404 Best Places to Shop in France

The originator of the renowned caramel au beurre salé, Henri Le Roux pairs a Breton pedigree with Japanese flair. Brilliant confections result.

In case you missed it in Paris, you can head to this branch of Hermès. Its luxury leather bags, legendary silk scarves, and other accessories and clothes are mainstays for stylish Aixois.

A former inn built in the 17th century is the perfect setting for an emporium of roughly 30 antiques galleries selling art, furniture, and decorative objets from the 16th to the 20th centuries.

These functional, beautifully designed, and highly flattering separates in neutral tones and toned-down sherbet colors rival the Row for wearability and price. The Shanghai-based brand scours the earth for the most exquisite luxury fabrics for their frankly gorgeous separates, whose classic minimalist designs in top-quality cashmere, wool, silk, and cotton never go out of style.

The clothes from this full-fledged design star rock out bohemian French stylishness. The separates skim the body without constricting: look for layered miniskirts, loose peekaboo sweaters ready to slip from a shoulder, and super full-length shearling vests to pair with slouchy boots. The secondary line, Étoile, offers a less expensive take.

This place isn't called the épicerie du monde for nothing. Izraël is a one-stop shop for any spice under the sun, plus those hard-to-find items you'd otherwise spend days tracking down. Bins overflowing with every variety of candied fruit, nuts, beans, olives, pickles, and preserved fish give this tiny shop the air of an exotic bazaar. You'll also find all manner of canned goods, candies, rare spirits, and baking necessities.

Genin offers great chocolate: not too sweet, with handpicked seasonal ingredients for the velvety ganaches. The tea salon is a great spot to sample one of Genin's masterful takes on classic French pastries and a voluptuous chocolat chaud.

These are last season's models, but no one will guess; savings on these handbags are 30% to 60%.

Master chocolate-maker Jean-Charles Rochoux has several superb collections of artisanal chocolates. His seasonal and holiday sculptures are most impressive with original works for Valentine's Day, Easter, and other chocolate-centric holidays. If you love chocolate-covered strawberries, hit the shop on a Saturday morning. Otherwise, treat yourself to a classic box of everyday favorites.

Forty masterful varieties of chocolate and some of the best pastries in Paris earned Jean-Paul Hévin his world-class chocolatier status. Devotees will be pleased to know that there are several other outposts in the capital, including one nearby at 108 rue St-Honoré. The all-chocolate tartlet is a must.

Jérôme Dreyfuss has captivated Paris with his vibrant hand and shoulder bags that are available in an endless variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, all made with noble materials, including suedes, sparkling and subdued leathers, and the occasional faux-leopard. All are practical and impossibly chic. If you're already a fan, the boutique now has a vintage service in which they buy and sell certain older models.

This is the place for vampy stilettos, strappy flats, and biker boots. Recent Belle de Jour–inspired kitten heels are a nice respite from the famous mile-high styles that put Choo on the map. Beautiful bags, clutches, and small leather items in animal print, reptile, and metallics are deservedly popular.

Although he's known for his creamy ganaches, Joël Durand also offers a range of gourmet chocolates, nut creams, and toffees, as well as marmalades made in Provence from tree-ripened fruit.

Representing 100 artisanal perfumers, Jovoy is the largest independent purveyor of fragrances in the world—indeed, the brand calls itself the "embassy of rare perfumes." Owner François Hénin is often on-site expounding on the unique qualities and fascinating histories of different fragrances, some of which date back hundreds of years, and many of which are exclusive to the boutique. The shop also carries fragrances for the home and a range of beautifully packaged scented candles.

This French designer of affordable fashion jewelry is a hit online, but it's even better to visit a boutique and try on its irresistible rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.

To experience the French fascination for comic books, take a peek in this bookstore, where you'll find Tintin alive and well. The café in back is a nice place to get a feel for the bande dessinée (graphic novel) scene, known as the "Ninth Art" in France.

With an exquisite collection of vintage furniture, contemporary art, and unique ceramics and housewares, this is a chic shopping destination for art and design enthusiasts.

Plan a trip here to see how silk prints are made, and perhaps take home a piece of Lyon.

This Rue de Sevigné boutique is Paris's touchstone for edgy, up-to-the-second styles. L'Eclaireur's knack for uncovering new talent and championing established visionaries is legendary—no surprise after 30 years in the business. Hard-to-find geniuses, like leather wizard Isaac Sellam, coexist with luxe labels such as Ann Demeulemeester, Jil Sander, and Maison Margiela.

L'Habilleur is a favorite with the fashion press and anyone looking for a deal. For women, there's a great selection from Harley of Scotland, Wax London, and Henrik Vibskov. Men can find elegant suits from Scandinavian designers.

Also known as Passage du Point, this is another of L'Isle's emporiums of vintage and antique wares. Here you'll find about 40 dealers under one roof.

The products of this world-renowned fragrance and skin care company are still made in nearby Manosque using regional ingredients. Make sure to sniff Jasmine Immortelle Neroli and Arlésienne, a floral tribute to the women of the South of France.

Since 1946, this artisanal candy shop has specialized in the traditional sweets every French child grew up with, including the famous Berlingots de Carpentras, the tiny striped, fruit-flavored candies made in the area since the 14th century. An enticing range of Provençal nougat, biscuits flavored with orange blossom, pralines, and much more make great mementoes and gifts.

You might just be lucky enough to arrive at this old town artisanal chocolaterie on a day when you can watch the confections being made by hand. Specialties include delicately perfumed ganache-filled chocolates, calissons, and chocolate bars laden with dried fruit and nuts.

Want Bordeaux's best bread to go with your cheese? Get in line. Apparently, the word's out about La Fabrique Pains et Bricoles because the queue is out the door at this fine bakery—and that's always a good sign.

Cheese fans will fall in love with this little shop steps from Les Cave du Louvre, a wine cellar run by the same team. The open plan of the fromagerie allows shoppers to get up close and personal with a wide range of cheeses, from time-tested favorites like Comté and Brie to house specialties like peat whiskey–aged tomme de Savoie. And unlike many other Parisian cheese shops, it's open on Monday. The shop also offers customizable picnic boxes for one to four people that feature a selection of cheeses and charcuterie.

Styled like a Manhattan loft, this concept store sells vintage and contemporary women's clothes, jewelry, shoes, and accessories, as well as everything from antique and furniture to street art. It also has a chic little café.

Head here for the best breads in town, particularly rustic sourdough and traditional Provençal loafs, as well as delicious pastries.

Hélene Vié's unique floating boutique, La Maison de la Violette, celebrates the flower that has been emblematic of Toulouse since Napoléon's time. A box of crystallized violets or a bottle of violet liqueur makes a suitably imperial souvenir.