A friend will be in Paris at the time we are visiting. I would like to meet her at Galeries Layfayette.

Is there a particular landmark that I could tell her to me?

On the corner of Rue de Mogador & Boulevard Haussmann are the entrances to 2 of their buildings Homme & Galeris. In the center of Hausmann Blvd. is the circle/drive around. Diagonally across is the back side of Opera Garnier.
I am not an expert, but have been to this area. Try Google street view. It is amazing how much you can figure there. May give you a good point of reference.
Good luck. Have fun shopping with your friend!

I would just recommend meeting across the street from it at the back side of the Opera Garnier. The store itself is much too crowded to try to find someone.

I suggest the Dior counter inside the Galleries Lafayette. It is on the ground floor amongst all the perfumes with a beautiful view of the upper decks.

Good suggestions.

The Dior counter sounds perfect!

Umm, please consider listening to Kerouac.

You simply can't believe how many people can crowd into the ground floor of this store and how long it may take you to work your way through them to find and arrive at the counter.

If you were meeting at Printemps, I would suggest the top floor brasserie, which is a haven of peace.

I would consider the Opera Garnier instead. You can't miss it and there aren't nearly the crowds.

The Dior counter is about 10' by 10'. You could find a centime there, even at Christmas when I was last there. BTW, the store is spectacular inside and out at Christmas.

YIKES! I guess I should reconsider.

kerouac---I should have listened to you. After all, I have followed all of your photo essays and comments with much interest.

BTW, kerouac, MDH says "let's buy him a drink, he gives us such good advice." Name the time and place!!!

I would never go against kerouac, so meet your friend as he says and then hit the champagne bar (La Bar a Bulles) inside the store on the first floor (I think that would be the 2nd floor to Americans). Then, hit the Dior counter!

<i>kerouac on Sep 10, 11 at 3:46pm
I would just recommend meeting across the street from it at the back side of the Opera Garnier.</i>

I walked around the Opera twice looking for the bus stop for the Roissybus. That is a big square and poorly lit at night. I asked a half-pack troop of French police where it was. They sent me in the wrong direction. Still could not find it. Never did find it even in daylight.

kerouac has posted some great stuff but go for the Dior counter to save yourself some grief.

I don't understand how the Opera building (which is large, you could be anywhere around it in the entire block), could be more specific than a particular location within GL. GL at large, or one entire floor, sure, you could wander around a while if that's what you said, but if you specify some particular location, I don't see why that would be so difficult. There are many locations in GL you can specify, they list depts online.

I think that the back end of the opera building (which is specifically what I recommended) is quite easy to figure out, since it faces Galeries Lafayette and doesn't require any hunting (unlike the Roissybus bus stop).

Frankly, I will also say that except in mid summer when the air conditioning is on high (high for France = mildly cool), if I stand anywhere inside Galeries Lafayette for more than 5 minutes, I have sweat rolling down my body, but that's just me.

I nearly spontaneously burst into flames there at Christmas last year! Sweltering making the champagne bar more important!

"... if I stand anywhere inside Galeries Lafayette for more than 5 minutes, I have sweat rolling down my body, but that's just me."

It isn't just you.

The front steps of the Opera is a natural meeting place that would be hard to miss - on the steps in front on front entrance - you could see your friends coming or vice versa but it could well be raining so scratch that idea.

IIRC there is a nice cafe on the corner at Place de l'Opera and rue Auber or Bd. des Capucines. It is a two minute walk to the GL.