The following content may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, we receive a commission.
Early this morning after a cup of coffee we hopped in a taxi and headed across the Seine to Saint-Germain for croissants and holiday gift shopping for friends and family at home. We grabbed a baguette and croissants at Pouline, a well-known boulangerie in the 6th. Today was the first day that the Saint-Germain Christmas market was open and we were excited to explore the holiday treats. I love this time of year because the Christmas markets are in full swing. There are quite a few sprawled across Paris but the one in Saint-Germain was full of artisan crafts, local goods, and sweet treats.
Just off the market, we stumbled upon an Assouline bookshop. I have always loved Assouline books so it was fun to explore the full collection. Their books would make a great gift for anyone on your list who enjoys a little travel wanderlust.
Just up the road is Officine Universelle Buly 1803. This perfumery has been on my list for years so I was excited to finally get to explore this gem. Buly has a few locations around Paris, however, this is the original storefront that dates back to the 1800s. The charming tile floors, hand-painted ceilings and walls of scents, perfumes, and soaps transport you back in time. I picked up a few gifts for girlfriends back home – their gift wrapping is exquisite and each package is topped off with a custom calligraphy tag.
Across the street you will find one of the most beautiful doors in Paris – the serpent door knocker stole my heart.
All shopped out and ready for lunch we walked back to the Boulevard St-Germain. There are quite a few iconic restaurants in this area including Cafe de Flore and Le Deaux Magots – these spots draw quite the crowd of both locals and tourist alike. However the lines for a table can be rather long – we opted for Le Bonaparte which was recommended to us by family friends and it was just what we needed. Its a classic french brasserie with a fabulous croque monsieur.
p.s. When you are in Paris make sure to ask for a noisette if you need a quick pick me up – its a shot of espresso and a splash of milk – it is just right.
I am glad I was able to grab a few things that were on my Christmas list but there are still a few more spots I want to hit in St-Germain so I hope to head back over one more time during our trip. I’ll most certainly share more!
We ended our evening with a fabulous dinner at Café Lapérouse Concorde. This charming spot at Hotel De La Marine is a dream. From the blue pinstripe ceiling to rattan dining chairs its interiors are Mary&Crew approved. The smash burger and fries are a must on the menu and don’t forget to order dessert.
