20 Ideas for an Unforgettable Visit to St-Germain Des Prés

A chic and stylish district nestled in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is both a cultural hub and a haven for epicureans and fashionistas. Its streets are brimming with bookstores, art galleries, restaurants, pastry shops, and designer boutiques.

Here are the must-see locations in the neighborhood:

Ralph Lauren

173 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris

 

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Ralph Lauren’s flagship store displays the treasure throve of its collections in the luxurious setting of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Die-hard fans will be delighted to find their famous short-sleeve polo shirts, while less enamored visitors appreciate the lavish premises.

There is also a restaurant with a terrace, aptly named Ralph’s, with an American-coded menu featuring fried olives and caramelized popcorn for aperitifs and coffee.

Highlights : 

  • The splendor of the place
  • The Ralph Burger served in the restaurant.

Website

 

Officine Universelle Buly 1803

6 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris

Entering this store, arranged like an old-fashioned apothecary, is like stepping back in time.

On the shelves, dozens of glass bottles and jars display various precious substances, from oils and soaps to cosmetics, for your benefit.

There are also the unmissable scented candles, as beautiful as they are expensive.

Highlights: 

  • The interior design, reminiscent of the 19th century
  • The store offers to engrave your name on a comb free of charge

Website

 

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche

24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, Paris, Photo Credits: Cheng-en Cheng from Taichung City, Taiwan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

While this vast  mall stands on the outskirts of Saint-Germain, it would be almost criminal not to point it out to fashionistas passing through the area.

The galleries of this high fashion haven are full of luxurious designer stores, only outshined by the singular architecture of the building’s spiraling staircases, its large glass roof, and the modern artworks dotting its walls.

Heads up for art lovers: this shopping center also hosts exhibitions.

Highlights : 

  • The spacious building
  • The grocery shop offers an exceptional selection of rare products you won’t find anywhere else.

Website  (in French).

 

Lupicia

40 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris

 

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Sole Parisian store of the Japanese tea house Lupicia, this understated and elegant boutique is both a shop and a tea room.

You are welcome to savor the subtle blend of their infusions while partaking in the best Japanese pastries or enrich your collection by picking among the various flavors.

Highlights : 

  • The wide scope of tea offered
  • The pastries, courtesy of Emiko Sanô’s bakery: “Les 3 chocolats”(in French).

Website

 

Noom Tea – Bubble Tea Paris

78 Rue Mazarine, 75006 Paris

 

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If you want to relax and favor cold teas over hot ones, look no further.

With its delicious homemade bubble teas, Noom Tea is the perfect place to cool down.

And lucky you, the tapioca balls are actually soft.

Your tea can come in various flavors: milky, fruity, or iced; there really is something for everyone!

Heads up: the Matcha Brown Sugar and the Tropical Special (a blend of green tea, mango, passion pearls, and raisins) are crowd-pleasers.

Highlights : 

  •  A wide choice of drinks and original recipes
  • You can customize your drink (sugar level, amount of ice cubes, size, with cow’s milk or plant milk, etc.)

Website (In French)

 

Taiyaki Oden

58 Rue Mazarine, 75006 Paris

 

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Come discover a quirky and delicious staple of Japanese cuisine in this little tea room.

The taiyaki is a fish-shaped cake(usually a carp) filled with sweetened red bean paste, which can be eaten like a waffle.

They come in two versions: cold and sweet or hot and salty. Your choice!

 Website (In French)

 

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church

3 Pl. Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church's Nave
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church’s Nave

The straightforward lines of this Church, typical of Romanesque architecture, are deceptively simple. Inside, a riot of colors awaits.

Restored in 2019, the frescoes and murals of its nave nef have regained their original shine.

From the moment the Church’s doors close behind you, the yellow stars sprinkling the midnight blue vault and the carmine walls vie for your attention.

Highlights: 

  • The shimmering colors of the nave
  • Regular concerts, thanks to the excellent acoustics
  • Free guided tours

Website (In French)

 

Ladurée

21 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris

If you have a sweet tooth and happen to wander near Saint-Germain-des-Prés Church, keep an eye out for the well-stocked windows of this tempting boutique.

Ladurée’s famous macarons are always a treat, whether savored at home or in the small tea room upstairs,

Highlights :

  • Her Majesty, a blue macaron with two crunchy shells filled with a melting cream infused with a tea brand dubbed “Marie-Antoinette.”

Website

 

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse

26 Rue Saint-Benoît, 75006 Paris

Cocoa lovers, welcome to paradise!

Made of pure dark chocolate, praline, milk, hazelnut, mint, or orange-flavored, all the possibilities our favorite guilty pleasure offer are available here.

