Shopping in Paris: our favourite spots near Hôtel R de Paris

The Galeries Lafayette Gourmet is a temple of French gastronomy spread across three floors and 4,500 m², right behind the Opéra Garnier. Sample the market stands — cheesemongers, butchers, fishmongers, bakers — or build a platter from the fine grocery and wine cellar, which stocks over 2,500 references. What makes it unique is being able to move from a chocolate tasting stand to a seafood counter, then leave with a bottle and a gourmet gift box, all under one roof.

Why go: Perfect for grabbing quality bites or bringing back Paris gourmet products.

Good to know: Go earlier for a calmer experience, especially on weekends.

Set in a listed 1865 building — a former bank headquarters — the Apple Store Opera marries technology with Haussmannian heritage across 1,267 m2. Monumental glass doors, wrought-iron balustrades, mosaic floors, chandeliers and period mouldings: you buy an iPhone beneath Second Empire bank ceilings. The Genius Bar is on the mezzanine, and the former vault room houses accessories — a detail that sums up the spirit of the place.

Why go: Useful for charging issues, a screen protector, or a quick accessory in Paris.

Good to know: For repairs, booking a Genius Bar slot can save a lot of time.

Founded in 1987 by Jean Touitou, A.P.C. — Atelier de Production et de Création — embodies understated Parisian chic. The boutique at 64 Rue Condorcet in the 9th carries the house signature: raw denim that develops a patina over time, pared-back coats, minimalist bags. Every piece prioritises fabric quality and cut over logos — it's the favourite brand of those who want to dress well without shouting about it.

Why go: Ideal if you love well-cut basics and the signature A.P.C. jeans, easy to wear every day.

Good to know: For denim, ask for advice on fit and sizing — the look changes a lot depending on the model.

Henri Le Roux is the inventor of salted butter caramel — the famous CBS® — created in Quiberon in 1977, an invention that changed French confectionery forever. His Paris boutique at 24 rue des Martyrs carries the full collection: soft caramels, grand cru chocolate bars, enrobed sweets and ganaches. Production remains artisanal, using carefully selected cacao beans (Peru, Madagascar, Ecuador) and Breton butter. What is unique here is this marriage of Breton salted caramel tradition with the precision of high-end couverture chocolate. The boutique is small and focused — you come in knowing exactly what you're looking for.

Why go: To bring back a quality gift or treat yourself to the original CBS® caramels — a benchmark address for lovers of chocolate and artisanal confectionery.

Good to know: Closed Monday. Open in two slots (11 AM–2 PM and 3–7 PM) Tuesday to Sunday. Gift boxes are available in store without reservation.

Bachir is the cult Lebanese ice-cream maker that has called Paris home since 2016, with family know-how dating back to 1936 in the village of Bikfaya in Lebanon. The speciality here is the Ashta: a lusciously creamy milk ice cream scented with orange blossom, rolled in crushed pistachios — pure bliss. What makes it unique is that the price stays the same regardless of how many flavours you choose: rose, milk chocolate, apricot, blackberry... you can try everything without counting, and the ice creams are 100% organic and natural.

Why go: Perfect for a quick sweet break after a walk, with family or friends.

Good to know: At busy times, aim for off-peak hours; ask for the house signature flavors to get straight to the best picks.

The Marché Couvert des Batignolles, at 96 bis Rue Lemercier, is the gourmet heart of the neighbourhood with its fresh-produce stands and food traders from around the world — Lebanese, Moroccan, African, Italian. The star here is Viande à Part, the butcher's run by the Le Bourdonnec brothers, whose father was crowned best butcher in Paris and supplied the capital's top restaurants. What makes it unique is the blend of authentic neighbourhood market and ready-to-eat gourmet stands: you can do your shopping and snack on the spot in a friendly atmosphere.

Why go: Perfect for a few grocery buys, or a quick gourmet break on the go.

Good to know: Some stalls close early in the afternoon—go in the morning if you can.

