empire du Mariage, stockists of a range of bridal dress brands,…
Other Topics
Latest Reviews
San
Every detail of San celebrates the Italian arts; crisp and modern interiors with plush red dining chairs, films projected on the restaurant’s pure white walls…
Sardegna a Tavola
Even the dreariest of Paris days melt away upon entering Antonio Simbula’s authentic Sardinian home. Golden walls displaying traditional pottery, photos of wizened…
Pizzeria d’Auteuil
There’s almost always a line to snag a seat with the regulars at this inexpensive neighbourhood joint. One bite and you’ll know why. It’s certainly a contender…
