This was worth the visit for some quirky and amazing folk art. There is an exhibit in a dark room…read morethat had so many fabulous pieces of art, that I thought we had seen the whole museum. But wait! Up some windy stairs is a sunlit room with about the same amount of art. Some things were creepy, some were a level of obsessive detail that required long minutes of marveling, and some were inspiring. 2 hours is a sufficient visit, and you will want to reserve time to peruse the bookstore and get a snack, lunch, or beverage at the café. The museum is in the garment district, and the art may inspire you to pick up some fabric to make a collage.

A stunning cyclorama with two feature exhibits, a bright and airy bookstore, and a crazy busy cafe…read morefor an accessible 9€. We popped in for the Jeunet/Caro exhibit, because when in Paris, you Amélie. The design of the exhibit space is in a wagon wheel, with fixtures from the duos filmography segmented by "pie piece." An intriguing blend of movie props, original script notes, stills and videography paint a brilliant behind-the-scenes for The City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, MicMacs, Alien: Resurrection and more. A floor up, sunlight floods a year-long showcase residency called Turbulence in the Balkans, featuring Eastern European works but unfortunately, no brass bands. Sad dance party loss. Anyhoodle, the space open, well-designed and easy to get through in an hour or so. If the exhibits catch your fancy, pop in for an afternoon delight.

Really nice bookstore with lots of books on different topics, plus second-hand ones at great…read moreprices. No photos allowed inside, but upstairs there's a cozy reading area. You can also get a stamp with their logo at the checkout, which is a cool detail.

This family-owned bookstore has been around through generations. It's cute inside and packed from…read morefloor to ceiling with books. I'm docking a star since this place has gotten so incredibly popular. On the day that I visited, there was a giant line just to get inside. It does move quickly, but it was pretty crazy inside to navigate with so many people. I spent most of my time with my kids, reading them books. They had a nice selection in the back and a place to sit down. I didn't really get much of a chance to explore the full space. They ended up closing early the day I visited, and they start by closing the top floor first. So I mainly explored the ground level. I'd love to come back. But would prefer to find a day or time that wasn't so hectic. My partner bought a book and the line stretched through the entire store.

Le Bon Marché feels less like a conventional department store than a monument to the distinctly…read moreParisian art of choosing well. The iron-and-glass atrium is beautiful, the scale feels wonderfully manageable, and the selection of fashion, design, and home brands carries a point of view that could only come from Paris. Harrods occasionally comes to mind as a comparison, although the resemblance ends quickly: Le Bon Marché is quieter, smaller, and far more Left Bank in its sensibility. Upstairs and throughout the store, browsing is genuinely fun, and I still remember visiting when there was a Williamsburg, Brooklyn-themed activation that offered an unexpectedly charming French interpretation of the neighborhood and its culture. La Grande Épicerie, however, may be the masterpiece: an astonishing food hall where the presentation, abundance, and sheer discernment make grocery shopping feel almost museum-worthy. At a moment when e-commerce has hollowed out so many great department stores, Le Bon Marché feels increasingly special, proof that physical retail can still justify the trip simply through taste, atmosphere, and discovery. It is absolutely worth visiting while wandering Saint-Germain and the 7th. Très bien!

The most thoughtful and beautiful curated department store. It's truly a slice of heaven on earth…read more The experience at Le Bon Marché will be hard to top. I fell in love at every turn from the moment we stepped through the door. I picked up gifts for myself, my nephew, and a friend at work. There's an officine universelle buly inside which is so convenient if you're not up for the long queues. So many exceptional offerings here. It was the most pleasant and calm shopping experience I've had in a very long time. If you're looking for the most top notch shopping look no further, you'll find the most special items here.