Are you going on a shopping trip in Paris?
Twice a year we exchange the streets of Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam for the romantic streets of beautiful Paris. Our trip to France is on the occasion of the Maison & Objet purchasing fair, but once near Paris we can't resist sticking to this trip for a few more days :-). We are crazy about Paris and prefer not to leave before we have taken a look at our favorite places. Because it is a big city, and it can be quite overwhelming to find out what is really worth visiting, we have put together a list of our favorite hotspots for you! From great concept stores, beautiful department stores and endearing boutiques to quirky lunch spots, fairytale restaurants and wonderful hotels. You should not miss these hotspots during your visit to the romantic city of lights!
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Maison & Objet: inspiring purchasing fair
First things first, the purchasing fair! In other words, the reason we make these annual trips. Maison & Objet is a gigantic purchasing fair with an attendance of about 80,000 visitors. With brands and representatives from more than sixty countries and seven halls with hundreds of products, this fair is a huge source of inspiration for us. We often limit our visit to the fair to two halls, which have kept us busy for about three days. During these days we discover the new trends, we speak with well-known suppliers and permanent representatives, we look for new brands and we come up with many new ideas. Despite the fact that you are never really bored here, we end it after three days and with a satisfied feeling we are on the train that takes us to Paris within half an hour.
Our next adventure starts here :-).
Shop till you drop!
Fleux, Le Marais
With four Fleux stores in one street, you can say that we are not the only fans of these great department stores. Located in the bustling street of Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie in one of our favorite areas of Paris, Le Marais , all of Fleux's shops are undoubtedly worth a visit! The huge department stores are divided into a gift store, design store, concept store and one dedicated to children, each with a unique but equally beautiful interior. Fleux combines minimalism with extravagance and surprises us again and again with inspiring and unique collections to envy :-). We speak from our own experience when we say that you never really get bored here, and that it is almost impossible to leave this store empty-handed. Due to the huge range of brands and products, prices can vary, but we recommend that everyone pays a visit to these beautiful department stores during your trip to Paris.
39, 40, 43 & 52 rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, Paris - https://www.fleux.com/
Le Marais is a hip and very lively neighborhood in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris with countless nice department stores, cute boutiques, delicious eateries, cozy terraces and various entertainment venues. The district is located right in the center and close to the 'heart' ( 1st arrondissement) of the city, where, among other things, the famous Louvre Museum can be found. Le Marais is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris with a number of beautiful historic buildings and museums, which are indispensable for an afternoon of culture. This vibrant neighborhood is perhaps our favorite hotspot in Paris and is never missed during our annual visits to the city!
Addicted Paris, La Marais
Just a minute's walk from the large department stores of Fleux is a small, but lovely boutique. Addicted has great prices, nice second-hand clothing and an ideal location in a picturesque street with several clothing boutiques just like this one. Do you find all those large department stores overwhelming? Then this cute clothing store is definitely a nice stop during your walk through the romantic streets of Le Marais.
29 Rue du Temple, Paris - https://www.addictedparis.com
BHV Marais, Le Marais
Located in the same neighborhood and a two-minute walk from Addicted, is the beautiful BHV Marais building. This gigantic department store is spread over several buildings and exudes luxury. You could see it a bit as an even more extensive Bijenkorf in a French guise. Fortunately, despite the luxurious appearance and chic interior of BHV Marais, more than enough products can be found here for a reasonable price. We therefore definitely recommend the shopaholics among us to take your time and explore the entire department store. For a quicker visit to this beautiful building, we recommend that you take a look at the ground floor. Here you will find, among other things, a gigantic DIY department where we can enjoy ourselves for hours! This huge collection of creative DIY gifts is a real paradise for all creatives, and an endless source of inspiration for us.
52 Rue de Rivoli, Paris - https://www.bhv.fr/
Thank you, Le Marais
Walking a bit further but still in Le Marais, you will find the hip boutique called Merci. This luxury concept store is the right place for trendy fashion items, beautiful accessories, stylish interior items and a delicious lunch. Although this shop is a bit more pricey and often quite busy, it is definitely worth taking a look (if only for an iconic photo). Merci has a fairytale interior, three spacious floors, each with its own café and a beautiful glass roof. All in all, a very photogenic boutique that is definitely worth a visit!
111 Bd Beaumarchais, Paris - https://merci-merci.com/
Citadium, Haussmann-Saint-Lazare-Opéra
Another store that we will never miss is the atmospheric Citadium. This gigantic concept store focuses on streetwear fashion and you will find a wide range of well-known clothing brands, affordable designer items and hip accessories. With three floors, you can enjoy hours of shopping here and, if you're lucky, countless fantastic deals. Citadium has a great location in the 9th arrondissement, less than 10 minutes' walk from the famous Opéra Garnier. Boulevard Haussman, one of the largest shopping boulevards in Paris, is 500 meters away. A lively location that you should not miss!
56 Rue de Caumartin, Paris - https://www.citadium.com/fr/fr
Galleries La Fayette, Haussmann-Saint-Lazare-Opéra
The famous Galleries La Fayette is a chic French department store chain located on Boulevard Haussman, a few minutes' walk from Citadium and Opéra Garnier. You will probably not be surprised that it is quite pricey (and busy!), but you can also fully enjoy this charming and luxurious department store without shopping. Be sure to take a look at the roof terrace (accessible to everyone) with an astonishing view of the city, and you will soon discover that a visit to Galleries La Fayette is more than worth it.
