My 20 suggestions of gifts to take back home

This list includes my personal suggestions. It’s not (of course !) an exhaustive  nor an objective list. I may update it later in case I find out other ideas to suggest you.

1 – Anne Maisonneuve’s T-shirts : You can get a  T-shirt with a great printing related to Paris. Elegant, Parisian and fun. For instance : macarons, Eiffel tower made with macarons…. And many more. Not a souvenir look but a T-shirt you’ll probably enjoy to wear as a good memory of your Paris stay ! BTW : Don’t rely too much on their website : the products look much greater in real !! In the shop, you’ll find costume jewels too – Where ? : Anne Maisonneuve – 113 boulevard Raspail – Paris 6 – Metro stop : Notre Dame des Champs (Montparnasse neighborhood) – annemaisonneuve.com

2 – Mariage Frères tea: Mariage Frères is an old renowned French company (since 1854),  which sells a large range and high quality tea – They sell nice teapots and cups too.   Where ? :  Saint germain des Prés :  13 rue des Grands Augustins – Paris 6 // La Madeleine : 17, place de la Madeleine – Paris 8 // Tour eiffel 56 rue Clerc – Paris 7 // Le Bon Marché 38, rue de Sèvres, Paris 7 (La Grande Epicerie, 1st Floor) // Galeries Lafayette , 21b boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9 (ground floor) // Printemps, 64 boulevard Haussmann Paris 9 (3d floor) – www.mariagefreres.com 

Another French brand of Tea : Kusmi tea, a nice french brand of tea too (In La Grande Epicerie of the Bon Marché – Metro stop : Sevres Babylone and several Kusmi tea shops in Paris including one on the Champs Elysées

Mariage frères – French Tea

3 – French candies : Calissons, Marrons glacés, Pralines, Nougats, berlingots, all very popular French candies. This is just some of the most traditional French candies. There are many others. 

“Les Anis de Flavigny” : the oldest fresh candies, not larger than a pea. The original ones are made with anise; Other flavors : rose, lemon, mint, violet… And the boxes are gorgeous old-style metal boxes. 

Anis de Flavigny

Where ? confectionery, delicatessen La grande Epicerie of the Bon Marché, A La Mère de Famille shops

Marrons glacés (= Candied chesnuts): Seasonal candies that can be found generally in Chocolate shops from end november to end of January. A confection originating in southern France and northern italy, consisting of a chestnut candied in sugar syrup and glazed. People who like them actually LOVE them. Where ? : high quality chocolate shops such as JP Hevin, Jacques Genin, La Maison du Chocolat, Patrick Roger, Arnaud Lahrer. The making process of those candies is so complex that if you get them in ordinary shops you may be very disappointed.

Calissons : a traditional French diamond-shaped candy, made of a smooth pale yellow paste of candied fruit and ground almonds topped with a thin layer of royal icing. Renown brands for Calissons : Léonard Parli (founded in 1874) or Roy René. The packaging is what they call themselves a “diamond-shaped box”. Where ? confectionery, delicatessen La grande Epicerie of the Bon Marché, A la Mère de Famille shops

Calissons

Nougat :  the Montelimar nougat, has a traditional whitish color and is made of honey, almonds and a light mousse of egg whites  mixed in copper cauldrons. Made since the 18^th century, in the Ardèches (region of France). My recommendation : choose it in bar shape (rather than in small candy size) then cut it when you want some and buy it in a chocolatier or a good quality candy shop (rather than in a supermarket), this will make a real difference. Check too that “Montelimar” is written on the package. You can ask for nougat soft (=tender) or hard. Generally, nowadays, you’ll find more easily soft nougat (that I recommend) rather than hard.Where ? confectionery, delicatessen La grande Epicerie of the Bon Marché, A la Mère de Famille 

Pralines : combination of almonds and caramelized sugar. Created in the 17^th century It’s a specialty of Montargis, city of the Loire Valley, nearby Orleans. You can find brown or pink pralines. Mazet (French brand, founded in 1903) is maybe the most famous brand of Pralines, located in Montargis. 

Berlingots : Hard and pyramidal shape candies. Nice to eat and to look at. And I must say that I like the sound of the word “Berlingot” too (!). Very musical ! Though I remember that you can’t eat music !

Where find these candies ? In La Grande Epicerie of the Bon Marché, and in most of confectionary and chocolate shops.  “A la mère de Famille“ is a popular confectionary shop. The larger “A Mere de Famille” (and the original one)  is located 35, rue du Faubourg Montmartre – Paris 9 

4 – Chocolate : Many great chocolate shops in Paris.

