No other city in the world blurs the lines between art and commerce as elegantly — and creatively — as Paris.
This month alone, the department store Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche is hosting a literary-themed pop-up curated by Sarah Andelman, the co-founder of the cult Paris boutique Colette. Running through April 20, the temporary space is selling collectible merchandise from international book shops such as Tokyo’s Cow Books and The Strand in New York, travel-themed puzzles by the book publisher Assouline, and library-card socks.
And a meeting of minds is also the backdrop behind a new collaboration between a pair of LVMH-backed department stores: La Samaritaine Paris and Fondaco Dei Tedeschi in Venice, with the seven floors of La Samaritaine featuring immersive architectural displays of vaporettos and clouds made of Murano glass (as well as the first stand-alone shop-in-shop from the Italian brand La DoubleJ); and the windows of Fondaco Dei Tedeschi displaying high heels, glasses of wine, trays of croissants and other Parisian icons. Still, there is far more to Paris than meets the shopper’s eye. Shop by shop, our guide presents an insider view of the French capital: homeware “mini-superstores” in the Marais, by-appointment consignment boutiques, made-in-France ceramic studios, cinephile bookshops, and more.
Fashion
Made-in-France Boutiques. Cult Men’s Shirtmakers. Classic French Workwear. Eclectic Emporiums.
The Broken Arm
12 Rue Perrée
Over the last decade, the concept boutique has amassed an in-the-know cult following by selling only what its founders, Romain Joste, Guillaume Steinmetz and Anaïs Lafarge, truly covet: handmade knickknacks, imported vinyls, arty coffee table books, indie-fashion magazines, and brands such as Prada and Maison Margiela. Oh, and The Broken Arm’s café has some of the best ice coffee in Paris.
Rendez-Vous
8 Rue Charlot
A boutique offering a grab bag of “slow fashion for men and women,” from Marsell loafers to Lemaire overcoats.
Charvet Place Vendôme
28 Pl. Vendôme
French shirt maker and tailor to royalty and heads of state located in a six-story mansion on the Place Vendôme.
Anatomica
14 Rue du Bourg Tibourg
Old-school menswear boutique specializing in traditional European fashion with a looser, baggier fit.
Beaubien
21 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth
No-nonsense men’s workwear and denim from labels such as Norse Projects, Arpenteaur and Universal Works.
Nyoco
13 Rue Commines
With its hanging copper racks, cement tiles handmade in Spain and oak paneling, this unisex boutique sells minimalist sportswear made from dead stock and recycled fabrics scraps from top fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent.
Parages
9 Rue de la Folie Méricourt
Young French label inspired by classic French and Portuguese workwear.
Lemaire
1 Rue Elzévir
The Moroccan Bejmat tiling, handwoven Abacá mats and Brutalist concrete of Lemaire’s new flagship store on the ground floor of an early 19th century residential building in the Marais is the perfect backdrop for the label’s beautifully made, fuss-free “Mini Croissant” bags and belted tapered trousers in the perfect shade of chocolate brown.
Charlotte Bialas
67 Rue Madame
Timeless, high-quality pieces produced locally in France and crafted from rare printed silks, one-of-a-kind Scottish cashmeres and other deadstock vintage fabrics.
Jacques Soloviere Paris
108 Rue du Cherche-Midi
Elegant and sophisticated range of loafers, boots, and sneakers made by hand in a small, family-owned factory in Tuscany.
La Blouse de Lyon
21 Rue Gérando
Classic but beautiful French workwear housed in a decades-old uniform shop.
Merci Paris
111 Bd Beaumarchais
Three-story concept boutique in the Marais filled with smart clothes, such as collaborations with labels like Beams and Carharrt, and home goods ranging from pendant lamps to cookware sets.
Le Bon Marché
24 Rue de Sèvres
Prestigious department store located on the Left Bank where the fashion set goes for all things extremely à la mode.
Vintage
Consignment Cognoscenti. Second-Hand Savoir. Brand Bargains. Antique Rarities.