40 Bd Haussmann, Paris https://www.galerieslafayette.com/
The Conran shop, Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin
Located in the 7 th arrondissement of Paris, and therefore perfect to combine with a visit to the Eiffel Tower or other popular sights within walking distance, is The Conran Shop. At this hip concept store you are at the right place for unique home items, decoration and original gifts for every interior. The prices here are a bit more expensive, but due to the cozy location and the extraordinary range, this spacious interior design store is wonderful to browse through and perfect for gaining (home) inspiration. In addition, The Conran Shop is located in a cheerful neighborhood on the other side of the Seine, where you can visit various beautiful department stores, beautiful museums and cozy eateries and coffee shops.
117 Rue du Bac, Paris - https://www.conranshop.fr/
Tasty Timeout
The tip applies to every eatery: book in advance!
Tata Burger, Le Marais
Tata Burger is a popular and colorful burger restaurant around the corner from Fleux in the lively district of Le Marais. It is a young, vibrant (and often busy) place where you can enjoy good food for a good price, friendly service, nice music and a non-stop cozy atmosphere. If you don't have the time or feel like dining extensively, a quick but delicious bite at this cozy eatery is an absolute must!
54 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, Paris
Les Petites Bouchees, Le Marais
For an evening of extensive dining in Le Marais, we recommend the cozy tapas restaurant Les Petites Bouchées. This lovely restaurant has an original menu that is overflowing with delicious (and affordable!) snacks, based on delicacies from all over the world. The service is always super friendly, prices are reasonable and both the interior and the location exude an atmosphere. Extra plus points are the countless vegan options on the menu and the lovely terrace where you can fully enjoy the lively atmosphere in this hip and historic neighborhood in the summer.
4 Rue du Roi de Sicile, Paris - https://www.lespetitesbouchees.com/
Au Petit Thai, Le Marais
Around the corner from Les Petites Bouchees is a delicious Thai restaurant called Au Petit Thai. This cozy bistro has a warm and romantic interior full of plants, bricks and wooden beams, and an exotic menu with delicious Asian snacks. In addition to the interior and the delicious food, the nice terrace in the middle of an even nicer street, the friendly service and the great prices always make us very happy. Au Petit Thai is a nice and friendly place to relax, watch people (because who doesn't like that), take a nice picture, and of course enjoy the very tasty food.
10 Rue du Roi de Sicile, Paris - https://www.aupetitthai-marais.fr/
Tigermilk, Sentier
In the charming Sentier district, located in the 2 nd arrondissement of Paris, lies the cozy Mexican restaurant: Tigermilk. Although there are several in Paris, this one is our favorite because of its convenient location! At Tigermilk you can enjoy an original menu with fresh, affordable and excellent food, friendly service and a cheerful environment. In this pleasant neighborhood you will find many young people, various entertainment venues, lively boulevards and cozy alleys full of bistros. In other words, definitely worth taking a look here and having a bite to eat as soon as you're in the area!
77 Rue d'Aboukir (Sentier), Paris & - https://tigermilkrestaurants.com/
The Big Mama Group, Spread through Paris
(East Mama, Ober Mamma, Pink Mamma, Big Love, Mamma Primi, Pizzaria Popolare, Libertino)
With no less than seven restaurants in different locations throughout Paris, Big Mama Group is always a fantastic choice for those looking for a tasty, home-cooked dinner at a great price. In addition to an extensive and delicious menu in which Italian cuisine is central, this popular restaurant chain is also known for its fairytale atmosphere and photo-worthy interior. Each restaurant has an authentic decor, but each is undoubtedly equally beautiful. For example, just seeing all the Big Mama locations is a good reason for us to return to Paris every year :-).
https://bigmammagroup.com/en/accueil
Hotel tips
Hotel Emile ★★★, Le Marais
If we have convinced you of how nice the Le Marais district is (if not, it's really nice!), you might consider looking for a hotel here. In that case, our recommendation is undoubtedly Hotel Emile. This beautiful three-star hotel has always stayed with us because of its cool interior, friendly staff and excellent location. Unfortunately, prices in Paris can vary enormously, and it can get very expensive here. Despite the fact that we hardly ever sleep in the same hotel for this reason, we look at the possibilities for a wonderful stay at Hotel Emile before our trips.
2 Rue Malher, Paris - https://hotelemile.com/
Hotel Bloom ★★★, Rochechouart
Hotel Bloum is a chic and comfortable 3-star hotel located in the nice district of Rochechouart in the 9 th arrondissement of Paris. It is a 10-minute walk from the Haussmann-Saint-Lazare-Opéra district, where you will find popular attractions such as the Palais Garnier, Boulevard Haussman and Galeries Lafayette. You can also walk to the dynamic district of Le Marais in half an hour, although we always take the metro :-). The staff are always incredibly friendly, the rooms are nice and clean and everything you need to enjoy yourself to the fullest is a short walk from the hotel. Highly recommended!
39 Rue Lamartine, Paris - https://www.hotelbloum.paris/en/