399 Best Places to Shop in France

Poetically binding thousands of strips of washi (Japanese paper) into handcrafted, one-of-a-kind lighting fixtures has made Céline Wright a familiar name in Paris's art and design community. Her famous "cocoon" lamps reflect artisanal, eco-friendly traditions while evincing a thoroughly modern sensibility.

The best tea shop in Lyon, Cha Yuan stocks more than 300 varieties from all over the world. You can also buy candies, gourmet goodies, and everything you need to brew the perfect cup of tea.

The iconic design elements of the pearl-draped designer are in evidence in Chanel Jewelry, where you'll witness the quilting (reimagined for gold rings), camellias (now brooches), and shooting stars (used for Chanel's first jewelry collection in 1932, now appearing as diamond rings).

It may be small, but this boutique assembles top French designers all in one place to save you the leg work. It's a great place for fashion-forward ready-to-wear clothers, shoes, and accessories.

The Parisian equivalent of a Savile Row tailor, Charvet is a conservative, aristocratic institution dating to 1838. It's famed for made-to-measure shirts, exquisite ties, and accessories; for garbing John F. Kennedy, Charles de Gaulle, and the duke of Windsor; and for its regal address. Although the exquisite silk ties in hundreds of colors and patterns and custom-made shirts for men are the biggest draws, refined pieces for women and girls, as well as adorable miniatures for boys, round out the collection.

The wide range of gourmet confections made daily here include flavored ganaches, pralines, chocolate-covered almonds or citrus peel, and nougat.

This family of gourmet chocolatiers specializes in elegant versions of local bonbons (Calissons d’Aix, nougats, candied fruit). They use native ingredients (lavender, almonds, Menton lemons, Venasque cherries) to flavor and perfume their single-origin chocolates, truffles, and chocolate-covered nuts and citrus rind.

This shop has picks for women—bold jewelry, exuberant scarves, and colorful sunglasses (Jackie O herself once bought a pair here)—as well as a selection of scented candles, stationery, and glassware in a range of gorgeous jewel tones. There are also some vintage items.

Founded in 1830, Christofle has fulfilled all kinds of silver wishes, from a silver service for the Orient Express to a gigantic silver bed. Come for timeless table settings, vases, jewelry boxes, and more.

One of a slew of cannily resurrected ancient brands, Cire Trudon traces its origins to a Paris candle works founded in 1643, later dubbed the royal candle supplier in 1811. Now this bijoux of a boutique carries elegant tapers and sublimely scented candles in a range of sophisticated fragrances dreamed up by Parisian perfumers and poured into elegant Italian glasses. Cheeky wax busts of French personages—made in partnership with the Réunion des Musées Nationaux, makers of the official replicas from French museums—are de rigueur for chic Parisian apartments. You’ll also find a line of perfumes for you and your home.

Open every day except Christmas, this shop is a good source for candied fruit (a Nice specialty). It's on the west side of the port, near the Marché aux Puces.

Customers swoon over the 50-some wildly delicious jam flavors at this artisan shop specializing in homemade confitures (jams) that change with the seasons: black currant–jasmine or apricot-lavender in summer; in winter, chestnut-pear-tonka bean or carrot–passion fruit; and spring strawberry–cherry blossom or raspberry-violet. You’ll also find jellies to accompany cheeses (champagne-rosé; port wine), and sublime caramel, nut, and chocolate spreads. Design-your-own gift boxes are the perfect way to bestow these beautifully packaged gourmet, oh-so-Parisian flavors. All products are made on the premises in the Viaduc des Arts, and you can watch the chefs in action in the glassed-in kitchens.

If new Parisian designer duds are a bit out of your price range, you might consider this classy depot-vente (consignment shop), where chic neighborhood ladies and men deposit last year's barely worn loot. Its clean, artfully displayed stash of A-list designer clothing, accessories, jewelry, scarves, watches, and shoes can be had for half or less than retail, plus some stellar vintage wear is also for sale. Standouts have included a crocodile Hermès Birkin bag, Cartier watches, and a Chanel leather coat.

