404 Best Places to Shop in France

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

Dolce & Gabbana offers a sexy, young-Italian-widow vibe with a side of moody boyfriend. Svelte silk dresses, sharply tailored suits, and plunging necklines are made for drama. Women's clothes are at the Avenue Montaigne location; men's are at 3 rue Faubourg St-Honoré.

This closet-size wineshop has a mind-boggling range of around 600 different wines, mainly from Burgundy. The knowledgeable staff are at hand to help you to pick out a bottle or two. There is also a Dr. Wine bar just around the corner that offers a nice selection of wines by the glass.

This is Paris’s one-stop-shop for all things Italian—cheeses, charcuterie, fresh and dried pasta, olive oil, sauces, pastries, wines—you name it, it’s here. There’s also a restaurant, café, and two wine bars on the premises. On weekends it’s teeming with neighborhood foodies, so best to go in the morning or linger at apéro hour over specialty olives and a glass of wine.

Remember the joy and wonder upon entering that toy store from your childhood? Recapture it here with playthings of yesterday and today. You'll find wooden educational toys and games, music boxes, kaleidoscopes, and gifts for newborns. 

Monsieur Roellinger's newest addition to his culinary empire, Les Entrepôts Épices-Roellinger is dedicated to the exotic spices he personally searches the world to find. In addition to individual spices, it stocks exotic peppers, fleur de sel, choice vanillas, and the acclaimed owner’s signature spice blends—such as Poudre Curry Corsaire (for mussels and shellfish) and Poudre du Vent (for squab or cream sauces). There's now a branch in St-Malo and another in Paris.

This cashmere shop provides stylish Parisians with luxury cashmere in every color, style, and weight; yarns range from light as a feather to a hefty 50-ply for the jaunty caps. The store caters to men and women (there are some kids' models, too). Styles are updated seasonally yet tend toward the classic.

Here you'll find flattering, of-the-moment styles from Greek designer Erotokritos Antoniadis, who expresses a unique Parisian chicness through comely silhouettes with expertly tailored separates in beautiful seasonal colors. The collections include women’s and men's ready-to-wear items and accessories.

If you love fine earthenware and place settings, you may have already heard about this company, which has been around for over 200 years. The factory is a few hours from Paris, but this welcoming boutique has a beautiful selection of their latest patterns, including a few items illustrated by designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. If you're looking for something easy to pack in your luggage, check out the espresso cups or tiny collectible plates with motifs which will remind you of France.

From berets and bandeaux to toques, capellines, and casquettes, this is the place for a huge selection of dashing handmade hats made of diverse materials, including wool, raffia, and leather, with natty gloves to match. You'll also find a range of irresistible accessories like umbrellas, belts, pochette purses, and silk scarves.

To sample a sensational tartiflette, the Savoie casserole made with potatoes, diced bits of salt pork, and locally produced Reblochon cheese, head to this tiny gourmet shop in Méribel Mottaret. It's made by hand in the spotless open kitchen, along with piles of diots (sausages) and other delicacies.

Fishermen display their catches of sea bream, scorpion fish, octopus, and more at this lively, covered market that's held Thursday through Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm.

A Saturday-morning flea and antiques market is held in the Halle du Castelviel.

This famous bakery, up the street from Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, has made orange-spice, shuttle-shape navettes in the same oven since it opened in 1781. These cookies are modeled on the little boat that, it is said, carried Lazarus and the Three Marys (Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, and Mary Jacobe) to the nearby shore.

Since 1926, the Riviera-based perfumer has been bottling the sun, sea, and all the luscious scents of Provence in colorful vials. Its popular fragrances—orange flower, rose-lavender, verbena, jasmine, vetiver, the signature Coeur du Soleil, and so many more—come in perfumes, candles, soaps, shower gels, and home fragrances. You'll also find gifts, stylish Mediterranean clothing, and fashion accessories.

The perfume giant originated in Provence, and its offerings—from irresistible range of perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics to its fabrics, fashions for the entire family, and home decor—all celebrate the region’s sun-kissed fruit, flowers, and colors. The latest fragrance collection focuses on lemon flower, but scents like night-blooming jasmine, fleur d’orange, lilac, and iris are perennial favorites.

Don't let the chaos at Free 'P' Star discourage you—there's gold in them there bins. Determined seekers on a budget can reap heady rewards, at least according to the young hipsters who flock here for anything from a floor-sweeping peasant skirt to a cropped chinchilla cape. A second Marais branch at  61 rue de la Verrerie is equally stuffed to the gills.

The flagship store features an understated collection of contemporary French-made clothes and accessories for men and women that emphasize quality fabrics, classic style, and cut over trendiness. You'll also find a handpicked collection of exclusive collaborations with cutting-edge French brands (like sleek leather-and-suede booties by Avril Gau for FrenchTrotters), as well as FrenchTrotters' namesake label and a limited selection of housewares for chic Parisian apartments.

For a grand selection of cheeses—along with raw milk, smoked-sea-salt butter, bulk honey, and all things creamy and tasty—stop in at Elodie Deruelle's shop, Fromagerie Deruelle.

Particularly noteworthy on the fashion front is Gago, which sells stylish designer wear for women, including items by Balenciaga and Comme des Garçons.

This is a go-to address for top-quality Parisian fashion staples that always look of-the-moment but have the lasting power to remain stylish season after season. Ready-to-wear separates in silk, cotton, wool, cashmere, and leather come in pleasing prints and chic solids that look great on women of all ages. Look for standout leather jackets and well-priced accessories.

Offering contemporary fashions with an emphasis on classic French tailoring, Gérard Darel is particularly known for chic day-to-evening dresses and sleek trench coats. It sells accessories, too.

These colorful totes are the choice of royals, blue bloods, and the like (clients have included Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Gregory Peck, and the duke and duchess of Windsor). Parisians swear by their durability and longevity; they're large enough to transport a baguette and durable enough for a magnum of champagne. Dog owners won't want to miss the "Le Chic du Chien" boutique farther down at No. 352.

Sublime tastes of Brittany—salted butter caramels, fruity sorbets, rare honeys, and heirloom breads—are sold in upper Cancale at the Roellingers' Grain de Vanille. Tables beckon, so why not sit a spell and enjoy a cup of Mariage Frères tea and—Brittany in a bite—some cinnamon-orange-flavored malouine cookies?

Lyon's stately 17th-century hospital is now a dazzling center for dining, shopping, and leisure. The six spacious courtyards are lined with an assortment of stylish high-end fashion, decor, and cosmetics chains and one-off boutiques, interspersed with upscale specialty food shops, wine and cocktail bars, and chic indoor-outdoor dining, along with two museums, the Cité Internationale de Gastronomie and the elegant Intercontinental Lyon Hôtel-Dieu, the city's massive luxury hotel.

This opulent address is a fitting home for Paris's first—and most famous—perfumer. Still the only Paris outlet for legendary perfumes like Shalimar and L'Heure Bleue, it has added several new signature scents (including Myrrhe et Délires and Cuir Beluga). Personalized bottles in several sizes can be filled on demand, or, for a mere €30,000, a customized scent can be blended just for you. Sybarites will also appreciate Guerlain's makeup, scented candles, and spa featuring its much-adored skin-care line. There's an elegant gourmet restaurant for lunch or tea, too.