A local’s guide to the best things to buy in Paris, from food to gift ideas, books, beauty products and more – the best souvenirs from Paris!
Whether it’s your first time visiting Paris or you’re planning to live here, you will quickly discover there is so much to buy in this city.
You can find everything from gourmet food and books to stationery, home decor, and all sorts of crazy-good gifts.
Truthfully, Paris is full of vintage shops and absolutely unique shops that have evolved into successful brands… all worth a glance or two.
Souvenirs from Paris: 15+ Unique Things to Buy, Gifts & Food
I’ve been back in this gorgeous city for a little over a month now, and I’m slowly starting to find my way around again.
I especially love the 6th arrondissement for its small art galleries and beautiful bookstores that make you want to buy everything in sight, the 5th arrondissement for its secondhand bookstores (Boulinier, Gibert) and the outskirts of the city for thrifted clothes.
You will also find curious shops filled with all kinds of treasures in the city.
In this guide, I’m sharing all my favorite addresses so you can find the very best souvenirs Paris has to offer.
Best Souvenirs from Paris: Chocolates, Macarons and Sweet Gifts
First, there are of course the chocolates, but also all kinds of pastries that you can enjoy on-site or take away.
Many of these come in food gift boxes offered by brands like Ladurée, Pierre Hermé, or even Philippe Conticini for macarons.
You can also find chocolates in historic boutiques like Debauve & Gallais, the oldest chocolatier in Paris.
Another great option is À la Mère de Famille, which you can find notably on Rue Lepic in Montmartre.
If you are looking for nice food gifts that are a bit more sophisticated and luxurious, there is also the Cédric Grolet boutique at Opéra, with incredible “trompe-l’œil” pastries.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: Beret and Other Items from Souvenir Shops
Moving on to fashion.
Fashion in Paris is something basic and iconic, which is why one of the best things to buy is a beret for that classic “Old France” look.
For example, you can head to Héritage Laulhère, a master of the beret in France since 1840, or Le Béret Français, or even La Cerise sur le Chapeau.
If you are traveling to Paris on a budget, you can also buy a beret as a symbol in a tourist shop for about five euros.
Best Souvenirs from Paris: French Makeup and Beauty Products
Another one of the best things to buy in Paris is beauty products and makeup from French brands.
There is, for example, Citypharma, which is a famous parapharmacy located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
It is near boutiques and cafés I have mentioned to you in the past, such as Assouline, Taschen, Héroïne, or even Maison Sauvage and the magnificent Café de Flore.
At Citypharma, you can buy cult beauty products like Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré or Bioderma micellar water at a slightly lower price than in other Parisian pharmacies.
Don’t forget to also treat yourself to Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, which is a flagship product found in the bathroom pharmacy of French and Parisian women.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: French Stationery
After fashion, food, and beauty, we move on to stationery. Paris is a literary city, and there are many literary spots to visit.
Whether it is the bust of Molière, the head of Victor Hugo, or the Café de Flore – a historic literary café in Saint-Germain-des-Prés…
I suggest treating yourself to beautiful French stationery by heading to L’Écritoire, located in the secret Passage Molière near Châtelet.
You can also visit Papier Tigre in the Marais, or find notebooks at the Gallimard boutique near Sèvres-Babylone.
Don’t forget to visit the stunning bookstore inside Le Bon Marché, which features a historic ceiling and Moleskine or Paperblanks notebooks.
Best Souvenirs from Paris: Maille Mustard and Gourmet Condiments
Let’s return to food now, and talk about condiments. Paris is the heart of France, and you can find many French products from the regions or Paris itself.
I recommend visiting the Maille boutique on Place de la Madeleine.
You could also treat yourself to delicious pistachio paste or lemon jam in the picturesque Cour du Commerce Saint-André near the Odéon metro.
I also suggest a quick stop at La Grande Épicerie de Paris, right next to Le Bon Marché near the Sèvres-Babylone metro station.
There, you can find sophisticated food gifts such as Le Chocolat des Français, or various marshmallows and salted butter caramels.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: Angelina Hot Chocolate Mix
If you are a fan of hot chocolate or tea, these are two things you absolutely must try when visiting Paris, whether it is your first or tenth time.
I would recommend treating yourself to a tin of hot chocolate or tea from Angelina.
The “L’Africain” mix, for example, will allow you to recreate the French hot chocolate experience.
It makes a thick, lightly sweetened drink that has been deliciously Parisian since 1903.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: Curiosities and Souvenirs from Marin Montagut and Shakespeare and Company
If you love colorful vintage bowls and curiosities, you will find that there are many curiosity shops in Paris.
One of the ones I love the most is Marin Montagut, located on Rue Madame near the Luxembourg Gardens.
You can find wonder-filled displays with small 3D boxes painted by hand, as well as incredible notebooks.
They also have mugs, drawing supplies, and Marin Montagut’s flagship book, Forever Paris, which is filled with great addresses and Parisian secrets.
If you happen to be looking for something a bit more classic, why not visit the magnificent Shakespeare and Company bookstore on Rue de la Bûcherie?
In this English-language shop, you could treat yourself to a classic by Hemingway, some non-fiction, or even the iconic Shakespeare and Company tote bag.
Truly make the most of the atmosphere you feel inside Shakespeare and Company.
