The Best Souvenirs to Bring Home From France

19 unique and authentic souvenirs to buy in Paris, and the best place to find them!

Finding the best French souvenirs to bring back to family and friends on a trip to France is one of my favorite pastimes when traveling. There is something for everyone, and often the best souvenirs can be found at the grocery store, flea market, or even the book stands along the Seine.

And many of these souvenirs, you’ll want to bring home for yourself, too!

Souvenirs from the grocery store

Let’s start with finding souvenirs at the grocery store. And I’m not necessarily talking about high-end stores like La Grand Épicerie De Paris. We go at least once on every trip to Paris. The store is really something, and you would find it hard not to find something to bring home to everyone on your list. 

You’ll find all kinds of French souvenirs at regular grocery stores, as well as Monoprix stores that are located all over France.

French Butter

We have always brought back French butter as gifts and to stock up on to use at home. The butter section in French grocery stores is similar to the cheese department, offering a wide variety of options, some with unique flavors.

La Grand Épicerie will vacuum-seal it, making it a nice gift to bring home. But, if you decide to purchase your butter at Monoprix or a Carrefour Market, you’ll be fine packing it in your luggage.

Mustard, Jam, Chocolate, Fleur de Sel, and Herbes de Provence

For those on your list who love food, you cannot go wrong with a jar of Dijon mustard. They offer a wide variety of brands that you’ll recognize, as well as some you may not. Some come in crocks that you will definitely save. 

High-quality chocolate bars are always a good idea! When we return home, one of our favorite things to do is to make the popular French after-school snack called le goutêr. It’s simply a piece of a baquette sliced lengthwise, smeared with salted butter, and topped with a few squares of chocolate. 

Speaking of chocolate, bringing back French hot chocolate like Angelina’s is a fun souvenir in the winter. 

A jar of jam or honey made in France is always a nice idea. Bonne Maman is the most popular, but it is readily available at most grocery stores in the United States. If I do choose Bonne Maman, I look for Quince jam since I’ve never been able to find that at home. 

French Candies & Other Sweet Treats

When we travel near holidays like Christmas or Easter, I love checking out the different types of candies and cookies wrapped up in holiday bags, boxes, and paper. 

The spice section at the French grocery store is the perfect place to pick up a small, inexpensive souvenir that is also useful. I love to pick up bottles of Herbes de Provence. The scent is wonderful. 

Milk Chocolate Bars

We always bring back several chocolate bars. Sometimes our favorites are not even expensive. This is a great gift or souvenir for kids. You could show them how to make a traditional French afterschool snack, called Le Goutêr. 

Eau de Seine from Messy Nessy’s Cabinet

A most unique souvenir from Paris is perhaps a lovely little bottle of water from the Seine. Messy Nessy is the cutest little shop on one of my favorite streets in Paris. In this adorable shop, you’ll find many lovely things, but what I found most intriguing was the Eau de Seine. Yes, an actual bottle of water from the Seine River! 

You’ll also find her collection of books and some vintage items, too. This lovely street is just across the river from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. (More on this street in an upcoming post).

Duralex Glassware

Duralex,  has been manufacturing tempered glassware and tabletop products for over 70 years in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin.

There’s a relatively new shop that’s part cafe, and part shop in the Bastille district of the 11th arrondissement. 

They have a gorgeous selection of Picardie glasses in every color. They sell them individually or in boxes that are easy to bring home if you have the space. They are very durable, so you don’t have to worry about breaking them!

If you don’t have a chance to make it to the Duralex Cafe,you can findd Duralex products at department stores like Galeries Lafayette, Monoprix, or even regular local grocery stores like E. Leclerc and Carrefour.

Café de Flore

Café de Flore is one of our favorite spots to enjoy a drink and a snack. Enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Upstairs, you’ll find a glass case filled with little porcelain dishes, ashtrays, cups, and small plates, as well as pitchers featuring the Café de Flore logo, making them the perfect little souvenirs. 

And if you ask nicely, the host may even give you a few Café de Flore matchbooks. You can read more about café de Flore in this post.

Merci Tote Bag & more

One of our favorite shops in Paris is Merci in the Marais. They also have a new location in the  1st arrondissement (known as the historic heart of Paris) on Rue de Richelieu. Both shops have a colorful display of the popular Merci Tote Bags. The totes make a fantastic present, and they’re easy to bring along since they fold flat. 

Merci wraps them up in the cutest bags that you’ll want to keep. However, you could ask them to give you the bag flat, and then package it up after you get home to save space in your luggage. 

They also have cute plates, kitchen towels, and small charms on ribbons that make lovely souvenirs.

Read more about Merci in this post and also this post on the new Merci location.

Souvenir Porcelain Plates & Cups from Marin Montagut

Marin Montagu is a lovely shop with so many things that would make the perfect souvenir. A porcelain plate, a

Shop the Bouquinistes of Paris

Little boutiques along the Seine -Booksellers of used and antiquarian books, as well as rare vintage postcards. Located on the banks of the Seine: on the right bank from the Pont Marie to the Quai du Louvre, and on the left bank from the Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire.

You’ll find postcards, posters, magnets, and tote bags featuring the Mona Lisa, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, the Eiffel Tower, and more. Remember in the first season of Emily in Paris when she wore a tote with Mona Lisa on it? 

The French Pharmacy

You can read more about my favorites from City Pharmacy here. One thing is certain: most would love a product from Caudalíe, and the French pharmacy has everything you need at great prices. I always stock up on Caudalíe purse-size hand creams and Bioderma lip balms.

Shop the Flea Markets for Small Souvenirs

Everyone’syone’s taste is individual when it comes to finding treasures at a flea market, there are a few lovely items that are a pretty safe bet. The Paris flea markets are a treasure trove of delightful things. 

For example, we always look for small oval plates or mini platters at Paris flea markets. There’s never a shortage, and you can usually find some that are very traditional in design, as well as some that are a bit more modern. You could give just the small plate as a gift, or pair it with some French cookies.  

There are so many uses for a little dish or plate like this, and you can usually find them for around 10 or 12 euros. I always look for plates with a maker’s mark on the bottom.

An Original French Work Jacket

Vetra is the authentic French workwear brand that has been owned by the same family since 1927 and made in their factory in France. We visited their shop in the Marais. AL’O is the French Workwear Concept Store.

Sabre Flatware

While you may not want to come home with a full set of Sabre flatware, you could pick up a cake server, dessert forks, coffee spoons, or just a spreader from Sabre, the flatware brand made in France. Sabre has three stores in the heart of Paris. Sabre Marais, Sabre Odéon, and Sabre Madeleine. Also available at Merci!

Repetto Ballet Flats

There’s nothing more French than a pair of Repetto Ballet Flats. Repetto has stores throughout France and can be found at department stores like Le Bon Marché and Galeries Lafayette.

Wrap up your souvenirs with French-inspired ribbon!

When you return home, wrap up your treasures for gifts using French-inspired grosgrain ribbon. Available in 3/8″ x 50 yards or 5/8″ x 50 yards