Must- Do Shopping in Paris From chocolate to clothing to antiques, shopping in Paris is reason enough to travel to the City of Light. But the boutiques, shops and marchés of Paris are also windows into its culture and history. And what better way to learn about the city than by, say, picking up some macarons on your way to a famous flea market or historic bookshop? Here are some of the Girls’ Guide’s favorite Paris shopping destinations, where we get to satisfy our shopping fix as well as learn more about the city we love. 1. Buy chocolate or macarons, and some extra to take home and share, at Pierre Hermé, which has several shops throughout Paris. The specialty food shops around the Madeleine church in the 8th Arrondissement are also great for gifts, and the celebrated gourmet food stores Hédiard and Fauchon are here, too. Stop to Ladurée, which has been around since 1862, for tea. If you enjoy cookware, E. Dehillerin, in the 2nd, is where all the chefs go to buy their copper pots (still cheaper than in the United States, and the store offers shipping). 2. Shakespeare & Co. (across from Notre Dame on the left bank) is a very personal English bookshop opened some 60 years ago by George Whitman, an American. In the age of chain and online bookstores, this one is as funky and original as they come, with readings on Monday evenings at 7. Thousands of starving artists and writers have stayed here over the years, and it is worn and delicious. A wonderful book to read about the bookstore is Time Was Soft There, written by one of these young nomadic writers. Be sure to have your book stamped with the shop’s insignia on your way out. 3. Spend a day at the Marché aux Puces St.-Ouen de Clignancourt, open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It's the largest flea market in Paris, and it’s been around for more than 125 years. 4. The very best and most impressive grocery store (it makes Dean & DeLuca in New York look silly) is the Grande Épicerie, on the bottom floor of the Bon Marché department store, in the 7th. This alone is worth a trip to Paris—seriously. 5. We love the entire Marais district (in the 3rd and 4th) for shopping, and the rue des
Francs Bourgeois is especially alluring. This is the artsy area, home to nearly all of the très kool shops. We have a great tour of the Marais that includes a lot of shopping here. Doni Belau is the owner and editor of the Girls Guide to Paris , a travel website and blog written by Parisian residents and insiders covering everything from fashion to culture to foodie faves in the city of light. Whether you’re looking for information on Shopping, restaurant, cooking techniques and recipes, just visit to www.girlsguidetoparis.com