47 Best Shopping in St-Germain-des-Pres, Paris

Stroll through the vast ground floor of this high-end children's clothing store, located inside a 17th-century mansion, and you'll feel like royalty on a private visit to a friend's estate which happens to have beautiful clothing for babies and children on display. The rooms wrap around a large, private garden and helpful salespeople will assist in finding the perfect gift.

Although it only opened in 2014, you can be forgiven for thinking Buly 1803 is an antique apothecary—those jars overflowing with exotic herbs, powders, and elixirs are used to recreate 200-year-old recipes for the all-natural skin-care line. Delicious-smelling hand, body, and face products come in scents like rose and Scottish moss. All the products are organic, beautifully packaged, and impossibly chic.

Head to the streets between Rue du Bac, Rue de l'Université, Rue de Lille, and Rue des Saints-Pères to unearth museum-quality pieces. The more than 100 shops in this association of galleries and antiques dealers are marked with a small, blue square banner on their storefronts.

The candles made by Cire Trudon have illuminated the great palaces and churches of Paris since the 1600s. Nowadays their products provide the atmosphere for tony restaurants and exclusive soirées. The all-vegetal, atmospherically scented wares come in elegant black glass, pillars of all sizes, or busts of clients past—like Napoléon and Marie-Antoinette.

After working with Pierre Hermé and at top palace hotels, Claire Damon opened her own pastry shop that translates to "Cakes and Bread", a simple name that downplays her artistic sophistication. Descended from a long line of accomplished chefs, Damon understands that the best results are produced with the finest ingredients. Her exquisite pastries and breads, made with carefully acquired, often organic ingredients are mouthwatering works of art. The individual fruit tarts are almost too beautiful to eat, but you'll be glad you did.

This wonderful 19th-century taxidermist has long been a stop for curiosity seekers. A 2008 fire destroyed what was left of the original shop, but it has been lavishly restored and remains a cabinet of curiosities par excellence. Create your own box of butterflies or metallic beetles from scores of bug-filled drawers or just enjoy the menagerie that includes stuffed zebras, monkeys, lions, bears, and more. Also in stock: collectible shells, corals, and crustaceans, plus a generous library of books and posters that once graced every French schoolroom. There is a line of decorative wallpaper murals, too.

A Paris mainstay since 1961, Diptyque's flagship shop is famous for its candles, eaux de toilette, and home fragrances in a huge range of sophisticated and subtle scents like myrrh, fig tree, wisteria, and quince. They're delightful but not cheap; the candles, for instance, cost nearly $1 per hour of burn time.

Ever the statement maker, luxury brand Hermès has reopened its Left Bank store in an Art Deco former swimming pool. Their signature silk scarves, jewelry, home furnishings, and fragrances are arrayed around the tastefully decorated cavernous space with hand-painted walls by Matthieu Cossé. There is also a small café.

This inviting cave (literally wine store or wine cellar) focuses on wines by small French producers. Each is handpicked by the owner, along with a choice selection of estate Champagnes, Armagnac, and the classic Vieille Prune (plum brandy). The friendly and knowledgable English-speaking staff makes browsing a pleasure. Check the schedule for classes and tastings.

Founded in 1852, Le Bon Marché has emerged as the city's chicest department store. The fact that it isn't nearly as crowded as the department stores on the Right Bank is an added bonus. On the ground floor of the main building, look for makeup, perfume, and accessories; this is where celebs duck in for essentials while everyone pretends not to notice. On the floor above, you can do laps through dozens of glamorous and überhip labels. The next floor up is home to streetwise designers and edgy secondary lines. Under the restored glass ceiling, the gleaming Le Soulier shoe department assembles the crème de la crème of European shoes. Meanwhile, the menswear department has consumed the entire basement level and has even added a barbershop. Across the street, the home-goods store in the sister building is a great place to browse the latest designer furniture, stock up on French linens, porcelain, cookware, and luggage, or just relax over tea or a gourmet lunch in the soaring atrium restaurant. Before leaving, be sure to visit the spectacular La Grande Épicerie and cave (wine shop) on the ground floor of the main building; it's the haute couture of grocery stores. Artisanal jams, olive oils, and much more make great gifts, and the luscious pastries, fruit, and huge selection of prepared foods beg to be chosen for a meal or snack.

Elbé has been selling rare, original serigraphs, lithographs, and vintage posters since 1976, specializing in artists such as Roger Broders and Keith Haring. Air France's graphic posters featuring exotic destinations, a Brigitte Bardot movie classic, or Sean Connery in the French version of one of his roles as 007 are just a few examples of the large, frameable affiches (posters) sold here.

Pierre Hermé might just be Paris's most renowned pâtissier, and this shop has the peerless cakes and macarons, and many chocolate delights (classic varieties, like the dark-chocolate and orange-rind batons, are perennial favorites). It sells a wonderful, zesty lemon pound cake preboxed and dense enough to survive the trip home—if you can resist eating it. There are several small cafés in St-Germain-des-Prés (and around the city) that feature his creations, one just across from this original boutique, at 61 rue Bonaparte. Other locations include 126 boulevard St-Germain, 43 rue St-Placide, and 53–57 rue de Grenelle, in the quiet, contemporary Beaupassage.

