An Insider’s Guide To Paris: The Best Spots To Shop And Visit

To celebrate Paris Fashion Week, a fashion publicist shares her favourite spots in the city.

By Stacey Pamela Chia - published 25 Sep 2024

As I write from my sixth trip to Paris within the last year, the city is coming out of hosting one of the most spectacular Olympic games and the energy is electric thanks to Paris Fashion Week. Paris never gets old; what’s old becomes iconic, because there’s a huge sense of pride in creativity, attention to detail, and plenty to inspire.

Here are some of my favourite spots: some are popular destinations on every traveller’s list, others are lesser-known gems that I’ve found while letting spontaneity take me on a trip around Paris.

Stores to visit

Le Bon Marche

Le Bon Marche makes shopping in a department store feel like walking into a gallery of extraordinary things. Even though many of the brands are available elsewhere in Paris or globally, its edit always feels fresh and exclusive.

A highlight of the store is its special themed shoppable exhibitions, like the one featuring brands from Marseille in the Summer of 2024, where I found my new favourite jewellery brand, Vadi. With so much focus on Paris this year with the Olympics, its current exhibition, which is on till 19 October, is all about Paris and features the best of French brands. If there’s only one shopping stop on your trip, this should be it.

Merci

The original concept store has been around for 15 years and never disappoints. Come for fashion and interior design or books and beauty. They also run the Used Book Cafe next door, where you can choose from over 10,000 books to read over coffee.

Centre Commercial and VEJA

Few places have stores devoted to brands doing good, but in Paris, it’s more of a norm. Founded by Sébastien Kopp and François-Ghislain Morillion, the same guys behind the sneaker brand VEJA, Centre Commercial curates only responsible brands, including the easy, ready-to-wear brand Baserange, and another creatively-conscious basics brand, Patine.

Of course, you’ll find everyone’s favourite sneaker brand, VEJA, here, but why not stop by one of the VEJA stores? VEJA’s latest concept store, just around the corner from Centre Commercial, combines a retail space and repair centre so you can fix or spruce up your old sneakers from VEJA or other brands; and it’s all part of their mission to reduce waste and promote fashion circularity.

Marin Montagut

Named after its founder, an illustrator and artist, the store is a cabinet of curiosities with handpainted Parisian-themed gifts and keepsakes.

O.P.E.N Dressing

A secondhand clothing store in Le Marais, with an incredible selection of Yves Saint Laurent’s Rive Gauche and Variation lines.

Thanx God I’m a VIP

It is one of the most revered vintage destinations in Paris. You’ll find designer names and well-priced, unbranded styles marking an era. “The reason someone like Gigi Hadid likes the store is because we treat them like everybody else. Here, everyone—whether they’re spending €10 or €10,000—is a VIP, said Sylvie Chateigner, owner of the store, in an interview with the Financial Times.

La Tonkinoise

As a Singaporean overseas, one of my favourite dining spots in Paris is The Hood Paris, a true-blue Singapore kopitiam in the heart of the city, which was how I discovered La Tonkinoise, a quaint jewellery store right next door.

Its founder, Chantal Manoukian, who has worked at Isabel Marant and Kookai, visits flea markets across the city to pick up antique buttons, beads, and other trinkets that she repurposes and turns into one-of-a-kind pieces. She’s now become a friend, and knows my love for shell and coral jewellery.

Slow Galerie

This art gallery features limited-edition art prints from emerging and established artists at affordable prices. My recent acquisition from artist Marie Guillard is the best souvenir I’ve purchased in Paris because its bubblegum palette is an instant mood lifter.

A.S.L Paris

A.S.L Paris is the retail brand of creative studio Saint-Lazare, where you’ll find lighting, art, and home decor in their modern, clean aesthetic. Photography lovers can pick up a unique gift box, including a framed print, an accompanying set of 10 prints to swap with, and a 64-page photo book, all featuring a city of choice. There are over 30 cities to choose from, including Paris, Shanghai, Rome, and New York.

Parisian brands you’ll come to love

Sezane

Stepping into the Sezane store is like stepping into a Parisian apartment, where you can find all the staples to channel your inner French woman.

Ormaie

Founded by mother-son duo Marie-Lise Jonak and Baptiste Bouygues, Ormaie prides itself on natural ingredients and scents inspired by the co-founder’s history, travels around the world and personal memories, which include years spent living in Southeast Asia and Singapore. You can make an appointment at their atelier to go on a scent journey before the brand makes its debut in Singapore later this year. If you’ve ever been inspired by the Parisienne art of nonchalance, the brand’s Tableau Parisien, with its sensual and spicy notes, is for you.

Cahu

Cahu’s striking line of handbags are made out of coloured PVC fabric and are in keeping with the French appreciation of form and function. Lightweight, water-resistant, and easy to maintain, they come in three sizes and are my bag of choice for everyday essentials like my laptop, umbrella, multiple pouches for all other essentials, and somehow, there’s still always room for more things. There’s a reason why they’re named “Pratique”. Its founder, Clemence Cahu’s family ran a jumping castle factory near Normandy, where she developed her appreciation for this sturdy PVC material.

Loulou Studio

After years of working as a fashion consultant and sharing her point of view on her Instagram account, Chloé Harrouche founded her label of luxe, feminine, timeless pieces using inspiration from art, architecture, and Paris.

Museums to visit

La Galerie Dior, Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris and Fondation Azzedine Alaïa

You’ll probably already have the grand museums like the Louvre or Musée d’Orsay on your to-do list, but here are some other smaller ones that fashion lovers would not want to miss: the La Galerie Dior, Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris and Fondation Azzedine Alaïa provide a retrospective on the respective designers. Then there’s the Bourse de Commerce in the architecturally-impressive renovated old commodities exchange hub, home to the contemporary art collection of Kering Chairman and CEO François Pinault.

Hotels to rest and recharge at

Avoid the giant hotel chains and opt for a boutique hotel for the full Parisian experience. Here are two affordable options that I’ve enjoyed. HOY Hotel, which stands for House of Yoga, in the former red light district of Pigalle, stands in sharp contrast to the rest of the neighbourhood and provides a complete wellness experience in a calm sanctuary. The rooms have been designed to feel like cocoons with a ballet barre for stretching and accessories to help you disconnect. The little touches in the room, like Binchotan charcoal water, organic beauty products, and no TV, remind you that when you’re at the HOY, it’s time to disconnect. There are yoga classes on-site by eco-responsible yoga brand, YUJ, and the HOY is where I discovered the benefits of Reiki, with Olivia Panella, who has a permanent residency in the hotel. For something in Le Marais, I enjoy the Hotel Sookie for its bespoke vintage style and location.

Pause for a coffee and croissant

I am a croissant fanatic, and I even own a croissant lamp. Here are some of the spots that have repeatedly come up when I’ve asked, ‘Where do I go for the best croissant?’ Du Pain et des Idées, Chez Meunier and La Maison d’Isabelle.