gifts in Paris

Overall, prices are pretty steep in Paris so be prepared! If you want lots of inexpensive gifts, recommend the small miniature Eiffel Tower keyrings which are everywhere - especially in tourist-related shops. I was able to get 30 of them for 10 Euro last summer. I gave them to my coworkers. Some of them took off the ring and now use them as Christmas tree decorations. For other inexpensive gifts, try finding a Pylones store. They have nice Paris-themed gifts. I picked up a small plastic tray with the Paris metro map on it - good for a dresser/bureau top and also an Eiffel tower-shaped cheese grater. I also collect fridge magnets and got a very well-made, laser etched Eiffel tower magnet there, too. All of these were easily packed and light. As for Department stores, the only one I found to have decent prices was Bazaar Hotel DeVille. Go up into their housewares section and you may be able to pick up a few unique kitchen or household gifts. I also bought a handbag there which was pricey, but not as bad as at other stores, and it was a Paris unique brand. As for your Dutch friends, how about a box of Laduree macarons (and if one of friends is female, maybe they would like one of the vinyl Ladueree tote bags?)

How about chef aprons ( E 12, I think, on racks outside gift stores) with Toulouse Lautrec designs, long cotton scarves from street markets/fairs (about E3); my friends loved them. As do I! Anything from Paris will be loved, I bet.

I want the Eiffel Tower cheese grater myself,, haven't gotten one yet , but I think that's a neat gift!
Nice tea towels( they have some nice quality linens and such in Paris) scarfs, and I always bring back some food/chocolate/mustards etc. My friends like the tinned pates etc, but your friends may not.

Kitchen items are fun (small spoons, decorative tins with tea or cookies, aprons, linens), as well as small toys or books in French if you're shopping for kids. Try the BHV department store, outdoor markets (google Marjorie Williams for her helpful web site), and a kitchen shop with multiple locations called La Vaissellerie. Then find David Lebovitz and his post on "10 Things To Bring Back...". For the hostess gift perhaps something both edible and unique to Paris. Depending on how you're traveling, you could get a jar of hazelnut praline spread from John-Charles Rochoux and a well-wrapped loaf of the famous Poilâne bread. Yum.

The Tour d'Argent restaurant has a gift shop on street level across from the restaurant and it has really nice, quality things. Prices aren't bad. I often buy dishtowels, they come in a set of three but I separate them out to give one per person and the gift shop staff kindly gift wraps each one. I also like looking at the different bouquinistes (booksellers along the Seine, closest to Notre Dame), some of them have fun stuff to give as gifts. Ile St. Louis has many fun, little shops with lots of good gift items at reasonable prices.

Children and teens, female versions, have loved the berets in the souvenir stands. I've brought them back in pink, purple, etc.

I've been told that there are bottle openers with Napoleon stamped on them, but I have yet to encounter one. Maybe this summer!

I always get people gifts that they can consume and can't get where they live. Paris is good for macarons, as stated above, or choclate. Also, there is a great tea shop called Mariage Freres if your recipients like tea, Who needs more knickknacks anyway? Barring that, I'd get a scarf or perfume for a woman from Paris.

For your hosts in the Netherlands: chocolates will probably go down well.

When I'm in Paris, I do my Christmas shopping at the Les Puces flea market where I find very unique, and reasonably priced, gifts. A couple of years ago, I came across one stand that was selling a basket full of glass wine bottle stoppers, and bought about a dozen for roughly $10. My friends were delighted when I told them where they came from and gave them the description of the market and my adventure going there. Les Puces is easy enough to get to, and away from the touristy stalls where everything is overpriced. I enjoy getting to mingle with the "real" Parisians; the multiculturalism is wonderful. I'm returning to Paris this summer too, and you can be sure I'll spend part of one day at the flea market! If you're not up to flea marketing, go to one of the major department stores. Their housewares departments carry all sorts of items, again at better prices and with better quality than what you find at the tourist stands and nobody will ever know that you didn't buy it on the street. I bought a beautiful multi-grained rolling pin on my last trip. It's hanging on a rack in my kitchen, but is often put to good use.

Brenda, which marche aux puces (flea market) do you go to?