Shopping in Paris: The Saint-Germain homeware and design shops worth visiting
Skip the usual souvenirs and browse hand-blown glass, porcelain, textiles, antiques and decorative objects across this historic Left Bank neighbourhood.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés on Paris’ Left Bank is renowned for its association with intellectual life, hosting figures like Jean-Paul Sartre and Pablo Picasso. While today the area is often associated with cafes and Instagram-worthy moments, it also offers a lesser-known side – a haven for homeware and design shops. This neighborhood boasts small-scale homeware and decorative object shops, offering ceramics, glassware, candles, linens, and handmade accessories. Many of these items are compact, making them ideal for travel.
The area's interior design significance stems from its deep-rooted connection to the decorative arts. The Ecole des Beaux-Arts drew numerous artists and architects, and antique dealers established galleries along streets like Rue de Lille and Rue de l'Université. Over time, the area evolved into a design destination, attracting textile houses, galleries, and workshops.
Notable shops include La Soufflerie, which offers hand-blown glassware crafted using recycled materials and featuring subtle bubbles and variations. Astier de Villatte specializes in white ceramics with irregular forms and milky white glazes, while Marin Montagut's Rue Madame boutique showcases whimsical ceramics with Parisian inspirations. Alix D Reynis' Saint-Germain boutique combines jewellery with porcelain tableware, reflecting her love for antiquity.
ASSOULINE, founded by Prosper and Martine Assouline, is a publishing house that has transformed into a carefully curated library of lavishly illustrated books on fashion, design, travel, and culture. Rue Bonaparte's boutique features large-format books displayed alongside decorative objects, with the books often serving a second life on coffee tables and consoles.
Papiers de Paris focuses on panoramic wallpapers inspired by historical decorative arts, reinterpreting botanical landscapes, chinoiserie scenes, and architectural compositions. The studio's Rue Bonaparte location offers visitors a chance to explore these grand-scale designs.
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