COS—which stands for Collection of Style—is the H&M group's answer to fashion sophisticates, who flock here in droves for high-concept, minimalist designs with serious attention to quality tailoring and fabrics at a reasonable price. Classic accessories and shoes look more expensive than they are.

This "cabinet of wonders" showcases luxurious jewelry by Aurélie Bidermann and Gigi Clozeau among others along with books, candles, fragrances, luxury stationery, and beauty products from the organic Corsican brand, Casanera. Adjacent are two boutiques with a curated selection of home decor, furniture, and lighting.

An institution in Carpentras, this fromagers-affineurs specializes in the finest, most perfectly aged cheeses from the area and all of France. You'll find varieties made with local truffles and herbs, as well as Provence’s exceptional goat cheeses. Wines and other regional delicacies are also on sale.

Colorful, whimsical, elegant—the sculptural handblown glass creations sold here range from exquisite perfume flacons and decorative paperweights to everything you need to impress at the dining table.

This family-run cavern teeming with artists, actors, models, and jewelry lovers offers an Ali Baba–ish shopping experience. You'll need to take your time, as the walls are filled with row upon row of antique jewels from every era, as well as more modern secondhand jewelry and vintage one-of-a-kinds.

This boutique sells deluxe crystal and examples of the city's traditional Art Nouveau pâte de verre, in which crushed glass is mixed with a binding material to form a decorative surface.

Although de Gournay has been decorating homes with hand-painted wallpaper for a mere 30 years (compare that to Zuber's 200 years), the results are timeless and enviable. If you've always dreamed of transforming your living room into a colorful jungle, your sunroom into a lemon orchard, or your bathroom into a gold-leaf boudoir, de Gournay will help you create your desired universe.

Founded in 1800, this Parisian chocolatier rose to fame for providing “health chocolates” to Marie-Antoinette (now sold as Pistoles de Marie-Antoinette) and was soon the sole supplier of sweets to the French kings and aristocracy. The Rue des Saints-Père flagship—designed by the architects to Napoléon—may be a classified historic monument but it’s brushed off its fussy image, unveiling a chic range of chocolates to accompany cocktails. Delightful illustrated cards are found inside every chocolate box featuring famous clients, from Marcel Proust to Sonia Rykiel. And you’ll still find their signature Croquamandes (chocolate-covered almonds), truffles, candied chestnuts, and sublime fruit jellies.

The master chocolatier has inhabited this lovely 19th-century boutique since 1977, and has remained the city's top pastry and chocolate maker. Look for traditional Breton cakes, like the Armoricain, Amandine, or boat-shaped barquettes filled with chestnut cream flavored with rum and covered in dark chocolate.

This popular chain for women champions casual French fashions with a romantic feminine touch, from angora sweaters in sorbet colors to lightweight linen T-shirts. Everything from snazzy sneakers to scarves, bags, and belts is chic and top-quality. The boutique's soft, comfy jeans are especially sought after.

This poetic brand charmed its way into the local fashion idiom with chic yet beguilingly feminine styles. Fabrics are soft, and styles are casual with a tiny golden star sewn into each garment for good luck.

Head to Dietrich for a varied selection of Beauvillé linens, locally handblown Alsatian wineglasses, and Obernai-pattern china.

Just around the corner from Place Vendôme's titan jewelers, Dinh Van thumbs its nose at in-your-face opulence. The look here is refreshingly spare. Bestsellers include a hammered-gold-orb necklace and leather-cord bracelets joined with geometric shapes in white or yellow gold, some with pavé diamonds.

Smelling of old leather and ancient paper, this shop sells rare and antique books.

This distiller, founded in 1898, makes aperitifs and digestives using aromatic ingredients such as gentian root, anise, thyme, wormwood, and peaches. Indeed, more than 65 plants and spices go into its famous Pastis Henri Bardouin.