My love affair with Paris really knows no bounds. Here’s a list of souvenirs and gifts to bring back from “From Paris, with Love”.

The very best Paris souvenirs and gifts

THE BOUQINISTES OF PARIS – These are bookstands along the Seine. They span from the right bank of the Pont Marie to the Quai du Louvre, and on the left bank from the Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire. It can be fun to pick up a little something from these stalls. I like to pick up botanical prints, vintage books and postcards.

SHAKESPEARE & CO. – a famous English bookstore. Get a book and make sure to get the staff to stamp it for the book lover in your life. 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 [website]

Any flea market or vide-greniers – vintage linens and copper!

Pro tip: Go early on a Saturday morning. Bring cash.

My favorite brocante: PUCES DE VANVES 14 Avenue Georges Lafenestre, 75014 which is open on Saturday and Sunday from 7am – 1pm.

The nicest brocante: SAINT OUEN FLEA MARKET Porte de Clignancourt, 93400 Saint-Ouen. I suggest going on Saturday from 9am – 6pm or Sunday from 10am – 6pm. How To Shop The Paris Flea Market Like A Pro 

Kitchen Items

LA MAISSON PLISSON – The market highlights the talents of leading food artisans from France: Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) butcher Didier Massot, cheesemonger Ludovic Galfione, and locally grown produce from Alexia Charraire of the Comptoir des Producteurs. You can grab towels, mugs or tote bags. For the foodie, you can also pick up “demi-sel” butter, cheese and saucisson. 93 boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 and 35 place du Marché Saint-Honoré, 75001 [website]

Any kitchen shop – Opinel or Laguiole knives, Madeleine molds and pans, tiny cocotte pots, etc. My best options:

LA BOVIDA – 36 Rue Montmartre, 75001 [website]

A. SIMON – 48 Rue Montmartre, 75002 

E. DEHILLERIN – where Julia Child’s would shop! Grab the Dehillerin apron. This is a souvenir you can use everyday! Also, they sell a corkscrew for €8.50 that makes a great gift or the french style rolling pin (no handles). 20 rue Coquillière, 75001 [website]

MORA – just around the corner from E. Dehillerin for specialty patisserie equipment. 13 Rue Montmartre, 75001 [website]

DÉCO RELIF – another one for the pastry fanatics 6 Rue Montmartre, 75001 **If you are in the 1st arrondissement on a Thursday afternoon then make sure to check out open-air Les Halles Market on rue Montmartre** [website]

SABRES – 4 Rue des Quatre Vents, 75006 [website]

LA TRÉSORERIE – for handcrafted dish towels, cooking accessories, etc —everything is produced from renewable or recyclable materials. 11 rue du Château d’Eau, 75010 [website]

IZARËL – foodies will adore Izraël spice shop. 30 Rue François Miron, 75004

Food Items

There is lots you can take home from Paris such as macarons, chocolate, cookies, mustard, tea, etc. I think the packaging in itself makes these items a fun gift.

POLÂINE – my nephew LOVES it when I bring home their “punitions“, the iconic shortbread cookies. My mom will put them in the freezer so whenever he is over, she can pull them out. Polâine also has tote bags, knives and even a custom cloth bag to tote your baguette around (tres cute). 38 rue Debelleyme, 75003 [website]

MAILLE – A famous mustard shop. But not just any “moutarde”. They even do mustard on tap – buy a ceramic jar, choose from Moutarde à l’ancienne au Chardonnay, Moutarde au Chablis or Moutarde au vin blanc. Who knew buying mustard could be so fun? 6 place de la Madeleine, 75008 [website]

LA MAISON DE MIEL – For the oldest honey shop in Paris! 24 Rue Vignon, 75009 [website]

LE MIEL DE PARIS – honey produced by an urban beekeeper from hives that lived on the rooftops of the Musée d’Orsay. 24 rue Vignon, 75009 [website]

I suggest cheese from FROMAGERIE LAURENT DUBOIS. [website]

LA GRANDE ÉPICERIE – For a quintessentially French present this is the PERFECT place to go. It’s connected to Le Bon Marché (the world’s oldest, and chicest, department store). I suggest you picking up salt from here. Not just any salt. You’re looking for fleur de sel de Guérande. Another option is to get Comptoirs Richard’s organically perfumed bio tea, themed along the lines of the best landmarks of Paris which makes it really cute and festive. You could also get Comptoirs Richard’s chocolate bars. Oh and french butter! French butter makes everything taste better. The best kind is with sea salt crystals from top-shelf producers like Bordier or Echiré. You can also pick up Piment d’Espelette and Edmond Fallot or Amora French Mustard. 38 rue de Sèvres, 75007 [website]

Pharmacy Items

CITY PHARMA – France has *so* many unique soaps and skincare products that foreigners love. Bioderma, La Roche-Posay, Avène, L’Occitane just to name a few. I think it’s an opportunity missed to come here and not load up on some French pharmacy goodies! I suggest to get there early and on a weekday and come with a list of products you intend to purchase. Oh and bring your passport! If you manage to spend over €175 (which is very possible once you see what’s inside), you can claim a tax refund at the airport and save about 12%.