My suggestions : Jacques Genin chocolate shop, 27 rue Varenne, Paris 7 (in Saint Germain des Prés – Metro Stop : Rue du Bac or Sèvres Babylone) : a large shop and a great service www.jacquesgenin.fr  . Or Jean Paul Hevin shop : 3, rue Vavin – Paris 6 (Metro stop : Vavin, Montparnasse neighborhood) www.jeanpaulhevin .

Other renown chocolate shops :   Arnaud Lahrer, Pierre Marcolini…and many more !

5 – Armor Lux : The « Marinière » = the classic Breton stripe shirt  : It’s an iconic French outfit, that actually is originated from Brittany and a cloth that takes its inspiration from the maritime tradition. It’s a great French basic that many French have in their wardrobe; a classic ! Jean Paul Gaultier has been using it as an emblematic piece of his fashion collections.  Armor Lux is renown for its “Marinières”. It’s a company created 80 years ago in Quimper a western city of Brittany (itself a western region of France). You’ll find marinières from women, children and men. Where ? Seven Armor Lux shops in Paris. Among them : Saint Germain : Paris- Sèvres, 33, rue de Sèvres Paris 6 –// Montparnasse : Paris-Vavin, 16, rue Vavin, Paris 6 // Montmartre – 1bis rue de Ravignan – Paris 18 – www.armorlux.com/en/

Or Petit bateau (= “little boat”)– another renown French company,  a 124 years old company – nice great quality Tshirts and other products – They often sell Marinières too. Where ? 30 Petit Bateau shops in Paris – One in Saint Germain des Prés – 33 rue du Four – Paris 6 www.petit-bateau.co.uk

6 – Traditional French Biscuits : Lu, Paille d’or, Crêpes dentelles, sablés bretons (La Grande Epicerie, Monoprix)

Crêpes dentelle

Crêpes dentelles : one of the iconic biscuit originated from Brittany dating back to 1893 : pancake. www.gavottes.fr/fr
batter rolled into a lace-thin cylinder. As light as crispy and succulent Brand recommended : “Gavottes”  You can get a cardboard box (lighter than the metal ones)

Galettes Bretonnes

Sablés Bretons ( called “galettes” bretonnes too) : Breton round shortbread cookies, sandy texture, slightly salted. Brands recommended : Traou mad, Saint Michel, Ker Kadelac, La Trinitaine. Warning : not to be confused with the “‘Sablés de Retz” (different texture and taste)

Palets Bretons

Palets Bretons (= Breton “disk”) : thicker than the sablés (about 3 cm thick), quite soft and slightly salted. Brands recommended : Traou mad, Saint Michel, Ker Kadelac, La Trinitaine. Warning : not to be confused with the “‘Sablés de Retz” (different texture and taste)

Palmiers Palmito

Palmiers (= “palm tree”) : flaky and crunchy. Nature (= the original and classic one) or chocolate (black or milk chocolate). Brand recommended : Palmito

Tuiles (=tiles) : egg white, caster sugar, flour, butter and vanilla extract. Great with a fruit salad for instance.

Cigarettes Russes

Cigarettes russes : Cigarette-shaped biscuits, sandy and empty, size of a cigar. A great classic that you can eat on its own or with ice-cream. Brand recommended : Delacre 

Barquettes Lu

Barquettes: Little boat- shape biscuits. The children especially like them. The original is apricot flavour, but some are chocolate or strawberry… Brand recommended : Lu

Pailles d’or de Lu

Paille d’Or (= gold straw) Strawberry (Lu Brand): rasberry wagers, very fine and crispy with no artiicial color or flavor. Brand recommended : Lu

Where ? You can get most of these biscuits in the Monoprix or in La grande Epicerie of the Bon Marché (in the Franprix too)

Warning : There are everal chains of stores selling biscuits that I wouldn’t recommend. Their storefronts look really attractive, but in my opinion their products are as much disappointing as their storefront and setting are attractive.

