Review: Le Bon Marché

Let’s start with scale. Where are we between global flagship and neighborhood boutique?
Founded in the 1850s, Le Bon Marché is the oldest department store in Paris. The elegant Left Bank store is as celebrated for its selection of top designers as it is for its beautiful design and layout: The escalators and bright, airy atriums are particularly iconic.

Excellent! What can we find here, or what should we look for?
The selection of women's designer merchandise is perhaps the primary draw for Le Bon Marché's posh clientele. But the home goods, children's section, beauty floor, and menswear are all equally enticing. And you mustn't forget to swing in to La Grande Épicerie, a 31,000-square-foot food hall housed in an adjoining building.

If money’s no object, what goes in the cart?
Head straight for the purse section on the ground floor to find the latest styles from Europe's most celebrated luxury designers. In the shoe salon upstairs, grab a matching pair of pumps to complete your new look.

And … what if we’re on a strict budget?
After pausing for a delicious breakfast at the Rose Bakery, paper nerds will want to head over to the robust books and stationery section, all gorgeously merchandised under the skylights.

Who else shops here?
The clientele comprises mostly Parisians on any given day, though you'll certainly find a crowd of international tourists in the sleek tax-refund lounge on the third floor. If it's luxe, you can probably buy it here (there's even a pet department, for outfitting your posh pooch).

Any secret tips, or “don’t go home without” purchases?
Even if you don't have children, the kids' section is utterly charming. And La Grande Épicerie is a must for picking up treats to take home (or eating on the spot). If you've shopped more than you meant to, check out the luggage section for excellent bag options and smaller travel accessories.