Here’s the under €10 line up…

1. Homéoplasmine meant for skin irritations but can be used under make up as a primer or for chapped lips
2. Biafine for an after sun mosturizer/healer or for chapped lips or scars
3. Hexomédine for blemishes
4. Bioderma Crealine H2O / Sensibio H2O for a makeup remover
5. Avène Eau Thermale the most amazing thing ever for your face on a hot day
6. Embryolisse 24-Hour Miracle Cream
7. Klorane Dry Shampoo

I also love the Nuxe Huile Prodigiuese Multi-Usage Dry Oil (a luxurious oil that is made of six essentials oils), Embryolisse cream, Clarins Eye Revive, and Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Sea Salt Scrub Shampoo. Make sure to ask the pharmacists to help you with your particular skin and hair needs. They have a fountain of knowledge! I have gone in many times just to pick their brain. 26 rue du Four, 75006

L’OFFICINE UNIVERSELLE BULY – This Napoleonic chic shop makes you feel like walking back in time. Talk about a dreamy shop when the entire staff are trained in calligraphy and can personalize your gifts. Created in Paris, the soaps contain carefully selected natural, non-harmful ingredients. Other affordable options…

1. Dental floss (€13.50) in orange, cinnamon and clove or mint, coriander and cucumber
2. Body oils, cleansing milks and even mouthwash all come in elaborately illustrated ceramic bottles (€29-40)
3. Scented matches

6 rue Bonaparte, 75006 and 45 rue de Saintonge, 75003 (the one in the 3rd arrondissement includes a coffee shop) [website]

Home Items

MERCI – A must visit for sure! So many options… napkins, bed linen, cushion covers, throws, bath robes, towels and tote bags. Everything is slightly expensive but very well curated. The tote bag is my favorite idea. Or the cord bracelet with the word “merci”. 111 boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 [website]

ASTIER DE VILLATTE – arguably the city’s most coveted homewares atelier. 173 Rue Saint Honoré, 75001 [website]

MARCHÉ ST. PIERRE – for affordable fabrics. This place is not for the faint-of-heart shopper. 2 Rue Charles Nodier, 75018

Made in France

A L’OLIVIER – An extensive and interesting selection of high quality oils from Provence.

MONSIEUR – for dainty gold jewelry. You can watch them making the delicate pieces which is so fun. 53 Rue Charlot, 75003

LONGCHAMP – this is another shop that makes more financial sense to purchase in Paris than back home. If you are in Paris during January or July, make sure to pop in here and LE CREUSET for the bi-yearly sales. You can also go to BHV, a grand department store located in the heart of Paris on rue de Rivoli, to shop at LONCHAMP.

ATELIER COURONNES – for a bisou keychain. 6 rue du Château d’Eau, 75010

Any outdoor market – Pick up the lavender sachets or as cliché as it may be, a beret!

PAPIER TIGRE – everyone loves a good stationary/paper shop. 5 Rue des Filles du Calvaire, 75003

Candles

DIPTYQUE  – My mom and I have confirmed that it’s a better deal to buy these in France than back in the states. 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005

CIRE TRUDON – These are my favorite candles in Paris. 78 Rue de Seine, 75006 or 11 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004

Clothing

Paris is also a dream for vintage clothing/hat/shoes/etc finds!

KILO SHOP – a fun spot for vintage lovers! Expect nothing fancy, no designer vintage but very well organized and LOTS of it. Color dots on tags correspond with a price-per-kilo. 69-71 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004

LA MODE VINTAGE is only open on weekends.

Concept-cool at THANX GOD I’M A VIP 12 Rue de Lancry, 75010

Curated, cheap, and chic at LE COFFRE 20 Rue des Dames, 75017; 29 Boulevard des Batignolles, 75008; 26 Rue de Ménilmontant, 75020

No-frills things at DING FRING

Fashion-goes-flea market at VIOLETTE SAUVAGE

CHATELLES – the chicest, customizable shoes in colorful patterns with adorable tassels.

Baby clothes are a really fun gift to bring back from Paris. Here are some great ones listed below. I have a * by my favorites.

PETIT BATEAU* – several locations through the city

BONPOINT* – several locations through the city

MONOPRIX* – several locations through the city

TARTINE ET CHOCOLATE* – several locations through the city

ATELIER CHOUX – 3 rue Hautefeuille, 75006

WOMB – 93 rue Réaumur, 75002

PETIT PAN – 76 rue François Miron, 75004

MARIE PUCE – 60 rue du Cherche Midi, 75006

LA FÉE QUI CLOCHE – 88 rue du Mont Cenis, 75018

DEUX FOIS 9 – 50 rue Ramney, 75018 (good for on a budget)

Coffee / Tea / Alcohol

If you’re wanting to bring back coffee then I suggest getting it from CAFÉ DE BELLEVILLE.

MAISON DU WHISKEY – a great spot to go for a whiskey fan. You’ll enjoy the experience as it looks like a wood-panelled library. There are two boutiques in Paris.

BOUTIQUE MARIAGE FRÈRES – tea makes for a lovely gift for friends or family back home. This is a high-end and elegant tea shop.
32 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, 75004

And of course, wine or Champagne is a great gift to bring home. Just make sure to purchase wine carriers off of Amazon to help you safely transport it home. FRENCHIE CAVISTE, a small wine shop, is the latest addition to the Frenchie restaurant group. The store offers wines at almost any price point, plus a handful of liquors and digestifs. Here are 3 bottle suggestions to start building your apertif bar. LES PETITS DOMAINES is another wine shop option located in the 7th arrondissement.

Sweets

ANGELINA’S – they sell their chocolate exclusively in Paris. I think an amazing gift for a chocolate-lover in your life would be their hot chocolate mix.

Another great option for chocolates is BOUTIQUE PATRICK ROGER or JEAN-PAUL HÉVIN.

JACQUES GENIN is for caramels and then for sweets in general I suggest going to A LA MERE DE FAMILLE.

ANGELINA’S: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001

BOUTIQUE PATRICK ROGER: 108 boulevard Saint-Germain-des-prés, 75006

A LA MERE DE FAMILLE: 35 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 

Lastly, I always suggest picking up LADURÉE macarons from the airport on your trek home. Bravo if you make it back home with a full box : )