Brut Clothing
3 Rue Réaumur
Specialists of vintage French workwear, military clothing and American brands such as Pendleton, Proclub, Levi's and Ralph Lauren.
A.P.C. Surplus Montmartre
20 Rue André del Sarte
Surplus store for A.P.C., purveyor of the discreet yet unique clothes, with up to 70% off previous collections.
Puces des Vanves
16-18 Av. Georges Lafenestre
The marchés aux puces (flea markets) of Paris are the stuff of legend. One of the best is Puces des Vanves, a spot where professional resellers and top stylists head for retro garments, deadstock textiles, antique silk noil and linen rarities.
Guerrisol
96 Bis Bd Barbès
Vintage store with a clientele ranging from broke college students to high-rolling fashionistas. It’s the type of place where you might find tongue-in-cheek clothes for a dress-up party or the perfect pair of denim for as low as 2 euros. The locations in the 14th and 18th arrondissements are worth it if you have time to kill.
La Piscine Paris
29 Rue des Abbesses
Luxury “outlet deluxe” store specializing in brand clearance. But since this is Paris, those brands happen to be Hermès, Saint Laurent and Margiela.
Vintage Désir
32 Rue des Rosiers
Well-stocked, if not slightly chaotic, staple of the Marais second-hand circuit is one of the worst-kept secrets in Paris.
Nice Piece
76 Rue Charlot
Cozy vintage shop located close to the Republic filled with designer clothes from the 1920s, ‘50s and ‘80s at reasonable prices.
Thanx God I’m A V.I.P.
12 Rue de Lancry
Legendary two-level shop filled with finds for men and women, from Hedi Slimane-era Dior Homme to Hermès silk scarves.
Gaijin
20 Rue du Pont aux Choux
Specialists of vintage Japanese menswear, designer pieces, military-inspired silhouettes, workwear and uniforms.
Espace Kiliwatch
64 Rue Tiquetonne
Drawing vintage shoppers from around the world, this temple of retro fashion is set up like a second-hand supermarket, complete with long corridors displaying everything from vintage Hawaiian shirts to rare books.
Em Archives
10 Rue Cavendish
Carefully-curated, cerebral assortment of vintage and pre-owned garments, with an emphasis on pieces pulled from old collections by designers like Dries Van Noten and Issey Miyake.
Reve de Gosse
18 Rue de Picardie
Vintage French workwear from the early 20th century.
Home Goods
La Tuile à Loup
35 Rue Daubenton
Popular Parisian source for handcrafted ceramic tableware and other inspired handmade finery.
Shopu
36 Rue de Varenne
At this tiny store on Rue de Varenne, the concept here is what the Japanese call "mingei," which refers to objects that are "natural, sincere, safe and simple." Think colorful bags crafted out of agricultural netting by artisans in Shizuoka and white Daruma dolls.
Astier de Villatte
173 Rue Saint Honore
Treasure trove of all manner of tableware and other decorative pieces like pendant lamps made by the cult porcelain brand.
The Socialite Family
12 Rue Saint-Fiacre
Modern, family-friendly furniture, decorative accessories and lighting.
Rendez-Vous des Designers
9 Rue de l'Echaudé
Everything sold here — including scarves, jewelry, sweaters, leather accessories, ceramics and decorative objects — is made by hand in France.
Ailleurs
17 Rue Saint-Nicolas
Inspiring and influential furniture store selling everything from handwoven Golden Edition pendant lights to handblown glassware from Syria to handmade mirrors from a Tuscan workshop.
Dejima Store Paris
7 Rue des Filles du Calvaire
Unique selection of ceramics, everyday items and artisan goods made in Japan.
Boutique Generale
6 Rue du Pont aux Choux
Great little shop for lots of French-made wares, but also wooden utensils from Mali, ceramics made in Japan, vases from Togo, basketry from Ghana and other items that make perfect gifts.
Landline Paris
107 Ave Parmentier
Located in a former pharmacy in the 11th arrondissement, this general supply store is stocked with everything from kitchenware to wardrobe staples — all made of natural materials and cherry-picked from French and European workshops.
