On our first day in Paris, we had to finish ticking off our Christmas shopping list, which included very diverse items such as clothes, shoes, books, food, and... a LeCreuset tagine dish for my dad. The only place I could think of to buy one was Le Bon Marché and its sister store next door, La Grande Epicerie. Located in the beautiful 6th arrondissement (metro: Sèvres Babylone), Le Bon Marché is one of the oldest departments stores in Paris. It looks a little like Bergdorf Goodman in New York, except it has a much more diverse selection of items, including designer furniture, a well curated bookstore, children's clothing and toys, as well as an amazing kitchen accessories department.
Next to Le Bon Marché stands the more recent Grande Epicerie, paradise on earth for food lovers. It has its own bakery, butcher, fish monger, cheese store, and impressive patisserie, as well as a choice of cafes and restaurants. You just can't resist buying something because the eye is overwhelmed by such beauty!
In the same area as Le Bon Marché, I would recommend the following stores:
- The Conran Shop: for those interior design lovers who miss the one that closed in New York.
- Hermès store: it was built in a former swimming pool from the 30s, next to the grand Lutecia hotel. Worth the visit, as the renovation and creativity are quite impressive, whether or not you want to make a pricy present to your significant one.
- Sentou Gallery: mostly interior design and cute objects, including the cult flower vases and garland lamps from Tse & Tse designers.
And if you are willing to walk a little towards Boulevard Saint Germain and the Seine, I also suggest:
- Jérome Dreyfuss (4 rue Jacob): the trendiest maker of bags and leather accessories.
- Les Deux Magots (6 place St Germain des Prés), iconic cafe of the St Germain glory days. Try the hot chocolate.