Nestled in the Passage Jouffroy — one of the most beautiful covered arcades in Paris, with its 19th-century glass canopy — this boutique offers souvenirs made in France, far removed from the usual tourist kitsch. Browse the illustrated notebooks, retro posters, small porcelain objects and quintessentially "Parisian" accessories at accessible prices. What makes this spot special is the setting: you stroll beneath a historic glass roof and can easily find an elegant gift in just a few minutes.

Why go: Easy for last-minute presents with a more curated feel.

Good to know: Great for postcards, small objects and "Paris" essentials.

The Marché d'Anvers is the first open-air food market in the 9th arrondissement, created in 2004 at the foot of Square d'Anvers and Avenue de Trudaine. The speciality here is the unconventional schedule — Fridays from 3 pm to 8.30 pm — designed for working locals, with around twenty exclusively food traders: four greengrocers (one fully organic), three cheesemongers, four fishmongers and a baker-pâtissier. What makes it unique is this lively neighbourhood-market atmosphere in the late afternoon, perfect for putting together a beautiful apéro or dinner with fresh produce.

Why go: Ideal for picking up fruit and veg, cheese, or a few things to snack on while discovering the area.

Good to know: Mornings are best for choice; some stalls close earlier than expected.

Hidden between Rue Royale and the Faubourg Saint-Honore, this chic lane has an unexpected history: it once housed the barracks of Louis XIII's Musketeers, then a popular covered market inaugurated in 1746. Renamed "Cite Berryer" in the 19th century, then fully renovated in 1992, it now shelters luxury boutiques and art galleries in small, low-rise buildings with immaculate storefronts — a village within the city, far from the department-store crowds.

Why go: Great if you want a refined Paris walk near Madeleine without the crowds.

Good to know: Short visit—ideal as a quick detour between appointments.

Founded in 1761 at 35 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre, À la Mère de Famille is the oldest chocolaterie-confiserie in Paris. The period interior — painted woodwork, glass jars, listed shopfront — has remained intact since the 19th century. The house offers its own chocolates, old-fashioned sweets (berlingots, nougats, caramels), fruit jellies and regional confections unavailable elsewhere. Each season brings a specific collection — candied oranges at Christmas, eggs at Easter — prepared according to the house's historic recipes. It is one of the few Parisian addresses to bring together traditional French confectionery in an authentic 18th-century setting.

Why go: For the emotion of stepping into a 265-year-old Parisian shop, and to bring back sweets and chocolates that exist nowhere else in quite this form.

Good to know: The historic Faubourg-Montmartre shop is open 7 days a week (9:30 AM–8 PM, Sunday 10 AM–7:30 PM). During the festive season it can get busy — better to visit on a weekday.

Built in 1846, the Passage Jouffroy (10–12 boulevard Montmartre) is one of the last heated covered passages in Paris — the first ever to use this system. Its long 146-metre gallery beneath a glass roof houses an unlikely mix of shops: specialist bookshops (including Librairie du Passage for antiquarian books), antique toy dealers, postcard boutiques, a listed hotel (Hôtel Chopin, open since 1846) and a handful of small cafés. The Musée Grévin is accessible directly from the passage. The hushed atmosphere, mosaic flooring and cast-iron and glass architecture give it a very different character from the renovated galleries with their luxury boutiques.

Why go: For a plunge into 19th-century Paris, a wealth of architectural detail and the kind of improbable shops you rarely find anywhere else.

Good to know: Free and open access; individual shops have their own hours (most closed on Mondays). The adjacent Musée Grévin is ticketed and advance booking is recommended.

Opened in 1799, the Passage des Panoramas (11 boulevard Montmartre) is one of the oldest covered passages in Paris and the first to have been lit by gas, in 1817. At 133 metres long, it has been home for decades to stamp and vintage postcard dealers — a philatelic community that gives it a unique flavour. On the restaurant side, several well-regarded tables have taken up residence here, including bistronomic addresses popular with Parisians. The original glass roof, painted wooden shop fronts and chequered floors create an atmosphere of early 19th-century Paris that is remarkably well preserved.

