Directory & Links:

Au Bon Marché Rive Gauche
22, rue de Sèvres - 75007 Paris. Phone: 01-44-39-80-00 ; Fax : 01-44-39-80-50 .
Open Mon.-Sat., 9:30am-7pm.
Parking: square de Boucicault (across from store).

In the heart of the Left Bank, founded in 1852, Au Bon Marché combines old-world tradition and modernity in a very Parisian top-of-the-line store. Man, woman and child are equally well-served: clothing, linens, housewares, sporting goods, a large grocery store, antique dealers, restaurants... covering 32,000 square meters (344,320 sq. feet) on 5 levels.

Sèvres-Babylone

Au Printemps
64, boulevard Haussmann - 75009 Paris. Phone: 01-42-82-50-00.
Open Mon.-Sat., 9:35-7pm, Thurs. until 10pm.
Parking: Au Printemps lot (entrance: rue de Provence).
Other locations in Paris: Italie, 30 avenue d'Italie, 13e, phone 01-40-78-17-17 ; and Nation, 21 cours Vincennes, 20e, phone 01-43-71-12-41.

Situated between the Opéra and the Gare St-Lazare, this most Parisian of department stores has -- besides the traditional offerings of fashion, home decor, domestic arts -- an extraordinary cosmetics department with a fabulous selection of perfumes and beauty products, and advisors who will guide you in your quest. For the utmost in convenience, a number of other services are at your disposal: hair salon, children's nursery, post office, travel agency, and several restaurants -- Ladurée, Brasserie Flo, La Terrasse, Le Café Littéraire (in the book department), etc. Free fashion shows are held under the 1920s glass dome on Tuesdays (all year) and Fridays (Mar.-Oct.) at 10am on the 7th floor.

Havre-Caumartin, Opéra; RER: Auber

Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV)
52/64, rue de Rivoli - 75004 Paris. Phone: 01-42-74-90-00 ; Fax : 01-42-74-96-79.
Open Mon.-Sat., 9:30am-7pm , Wed. until 10pm.
Parking: Lobau.
Other location in Paris: 119-127, rue de Flandres, 19e.

In the heart of historical Paris, the BHV boasts 8 levels of merchandise, including fashion (minimal), home decor, household linens, furniture, electric household appliances... and its most dazzling highlight: a hardware department with 365 vendors and a good hundred salesmen.

Hôtel-de-Ville

C & A
49, boulevard Haussmann - 75009 Paris. Phone: 01-53-30-89-33.

First opened in 1861 by Clemens and August (C&A) Brenninkmeijer with a warehouse in Holland, this was one of the first retailers to make good ready-to-wear clothes available to ordinary people at an affordable price. Other family members founded C&A companies in Germany, England, and Belgium during the following century. In 1972, C&A opened in France; since that time, more locations have been built in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark. Their formula is to offer the best quality fashion clothing at the most competitive prices, across a wide range of merchandise -- high fashion items or just basics -- to meet the many different needs and tastes of customers.

Havre-Caumartin

FNAC - Montparnasse
136, rue de Rennes - 75006 Paris. Phone: 01-49-54-30-00.
Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-7:30pm.
Other location in Paris: 71, Boulevard Saint-Germain - 75005 Paris. Phone: 01-44-41-31-50.
Open: Mon.-Sat., 10am-8pm.

With dozens of locations throughout France, FNAC offers an excellent selection of music CDs, video tapes & DVDs, CD-ROMs, and books. Visitors should be prepared for sticker shock, but if you must find some French music to bring back home, this is one of the best places to shop.

(6e) - Rennes ; (5e) - Odéon

Franck & Fils
80, rue de Passy - 75016 Paris. Phone : 01-44-14-38-00 .

La Muette

Galeries Lafayette
40, boulevard Haussmann - 75009 Paris. Phone: 01-42-82-34-56.
Open Mon.-Sat., 9:30am-6:45pm, Thurs. until 9pm.
Parking: Galeries Lafayette (entrance on Bvd Haussmann ).
Other location in Paris: Montparnasse, 22, rue du Départ, 15, phone 01-45-38-52-87.

