Sunday is the perfect day to take a long walk or visit a museum...after all, most of Paris is closed. If you have a hankering for shopping or need to grab a last-minute gift, however, some stores are open. The boutiques in Bercy [more...]

Au Chat Bleu is a famous chocolaterie in Lille, but Parisians are lucky to have a second location here. Tempt yourself with darling little pieces of chocolate decorated with the signature cheerful cat head drawn on each one. As [more...]

The handsome stationary shops along the rue du Pont Louis-Philippe (between the rue de l'Hôtel de Ville and the rue François Miron) are a feast for the eyes. From the latest in minimalist design to hand-made papers and journals, it's [more...]

While you probably don't need anything from this darling boutique, you will probably want it all. From French chic housewares to imported fabrics and clothing, Antoine & Lili boutiques are a feast for the eyes. Crystal chandeliers [more...]

The prices have dramatically increased in recent years, but it's still as fun as ever to spend an afternoon perusing around the flea market in Saint-Ouen. Even if you don't buy a thing, it's interesting to wander amongst dusty old [more...]

Get a beautiful panoramic view of Paris for free! Just visit the Galeries Lafayette department store and take the escalators to the top floor. There is a terrace on the top where you can take in beautiful views of the city. Especially [more...]

Poke around a Why store – half a dozen around Paris – for a good laugh. This temple of weird and kitchy gift ideas (neon pink cuckoo clocks, dirty games and much much more…) is a guaranteed good time, and will definitely help you [more...]

Shopping is a pleasure in the Rue du Four, a nice street of the Saint Germain neighborhood where fashion primes. Like any shopping favorite, it gets crowded, though, so better to go during the week, and exploring the surrounding, [more...]

If your date is a fellow Anglophone, go book-browsing at WHSmith, a great big English-language bookstore located right by metro Concorde. Perfect for a stroll in the Tuileries gardens after you’ve gotten your literary [more...]

This little village in the Marais, nestled between rue St Paul and rue des Jardins St Paul, is the best place to go “antiquités” shopping – or more likely just poke around the dusty wonders. The antiques stores are mostly located [more...]

Elvis lovers must make a pilgrimage to the incredible “Elvis My Happiness” store, where they will literally find anything Elvis their little hearts desire. It is run by the fan club of the same name, which stages Elvis-related [more...]

So you want to try absinthe – but isn’t it illegal, you say? Not so. In France, they limit levels of thuyone, the molecule that allegedly drove people crazy, but the absinthe on the market is actually the same composition as the [more...]

For trendy digs, dig through piles and piles of cheap clothes (3 items for 2 euro, and the like) at the “puces” (flea market) of Montreuil. It's mostly clothes, and some are decades old. You’ll laugh over absolute horrors, but [more...]

To get your date something silver – by the way, silver jewelry is better than gold, guys – take her to Gudule (several locations around town, check website) where they sell lots of great jewelry by weight. And there are also [more...]

Literature lovers can head to the marché Brancion, which assembles lots of used book sellers every weekend at the Parc Georges Brassens in the 15eme (rain or shine, since it takes place under a covered marketplace). Browse cheap [more...]

For some very nice picnic material, bring your date to the Epicerie du bon marche to choose from a variety of high-quality prepared dishes or opt for fresh ingredients and make something yourself. The fanciest grocery in Paris, with [more...]

A nice place to pick out a little something for your date, whether it be lingerie, candles, beauty products, kitchen equipment, or something a little more risqué. Prices are reasonable and the selection is wide. You're sure to find [more...]

A real Cajun restaurant in the heart of the Marais district. Good old fashioned Cajun/American food in a jazzy atmosphere. If you're an American visitor and still homesick after your meal, you can go next door to the grocery store [more...]

For an interesting shopping experience, go to one of the several Oliviers & Co stores throughout Paris. You won't be able to leave without buying one of their interesting olive oils, including clementine, basil, and hot pepper. If [more...]

Immerse yourselves in the colors and aromas of a typical Parisian market on a lively city street. A nice stop on your way to the nearby art galleries. The market starts at the top of rue de Buci.