VIBE

This may be the grande dame of Parisian department stores (it’s the oldest in the city and dates from the 1850s), but don’t expect a musty, dated emporium–a recent rethink of offerings has brought in fashion-forward labels (like See by Chloé and Comme des Garçons) as well as cool boutiquey displays. That said, classic elements like the elegant glass-and-steel architecture (designed by Gustav Eiffel, no less!) and the incredibly well-stocked food hall, La Grande Épicerie, remain the highlights.

USE A PURCHASE FROM HERE FOR

Stocking up for a fancy picnic; designer wardrobe picks

WHY WE LIKE IT

The history of the store alone makes it a must-hit, and we have a soft spot for the frothy little numbers in the lingerie department, too…but it’s the food hall that we truly adore. You can source everything from rare coffee beans to exclusive olive oils to exquisite artisan yogurts here. Yum!

GOOD TO KNOW

If you just can’t get enough of Le Bon Marché, you can read a fictionalized account of its founding in Emile Zola’s classic novel Au Bonheur des Dames (The Ladies’ Paradise).

CLOSEST COMPS

Printemps (Paris); Fortnum & Mason (London); Harrods Food Hall (London); Saks Fifth Avenue (New York)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to Paris