Why go: For one of the most authentic passages in Paris, its singular philatelic atmosphere and its well-run neighbourhood restaurants — a welcome alternative to the crowds of the grands boulevards.

Good to know: The passage opens early (from 6 AM) and closes at midnight, 7 days a week. Stamp dealers are mainly present during the day, Tuesday to Saturday.

A pillar of cutting-edge fashion since 1980, Leclaireur at 10 Rue Boissy d'Anglas (8th) is a concept store where art, design and fashion intertwine in a Fornasetti-designed interior. You'll find Jil Sander, Dries Van Noten, The Row, Maison Margiela — a demanding selection of designers, presented like a gallery. The space also houses the largest collection of Fornasetti objects and furniture, plus a bespoke service for collectors of rare pieces.

Why go: Shopping for premium designers in central Paris.

Good to know: Great for discovering niche labels and statement pieces.

Opened in 2015 at 1 Rue Saint-Fiacre, L'Appartement Sézane was designed to feel like a real Parisian flat: you browse fashion, accessories and lifestyle objects in a refined décor that changes with each collection. Downstairs, a small intimate cinema screens the brand's films and classics in partnership with MK2. Next door, the Conciergerie handles alterations, pick-ups and returns — everything is designed to turn shopping into an experience.

Why go: A stylish shopping stop and a great place for gifts.

Good to know: It can get crowded—weekday mornings are easiest.

Founded in 2000 at 173 Rue Saint-Honoré, this Parisian house handcrafts its ceramics from black clay coated in white glaze, each piece deliberately imperfect — and that's precisely what gives them their charm. Soak up the unique atmosphere of this historic boutique (the premises date back to 1788), where you'll also find scented candles inspired by imaginary travels and refined stationery. What sets this place apart is that every plate, every cup tells a story: the shapes are inspired by antique services found in flea markets.

Why go: Great for premium souvenirs and home décor in Paris.

Good to know: Ask staff for signature scents and best-sellers.

The Marché Couvert Saint-Quentin, at 85 bis Boulevard Magenta, is the largest covered market in Paris, with 35 traders under a spectacular Baltard-style iron-and-glass hall built in 1866. Sample the stands of cheesemongers, fishmongers, butchers and food traders offering a genuine culinary tour of the world — Moroccan, Lebanese, Italian, Brazilian — beneath graceful steel arches bathed in natural light. What makes it unique is the Second Empire architecture, which is worth the visit on its own: brick, wood, cast iron and glass canopy — an authentically Parisian setting.

Why go: Ideal for shopping (breakfast, picnic supplies, foodie souvenirs) and sampling a few stalls.

Good to know: Best in the morning; later in the day, the selection can be more limited.

Nose is the olfactory concept store in the Montorgueil neighbourhood that revolutionised the way you choose a fragrance. The speciality here is the scent diagnostic: in five questions and thirty minutes, an algorithm combined with expert guidance steers you through over 500 fragrances from 50 niche houses. What makes it unique is that you genuinely leave with a perfume that feels like you, not a pushed bestseller — and you can come back to refine your profile over time.

Why go: Perfect if you love distinctive fragrances (and not necessarily bestsellers).

Good to know: Go fragrance-free if you can — it makes testing much more accurate.

Closed for sixteen years, reopened in 2021 after 750 million euros of works backed by LVMH, La Samaritaine blends two spectacular architectural eras: Frantz Jourdain's Art Nouveau structure (glass canopies, metal) and Henri Sauvage's Art Deco touches (mosaics, peacock frescoes), all complemented by SANAA's undulating contemporary glass facade. Beyond the luxury shopping, the building itself is worth the visit.

Why go: Ideal for "pleasure shopping" in central Paris.

Good to know: Great stop to combine shopping + a walk along the Seine.