It is an old, committed bookstore, and although it is not possible to take photos or videos inside, it feels like being inside a chalet or the secret library of an old-fashioned manor.
Best Souvenirs from Paris: Marinière
A striped shirt, or “marinière,” is also something really cool to treat yourself to – it is something typically French, even if it isn’t Parisian but Breton.
Go to Armor Lux, one of the most timeless French clothing brands when it comes to durability, simplicity, and aesthetics.
Alternatively, you can go to Saint James, or even small independent Parisian boutiques in the Marais or Montmartre.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: Something from Pylones
A very cool thing to give as a gift or to treat yourself to when visiting Paris is something from Pylones.
This vibrant brand has a lot to offer, from Eiffel Tower-shaped toothbrushes to retro hairbrushes, metal bottles, or even their glass jewelry.
As I mentioned earlier when talking about Marin Montagut, there are many small curiosity shops in Paris.
And, even though Pylones has several locations (including Passage Jouffroy, Rue du Pont Neuf close to Châtelet and Rue de Rivoli), it is still a brand filled with original gift ideas.
Best Souvenirs from Paris: Diptyque or Buly 1803 Fragrances
In France, we know our perfume – and it is, of course, one of the best things to buy in Paris.
If you want something typically Parisian, I recommend L’Officine Universelle Buly, which has existed since 1803.
Their most beautiful perfume boutique is located on Rue Bonaparte, where you can also find the two Assouline bookstores, the Lupicia tea shop, and a small Ladurée.
You can also head toward something a bit more recent, like Diptyque, or discover something new and independent, like Le Labo perfumes.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: A Scented Candle
Everything centered around perfume and fragrance, as I mentioned earlier, is something we love in France, and that is why another souvenir to give or to treat yourself to is scented candles.
I am talking about independent, historical brands like Trudon, the oldest candle maker in the world, which served Louis XIV.
And if you find that Trudon is a bit over budget, don’t hesitate to look at Kerzon, which makes candles with Parisian names like “Place des Vosges,” or even the incredible Fragonard candles.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: Kitchenware
Kitchen tools can be found anywhere in Paris, whether in bulk with beautiful Asian tableware in the 13th arrondissement, or real “Made in France” pieces.
For example, a Le Creuset dutch oven is one of the most beautiful gifts you can get to decorate someone’s kitchen.
It is one of the best kitchenware brands, which you can notably find at La Grande Épicerie near Le Bon Marché.
Another must-visit kitchen tool shop?
E. Dehillerin, the legendary boutique that served Julia Child – visit it for copper pots, professional-quality knives, or durable and aesthetic molds.
If your budget is more limited, I also like going to Monoprix to treat myself to a new giant mug (600 mL!), with seasonal patterns, which cost around 5 or 6 euros and make a very charming little souvenir.
Best Souvenirs from Paris: Something Vintage or Antique from Flea Markets
Antique lovers, don’t forget that to find wonderful small gifts (and even furniture, jewelry, and prints!), you should also head toward the flea markets.
Flea markets are full of trinkets, decor, vintage, and antiques that you won’t find anywhere else.
Start with a good breakfast (why not at Le Ju’ on Rue des Archives in Le Marais?) before heading to Saint-Ouen, Clignancourt, or Vanves to hunt for incomparable little treasures.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: Tea from Mariage Frères
We mentioned tea a little earlier, but it felt wrong not to mention Mariage Frères or Palais des Thés when it comes to small souvenirs to bring back from Paris.
Mariage Frères is the oldest French tea house, known for its iconic black tins – Marco Polo is one of their most famous blends.
If you visit the boutique in the Marais, don’t forget to check out the secret museum upstairs; an entire museum dedicated to tea!
Best Souvenirs from Paris: Something from the Bouquinistes
When you stroll along the banks of the Seine, you come face to face with endless rows of books, old fashion magazines, postcards, paintings, and maps of Paris.
Gathered around the huge green boxes kept by the bouquinistes – which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage – these items are famous souvenirs to take home.
The bouquinistes have been settled along the Seine for several centuries; they are more Parisian than Paris itself and offer a myriad of unique little things that are easy to pack.
Best Things to Buy in Paris: Paris Saint-Germain Merch
The PSG has an official boutique on the Champs-Élysées, and if you are a sports fan, it is a place to visit while you are strolling along the avenue.
There, you can find jerseys, scarves, as well as all sorts of small gifts that will delight PSG supporters.
Souvenirs from Paris: 15+ Unique Things to Buy, Gifts & Food
Thus ends my guide to the best things to buy in Paris – whether it is perfume, stationery, books, or food, there are so many souvenirs that carry the signature of Paris!
Some of my favorite places in Paris are the covered passages, where you can also find many antiques and cute things.
That is why I also recommend visiting Passage du Grand Cerf, Galerie Vivienne, or Passage Molière, where you will find one of the best stationery shops in the city.
Next, if you want to discover other places that have shaped and still shape Paris, I recommend stopping by historic department stores like Le Bon Marché, Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, or La Samaritaine.
Some have a decor and atmosphere that is totally Art Nouveau, while the small boutiques on Rue Lepic or Rue des Martyrs near Montmartre are much more vintage and sometimes even mixed with avant-garde.