La Soufflerie
7 Rue de l'Odéon
Family-owned and operated cooperative of glassblowers making tableware pieces that are each hand-blown from recycled glass.
Sabre Paris
39 Rue de Poitou
French cutlery at its finest.
La Trésorerie
11 Rue du Château d'Eau
Situated in the 10th arrondissement, this ‘mini-superstore for modern housewares” blends a traditional droguerie with an artisan studio.
Fleux
39 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie
Decorative objects and homeware combining avant-garde and artisanal tastes, including items by Hervé Matejewski, Ron Arad, Fornasetti and even Vivienne Westwood.
Alix D. Reynis
22 Rue Jacob
Timeless everyday objects from Limoges, a city in southwest-central France known for its decorated porcelain.
Mezzanine
39 Rue de l'Abbé Grégoire
A “cave of artisanal marvels” filled to the brim with household linens, flowers, cushions, crockery, scents and other everyday objects.
La Droguerie
47 Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis
Paris' first concept-droguerie store unites beauty and practicality.
AXS Design
12 Rue St Sabin
Vintage store selling decorative home goods, furniture, second-hand goods, and one-of-a-kind “third hand” pieces made from unique up-cycled objects.
E. Dehillerin
18-20 Rue Coquillière
Centuries-old gastronomy specialist in high-quality cookware and kitchenware.
Curios
Top Taxidermy. Vintage Vinyls. Gilded Candles. Artisan Objets.
Duvelleroy
17 Rue Amélie
Hand fans all hand-made in France and in Spain.
Marin Montagut
48 Rue Madame
Housed in a former upholstery atélier on the Left Bank, this eclectic cabinet of curiosities features shelves brimming with a delightful selection of objets d’art, illustrated city guides, postcards, hand-painted antique glassware, printed ceramic tableware from Portugal, globes with astrological motifs, citrus-scented candles, and cushions made by silk artisans in Lyon. What stands apart, though, are the surrealist collage dioramas and illustrated “secret boxes” (empty hardcover books with hidden compartments).
Affiches anciennes et originales Elbé
213 Bis Bd Saint-Germain
Original vintage posters from the 1880s to the 1960s commissioned by the tourism industry to promote everything from seaside resorts to the national park to the Châteaux of France.
Muskhane
3 Rue Pastourelle
Imaginative objects made from Nepalese artisans, such as hanging bird mobile and lampshades made out of sheep's wool.
Record Shops
There are plenty of record stores in Paris. Some of the best to check out are: Shelter Record Store (39 Rue Boursault), Heartbeat Vinyl (26 Rue Godefroy Cavaignac), Superfly Records (53 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth), A-One Paris (42 Rue de Montreuil), and Gemini Cricket (Marché Dauphine).
Deyrolle
46 Rue du Bac
Historic taxidermy and natural history store founded in 1831 renowned for its exquisite collection of preserved animals, insects, and botanical specimens.
Trudon
78 Rue de Seine
Renowned candlemaker founded in 1643 known for its fine scented candles.
Books
Cinephile Libraries. Artbook Epicenters. Indie Bookshops. Literary Lounges.
Ofr
20 Rue Dupetit-Thouars
Visiting the independent Parisian bookshop Ofr is not just about browsing books. It's about the only-in-Paris experience of celebrating printed materials and the power of storytelling. Founded in 1996 by Frédéric Sanchez and Éric Haddad, the shop offers a high-minded selection of publications and printed ephemera across fashion, design, photography, and architecture, plus artsy postcards, limited-edition fanzines and fashion accessories. In the back, a 60m2 gallery hosts events, exhibitions and private sales.
Cinémathèque Française
51 Rue de Bercy
A bookshop entirely devoted to cinema housed in a building designed by architect Frank Gehry.
Yvon Lambert Books
14 Rue des Filles du Calvaire
Publishing house, gallery and bookshop all in one.
Librairie-boutique at The Eugène-Delacroix
6 Rue de Furstemberg
Museum bookshop selling biographies of the painter Eugène Delacroix, correspondences between Eugène Delacroix and George Sand, and essays by Yannick Haenel.