In the heart of the Opera district, this department store is the city's veritable fashion capital, carrying nearly 80,000 different labels within its 6 floors and 3 stores, as well as the most prestigious brands of cosmetics, accessories and culinary arts. Under its neo-Byzantine cupola resides the world's largest perfumery. In the fashion department, all the famous designers and dressmakers have set up shop; free fashion shows are held every Wednesday at 11am (call 01-48-74-02-30 for reservations). As for the new Toys & Games department, your little ones will be elated at the huge selection! A multitude of ancillary services will cater to anyone's needs (travel agency, beauty parlour, hair salon, restaurants, bridal & birth registries, florist, gift ideas, etc.).

Galeries Lafayette also boasts a number of international locations -- extending even to Moscow and Bejing! On their classy web site, you can take a "designer's tour" of Paris, enhanced by an assortment of unique sound clips.

Chaussée-d'Antin, Opéra, Havre-Caumartin

Marks & Spencer
35, boulevard Haussmann - 75009 Paris. Phone: 01-47-42-42-91.
Open Mon.-Sat., 9:30am-7pm, Tuesdays 10am-7pm, Thursdays until 8pm.
Parking: Monoprix, Bld Haussmann or Printemps (across from the store) .
Other location in Paris: 88, rue de Rivoli, 4e, phone: 01-44-61-08-00, métro: Hôtel-de-Ville.

At this Parisian subsidiary of the English chain, situated in the heart of Paris, you'll find a great selection of quality products, moderately priced basics (underwear, socks, sleep- and sportswear), and a food department with particularly appetizing British specialities (scones, jams, cakes...), as well as a significant menu of sandwiches and dishes for a quick take-out meal. (Consult their directory for 16 more locations throughout France.)

Havre-Caumartin , Opéra ; RER: Auber

Monoprix-Prisunic, Uniprix
Phone : 01-40-75-11-02.

This is where average Parisians go to purchase their everyday casual clothes, makeup, toothpaste, groceries, toys, and paper -- inexpensive, a little of everything. Great for accessories and housewares as well; children's clothes are of surprisingly good quality. There are about 30 stores in the city, so you'll probably spot one from wherever you stand. However, you can always call the above number to find the nearest location. History: Patterned after the American Woolworth's stores of the late 19th century (1879), where products were sold at a fixed price (prix unique ), the concept was developed in France by the Nouvelles Galeries under the name of Uniprix in 1929, soon thereafter by le Printemps as Prisunic in 1931, and finally as Monoprix by the Galeries Lafayette in 1932.

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Samaritaine (La)
19, rue de la Monnaie - 75001 Paris. Phone : 01-40-41-20-20 ; Fax : 01-40-41-28-28.
Open Mon.-Sat., 9:30am-7pm, Thursdays until 10pm.
Parking: St Germain l'Auxerrois .

Less expensive than Galeries Lafayette or Au Printemps, one can find anything at La Samaritaine, located between the Louvre and Pont Neuf. But the greatest specialty of this department store has to be the Maison Déco (7000 sq. meters), with the most unique bedding department in Paris, and a grand selection of astute and tasteful furniture. Look for the signs to the panorama , a free observation point with a wonderful view of Paris.

Louvre, Châtelet, Pont Neuf; RER: Châtelet-Les Halles

Tati
4, boulevard Rochechouart - 75018 Paris. Phone : 01-42-55-13-09.
Branch locations in Paris: 140, rue de Rennes (6e) and 13, place de la République (3e).

This madhouse of a store is very much a local legend, originally created in 1949 by Jules Ouaki to cater to budget-conscious shoppers in this neighborhood heavily populated by immigrants. Be prepared for a near brawl over the huge bins of merchandise here, but odds are good you'll come across a strikingly inexpensive treasure that shouts Paris once you get it home. Now directed by Fabien Ouaki, the company also maintains 9 stores in the provinces, as well as several in the French colonies and internationally.

Anvers