Where can I find essentials in the Rue Cler area of Paris?

You can buy essentials at the Monoprix stores and in pharmacies.

My 'go-to' place is Mono-prix and I am still using toiletries I purchased there last summer. The closest one to you is on rue de Bac but you will see them all over Paris.

I was in Rue Cler back in July of 2010, when I noticed I ran out of dental floss. Every place I found it was ridiculously expensive. I think I would up spending 8 Euros back then. Don't forget to bring the FLOSS!

There are a couple of pharmacies on Rue Cler. You should be able to find something you need there. Will most likely be more expensive than Monoprix but closer.

orv's dental floss experience may be instructive. There are some items (not sure if floss is one of em?) that we Americans may assume are available in a regular store like Monoprix, but are only found at Pharmacies, due to industry protections in France. The Pharmacies are pretty uniformly excellent, in our experience, but pricey for seemingly simple things.

Same goes for OTC meds. I remember buying Ibuprofen in Italy and could buy a blister pack of 8 pills for many Euro. On the other hand prescription drugs are cheap. I paid 24 Euro for a doctor's visit in Paris (locals of course are covered for free) and 18 Euro for 3 prescriptions in follow up at the local pharmacy.

Little things we are used to like 12 kinds of dental floss are not as easy to find in Europe and can be weirdly expensive like the dental floss proved to be. So I always carry the OTC meds we are likely to want in an emergency (don't want to be hunting if I need them) and also large quantities of such basics as ibuprofen.

Toiletries including many we get in the US are readily available at the larger Monoprix stores The big stores have a grocery store section and a department store section and the toiletries section can be huge with lots of skin care products, make up etc as well as shampoos etc. I loved the basil scented shampoo we got at the monoprix one year -- we brought a bunch back home with us.

We were there last summer and we used the Monoprix alot....very convenient to the Rue Cler area....we walked there from our hotel. They are not a huge store but we found most of what we needed there!

Thanks for all the replies. I did some more research on the news about carry-on bags sizes being reduced and it looks like it is just a proposal that may never come to be. But still, it's good to know where to buy a 2L of soda or any essentials that I forget.

Thanks everyone.

xray,

Where are you staying in Rue Cler? Depending on what type of "essentials" you need, there are numerous small markets in the area. If you need a Pharmacy, there's one around the corner from Rue Cler at 198 Rue de Grenelle. As I recall, there are a couple of small supermarkets along Avenue de la Motte-Picquet on the way to the Ecole Militaire Metro station.

You won't have any trouble finding "essentials" there. Just ask the front desk staff for the closest store for the item you're looking for. Your biggest problem may be deciphering the labels to figure out exactly what you're buying.

There are also a couple of self-serve Laundromats in the area as well, if that's a concern.

Franprix is what you're looking for, it's at the intersection of Rue Cler and Rue de Grenelle, when you're standing at that intersection, look south (away from the river) and on the east side of the street you'll find it. Bought lots of "essentials" there during our visit last month.

Great suggestions above , so nothing I can add - EXCEPT - go light as you plan and after you have settled , get on your feet and walk around for several blocks . Everything is right in front of you , it's all there within a fingertip's reach . Part of going is exploring and most of what you seek requires only eyesight , not insight ! By the way , I'm returning to Paris , yet again , this Autumn ( I can't get enough of the place ) and from the first I felt completely comfortable there . I also stay in the Rue Cler area ( on the Rue Chevert near Les Invalides ) , being of a certain age , and love the serenity and convenience of the place , Do not fret and enjoy it !

There's also a Carrefour City right around the corner by the entrance to the Ecole Militaire metro.

But I've gotta say, my Monoprix has plenty of dental floss (??!).