The Distant Bell: 7 places I went shopping in Paris with limited time

I could only snag five hours across two days—a girl has to prioritize!

Nov 08, 2023

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of The Bell!

I’m still in France, still in the countryside. Before we drove out here a couple weeks ago, my husband and I spent a couple of hours in central Paris, picking up some chocolates for friends and family in both countries. But, would you ever believe, that didn’t quiiite cover everything I wanted to shop for while on this side of the Atlantic. So, last Friday, I managed to sneak away for the day and took the train to Paris to finish my mission.

I love flitting around the city by myself, window shopping, stopping into a place that looks interesting, noticing what’s changed since the last time I was in town. Paris is a great place to be spontaneous because there’s always something to discover right around the corner.

Total spontaneity wasn’t the best strategy this time because I had from the 12:30 end of my reflexology massage (more on that in a minute) to my 4:30 train to hit specific places on my list.

But before we get into the Paris recs, icymi, I published a beefy list of miscellaneous other recs in my Friday (ahem, Sunday, sorry about that) newsletter, which you can read here.

Okay, on with my afternoon in Paris (and the two chocolate shops from the previous day).

À la Mère de Famille

The oldest Parisian chocolatier, with its original store on Rue du Faubourg Montmartre since 1761. They mostly focus on chocolate, but also offer other kinds of sweets based in almond paste or fruit jam. The shops are really a feast for the senses and they have cute, seasonal offerings and adorable illustrations on the packaging.

Debauve & Gallais

A chocolatier that takes itself pretty seriously (and has absolutely earned it) with a super chic boutique on Rue des Saints-Pères and glamorous royal blue and gold packaging. They offer exclusively chocolate, and my favorite treats are the chocolates filled with various French liqueurs: Chartreuse, Cointreau, etc.

l’Artisan Parfumeur

A niche perfume house where you should go if you don’t want to smell like everybody else (no shade to Le Labo Santal 33 but…). I adore this perfumer. Most of their scents are unisex and they are all gorgeous and unique. I bought my second full-size bottle from this line on this trip in a fall/winter scent after loving my spring/summer perfume so much. I’ve decided not to link mine because buying what I have without smelling it would be a huge gamble—taste in perfume is so personal. They don’t ship to the United States from their site (but if you live in the UK or Europe you’re in luck) so if you want to test out some scents, I recommend ordering this box of minis (or this holiday box of minis) from Neiman Marcus—or the Advent calendar if you want to dive into the deep end! NM also carries a select offering of their full-size bestsellers.

Landline General Store

This boutique currently has no online shop whatsoever, so it’s a special in-person shopping experience. The owner curates homeware and tabletop, gardening tools, toys, stationery supplies, pet accessories, and limited adult and children’s apparel with an ethos of small-batch, made in Europe, lasting materials, and the highest quality—alongside gorgeous design. Your purchase supports traditional crafts and trades, and whatever you choose will be durable, timeless, and pleasurable to use.

Soeur

I have never bought anything from this brand, so I wanted to stop into a shop and check out the quality and materials before making a purchase. I love anywhere that has a permanent collection and resists the cycle of trends. The boutique I went into was a little busy and I was a little rushed, so I didn’t try anything on, but I felt the fabrics and observed the colors and cuts. I liked what I saw and will probably place an order soon!

Thierry Colson

I have only seen this beautiful brand online, so similar to Soeur, I wanted the opportunity to touch and see the quality of the clothing in person, and try some things on to see if they styles and colors suit me. Sadly, when I passed by the single Paris boutique, it was closed (probably for lunch). But what I saw through the windows looked gorgeous—I love the rich reds and blues in their fall/winter line.

Le Bon Marché

I was received by the iconic department store’s Christmas decorations already out in full force! This is the spot to go when you don’t have much time to shop, because it’s a one-stop shop for an endless array of treasures and discoveries, from global luxury brands like Céline and Dior to small French brands neither of us have ever heard of—and everything in between. There’s also something at every price point. I specifically went to buy my 2024 Smythson planner and it’s a good thing I had a train to catch, because I could have spent the rest of the afternoon in there. You could happily set aside a day on your vacation to browse here.

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Coffee at Hexagone near Gare Montparnasse after the train. One of the best oat milk cappuccinos of my life.
Lunches at Saint Pearl and Boulangerie Utopie—I have a bunch of saved spots on Google which I consult when I’m in the neighborhood to find a good place to eat. Saint Pearl is a tiny sit-down café in the 7th arrondissement and Utopie in the 11th is one of the best boulangeries in all of Paris.
Massage by Teresa Savoie at Quintessences wellbeing center in the 14th. Teresa is so lovely, caring, intuitive, and an experienced professional massage therapist. My reflexology massage was so amazing that I booked another for the day before we leave town when I’ll pass through Paris again. She speaks both English and French (and actually prefers English), and I highly recommend booking with her if you’re planning a vacation to Paris. She asked me to share with you that a 60-minute massage is €70 (normally €80) and a 90-minute is €85 (normally €95) if you pay in cash because she avoids the percentage taken by the booking software. As a freelancer myself, I respect that!
Resisted the urge to get another coffee (I’m drinking caffeine again, eye roll) at Dreamin Man or Café Kitsuné Palais Royal since I passed by both.

Have you been to any of these spots? Where have you been that I should go next time I’m in Paris? Let me know in the comments!

The Bell