7 – Heyraud umbrellas. Not an ordinary souvenir – Wonderful umbrellas that look more real ombrella than souvenir that won’t last – Parisian patterns : Le Pont des Arts – Tour Eiffel pattern. Not made for tourists but for Paris lovers (either Parisians or visitors) . Herault company sell mainly high quality shoes, an a few other products  Where ? Heyraud – Paris Montparnasse 142 rue de Rennes – Paris 6 // Heyraud – Paris St Germain 23 rue du Four – Paris 6 // Heyraud – Paris Rivoli 90 rue de Rivoli – Paris 1 – // Heyraud Paris La Madeleine, 5 boulevard de la Madeleine, Paris 9 // Heyraud paris Italiens, 32 boulevard des Italiens, Paris 9 Heyraud umbrellas

8 – Hermès scarves : An iconic brand and an iconic great French classic. A scarf as much as a work of art. Awsome material and design… and… very pricey (around 360 euros) … The house of Hermès launched the creation of its first ever silk scarf in 1937. Most popular size : 90cm X 90 cm. Where ?  Main Hermès store (flagship store) : 24 rue du faubourg Saint Honoré (between La Madeleine and La Concorde) The store itself is worth the visit //  In Saint Germain des Prés 17 rue de Sèvres Paris 6 // in Le Bon Marché too.

The Christian Lacroix scarves are gorgeous too. Expensive too, but far less expensive than the Hermès scarves. Where ?  Le Bon Marché ( www.24sevres.com/fr-ba/accessoires/echarpes-et-foulards/foulards ) or at the Galeries Lafayette or Le Printemps. 

You’ll find other wonderful scarves in the department stores, like in Le Bon Marché

9 – Get your portrait drawn at the Place du Tertre. Your portrait or your silhouette !

Place du Tertre – Montmartre (Paris 18)

The Place du Tertre is the most “touristic” spot of Montmartre village. Probably the most touristic spot in Paris. However having your portrait drawn, may be a great idea, a great memory of your stay. Try to avoid to crowded hours. Better choose the morning or an early evening. Take your time to choose the artist and if the artist is too insistent and pushy, don’t hesitate to say no and walk away. The average price : 60 euros for an individual portrait. Don’t hesitate to bargain a little. I can help you if I’m with you.

or

Get your silhouette cut by a Montmartre artist : Silhouette cut-outs : Great too. One of my friends still fancy having her sihouette cut out in Montmartre several decades ago. A great memory for a cheap price.  The artist use only a pair os scissors and will cut a coloured sheet of paper in the shape of your profile. Great to bring back as a souvenir. But some of the artists are really pushy. Don’t hesitate to walk away if the person is too insistent.

Where ?  Place du Tertre – Paris 18 – Metro stop : Anvers or Abbesses

10 – Get a book at Shakespeare and Company … with a stamp ! Get it stamped after purchase : the famous kilometer zero stamps inside the front cover.  You could buy a book of Poems by Jacques Prévert (“Paroles” for instance). Prévert, a so (!) Parisian poet or Apollinaire (very Parisian too !) who wrote « Sous le Pont Mirabeau » or a book by Hemingway, for instance « A moveable feast » (“Paris est une fête”) or a book by our beloved Colette, or “The little Prince” by Antoine de Saint Exupéry. And enjoy this beautiful old 16th century building and all the books at the same time !… 

Where ? : Shakespeare and Company, 37 rue de la Bucherie, Paris 5 – Metro stop : Saint Michel. Located nearby the Seine and Notre Dame. Oh ! … after getting your book, take the opportunity to have a break in their (tiny and great) tearoom which is nextdoor (great tea and a cheesecake I highly recommend !)

11 – Soaps and perfumes at Oriza L. Legrand 

Oriza house was created in 1720 during the reign of Louis XV, Supplier of the Royal family and Queen Marie Antoinette ; The boutique is tiny and gorgeous. The old style packagings awsome. The old-style setting of this shop is gorgeous too. In this tiny shop, you’ll find soaps, perfumes/cologne

Where ? Oriza , 18 rue Saint Augustin, Paris 2^ème Monday to Saturday 11am to 2pm – 3pm to 7 pm   Orizaparfums.com

Les Parfums de Rosine

12 – Les Parfums de Rosine. An old style and tiny shop focused on rose perfume. In the awesome setting of the Palais Royal garden.