One could easily walk straight past this discreet, boudoir-like boutique. It is, however, one of the world's finest lingerie stores and the place where actresses Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Adjani (among many others) buy superb French underthings.

If you're looking for a good book to read and love independent bookshops, stop by this Left Bank institution, with its enormous inventory of English (and French) language books for adults and children. It's the perfect place to get some reading recommendations and discuss literature, poetry, art, cooking, and politics. Across the street from the Luxembourg Gardens, it also happens to be in an ideal location.

The A.P.C. brand may be antiflash and minimal, but a knowing eye can always pick out its jeans in a crowd. The clothes here are rigorously well made and worth the investment in lasting style. Prime wardrobe pieces include dark indigo and black denim, zip-up cardigans, peacoats, and streamlined ankle boots. There is a second boutique nearby at 171 boulevard St-Germain. Their surplus store at 40 rue Jacob has a sampling of last year's accessories, shoes, and clothing at reduced prices.

Entering this jewelry shop is like landing in Ali Baba's cave: each piece is more gorgeous than the last, and the bounty of beautiful shapes and styles satisfies a large range of tastes (and budgets). Cabochon rings can be pebble-size or rocklike, jeweled cuffs sport diamonds in a web of gold, and simple cord-and-gem bracelets cannot fail to make a statement.

A loyal clientele has been devoted to agnès b. since the clothing brand was created in 1975. The simple-yet-innovative modern designs are paired with lasting quality in pieces like the signature "snap" cardigan available in a variety of colors, fitted T-shirts, and leather bags and jackets that last for decades. Her men's clothing collection is next door at number 10.

The proprietress of this legendary little store is the queen of walking sticks (a passion handed down from her grandfather and mother). Alexandra Sojfer also carries an amazing range of umbrellas, parasols, small leather goods, and other accessories for men and women.

Alexandre Biaggi specializes in lamps, tables, and chairs from the 1920s and 1930s and also commissions pieces from such talented designers as Patrick Naggar and Hervé van der Straeten.

Dating back to 1803, Arthus-Bertrand has glass showcases full of designer jewelry (including medals, bracelets, rings, necklaces, pendants, and more) and many wonderful objects to celebrate all kinds of occasions.

The Bensimon brothers started their brand over 40 years ago with their now iconic “tennis Bensimon,” flat canvas sneakers with rubber soles and tips, which they bought from an army surplus store and dyed in a variety of colors. The shoes were an instant hit, whose popularity has continued to endure, and the brand has since expanded into prêt-à-porter, accessories, and home decor. The simple, classic designs favor cheerful, solid colors, which are wearable day after day and year after year.

The city's major marché biologique, or organic market, is on Boulevard Raspail between Rue du Cherche-Midi and Rue de Rennes. Bursting with fresh produce, baked items, and eco-friendly products, it's open every Sunday from 9 to 3. A very delicious nonorganic market operates at this location on Tuesday and Friday, from 8 am to 2 pm.

This company made a name for itself in the 1950s with its youthful designs that were made to match with the modern fashions of iconic designer Christian Dior. The playful, low-heeled, and comfortable shoes and boots have remained popular thanks to their playful spins on classic designs.

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.

The two former chemists who founded Debauve & Gallais in 1800 became the royal chocolate purveyors and were famed for their "health chocolates," made with almond milk. Test the benefits yourself with ganache, truffles, or pistoles (flavored dark-chocolate disks).

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

Nothing's Plain-Jane at Jamin Puech, which thinks of its bags not just as a necessity, but as jewelry. Beaded purses swing from thin link chains; fringes flutter from dark embossed-leather totes; and small evening clutches are covered with shells, oversize sequins, or hand-dyed crochet. The collections fluctuate with the seasons but never fail to be whimsical and imaginative.

Rochoux makes three superb collections of artisanal chocolates: the Ephemeral, with fresh fruit; Made-to-Measure, in the form of animals and figurines; and the Permanent Collection of everyday favorites.

The newest star in the city's handbag universe has captivated le tout Paris with his artsy take on hobo, Birkin, and messenger bags. Unique styles (like the twee-mini) are impossibly cute, though you may need to take out a second mortgage to tote around a luxe matte-python model. A line of gorgeous, high-heeled footwear is equally chic.

The titular late designer's own chiseled profile is still a key design element in this St-Germain flagship store. Inside, look for very chic ready-to-wear collections for men and women, playing to the fashion-conscious twenty- and thirtysomethings who want to strut their stuff (think body-slimming jackets, jeans, and geometric-print T-shirts, mostly in black and white with a splash of color). The store also stocks signature caps, keychains, eyewear, accessories, bags, shoes, fragrances, and—you guessed it—Lagerfeld's signature fingerless leather gloves.