Where ? Palais Royal garden – 105 Galerie de Valois – Paris 1 – http://www.les-parfums-de-rosine.com/index.php  Metro : Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre rosine.com

13 – Bérets (Galeries Lafayette) –

Where : You can find a beret Made in France in the Galeries Lafayette, 6th floor, 40 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9 – Metro Stop : Chaussée d’Antin – Other shops : Le Béret Français The numerous berets of “Le Beret Français”

14 – Aprons, tea towels, egg cups, trays… theme Paris – La Cocotte brand (Le Bon Marché) –  

Where ? : Some of the products are on sale at Le Bon Marché, 24 rue de Sèvres – Paris 6 – Metro Stop Sèvres Babylone-   https://www.lacocotteparis.com/fr/16-mugs-tasses La Cocotte Paris – 5 rue Paul Bert – Paris 11 www.lacocotteparis.com

Other nice brands of tea towels, apron, and others things for your home in Le Bon Marché or Galeries Lafayette gourmet maison 35, boulevard Haussmann, Paris 9 – Metro Stop : Chaussée d’Antin or Opéra

Note : the Galeries Lafayette gourmet maison (35 boulevard Haussmann) is for food and all what’s related to the home. It’s located in a different building from the main Galeries Lafayette department store (40 boulevard Haussmann)

15 – A gift from Le Louvre – A wide range of products derived from the collections and exhibitions of the museum : jewelry, prints, stationery, postcards, posters, books, scarves…  and many more or reproductions of works. For instance the miniatures of the Venus de Milo or the Winged Victory

La Venus de Milo

Where ? Librairie Boutique du musée du Louvre – Under the Pyramide – Paris 1 – Metro Stop : Palais Royal Musée du Louvre 

16 – Beauty products 

2 very popular shops for beauty products at discount prices : Citypharma and Pharmacie de la Place Monge. You’ll find in both places many brands including Caudalie and Nuxe, most of them at a discount price . But these places are often crowded ! No high fashion designer brands like Dior, YSL, Chanel…

Where ? : Citypharma, 26 rue du Four, Paris 6 (Saint Germain des Prés) – Metro Stop Saint Germain des Prés, Mabillon or Odeon //  Pharmacie de la Place Monge, 74 rue Monge – Paris 5 – (in the Latin Quarter). Metro stop Place Monge (line 7)

2 French iconic products : 

Caudalie beauty products (City Pharmacie or a Caudalie shop) One of their most popular product is the “Eau de beauté” . Where ? : CityPharma, Pharmacie de la Place Monge, or one of the Caudalie shops (Caudalie shop 80, rue des Saint Pères, Paris 7 (Saint Germain des Prés) In most Pharmacies too. 

or “L’Huile prodigieuse” by Nuxe : Another very popular and iconic French beauty Product is the “Huile Prodigieuse” by Nuxe – Where ? : CityPharma, Pharmacie de la Place Monge,  In most Pharmacies too. 

17 – Theatre Comédie Française – In the building of the Comedie française, nice little shop and objects related to the theater. – boutique de la Comédie française

Where ? Place Colette – Paris 1 – Metro Stop : Palais Royal Musée du Louvre. Nearby the Palais Royal garden

An Other nice boutique : The  boutique of the Assemblée Nationale too (= our first assembly room) – boutique de l’Assemblée NationaleWhere ? Boutique de l’Assemblée Nationale, 7 rue Aristide Briand, Paris 7 – Metro Stop : Assemblée Nationale

18 – Cheese :  Androuet is one of the oldest Cheese shop in Paris (since 1909) – 9 shops in Paris – In my opininon, a company on which you can rely . Great service and products. Several shops in Paris. Nice welcoming and knowledgeable staff and they provide vacuum packing to transport cheese home.

Where ? Androuet 38, rue Saint Louis en l’Ïle – Paris 4 (on Saint Louis Island), Androuet, 37 rue Verneuil, Paris 7 (In Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood) – More addresses of Androuet shops in Paris :  http://androuet.com/fromage-paris.html 

From the Assemblée Nationale – a nice shop

19 – Ladurée gifts :

Nice gifts in Ladurée  : Key chains, shopping bags… and many more. And their famous macarons too.

Where ?  8 shops in Paris. Among them : Ladurée Champs Elysées, 75 avenue des Champs Elysées , Paris 8 – Ladurée Saint Germain des Prés, 21 rue Bonaparte, Paris 6, Ladurée web site

Ladurée tea and beauty

And a new Ladurée Tea and beauty shop !!! : A quite new shop (opened about 1 year ago) entirely dedicated to teas, candles and home fragrances. : Ladurée Thé et Beauté, 232 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1 – A boutique located a hundred meters from Angelina, 

Where ? Ladurée Tea and beauty shop, 232, rue de Rivoli, Paris 1 – Metro Stop : Concorde or Tuileries, close to Angelina

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