Highlights:

  • The raw taste and perfume of rustic chocolate

Website

 

Roger-Viollet

6 Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris

 

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If you’re passing through Saint-Germain, missing this open photo gallery would be a shame.

It’s an unusual place, full of carefully annotated archive boxes, where free exhibitions of black and white photographs are held, with regularly changing themes.

Highlights:

  • Prints of the pictures displayed are on offer. 

 Website (French)

 

Loft du 34

34 Rue du Dragon, 75006 Paris

 

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The aptly named Loft 34 stands out amidst the abundant artistic venues of Saint-Germain.

Instead of the usual white cube, the exhibits housed here are displayed in a loft-like apartment dominated by an open kitchen in the American style.

The kind of artwork showcased here adds to the distinctiveness of the place: far from classic pieces often found in urban galleries, this gallery dedicates its space to the best work of street art luminaries.

Highlights:

  • The optical illusion created by Astro’s murals
  • The wild cats, painted by Marko 93

Website (French)

 

La Hune YellowKorner

16 Rue de l’Abbaye, 75006 Paris

 

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If you’re a photography enthusiast, the Hune YellowKorner was made for you.

On the ground floor, visitors of the Hune can find a bookshop with prints from the YellowKorner publishing house, as well as art and design books.

The gallery is upstairs and displays monographs of the best photographers in the business.

 Highlights:

  • A beautiful exhibition space.

Website (French)

 

Librairie – Galerie Traits d’esprits

35 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris

No, you’re not dreaming. That’s Captain Haddock you’ve just bumped into. And yes, those pirates lurking in a corner came straight out of One Piece.

As you’ll have gathered, this is a store dedicated to comics and manga of all kinds. Its amazing collection and splendid decor are well worth a look.

 Highlights:

  • Life-size figures of comic strip characters.

Website

 

Le Musée Eugène Delacroix

6 Rue de Furstemberg, 75006 Paris

 

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Nestled in the charming Place de Fürstenberg, away from the luxury boutiques and the hustle and bustle of the district’s cafés and restaurants, the Eugène Delacroix Museum is an intimate venue offering a glimpse into the work of the Romantic painter.

Ideal for a quick visit (30 minutes to 1 hour), the workshop cleverly displays a limited number of his works, mainly drawings and busts. This collection illustrates the last phase of the painter’s work, in the twilight of his life.

People can relax in a small interior garden at the end of their visit.

Remember that despite the museum lift, disabled visitors may have difficulties navigating the premises because of the various stairs.

 Highlights:

  • The small indoor garden

Website

 

Café des Deux Magots

6 Pl. Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006 Paris

 

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Need to relax? The casual atmosphere of this chic literary café is perfect for enjoying a well-deserved break.

Regular meeting spot of literary luminaries such as Rimbaud or Verlaine, the Deux Magots hasn’t forgotten its glorious past. Each year, one Monday a month, a writer is invited to talk about his work.

It’s the perfect time to visit the place.

Even better, last Monday of September, the café promotes the work of promising young writers by awarding a prize for a deserving novel or essay. A tradition it has followed since 1993.

It can be an excellent way to discover hidden gems.

 Highlights:

  • The creamy hot cocoa

Website

 

Chez Papa Jazz Club

3 Rue Saint-Benoît, 75006 Paris

 

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There’s no mystery here. You know what you’re dealing with. A typical jazz club where you can eat to the rhythm of the brass or the piano.

The program varies from saxophone, violin, and bass to piano, often accompanied by a jazz singer.

Perfect for a relaxing evening with friends or a date night.

 Highlights:

  • The warm atmosphere

Website (French).

 

Aux Prés

27 Rue du Dragon, 75006 Paris

 

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This chic brasserie, run by chef Cyril Lignac, cultivates a deliberately retro atmosphere with its leather banquettes and smoked mirrors, but its cuisine is resolutely modern and, above all, tasty.

The slow-cooked chuck is sure to please even the fussiest Epicureans. And for those with a sweet tooth, the mille-feuille and its vanilla cream will work wonders.

 Highlights:

  • The casual atmosphere of the setting.
  • The Asian flavored menu.

Website

 

Eggs&Co.

11 Rue Bernard Palissy, 75006 Paris

 

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This is a singular restaurant where you can find hearty, tasty food centered around eggs.

Poached, fried, in an omelet, or boiled, there’s something for everyone.

Ideal for a Sunday brunch.

 Highlights:

  • The much-loved eggs Benedict.
  • The pancakes for dessert.

Website (French)

 

Ippudo Saint-Germain

14 Rue Grégoire de Tours, 75006 Paris

 

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There are other Japanese specialties in the district, including ramen – a popular dish in the land of the rising sun.

Take a seat in this typical restaurant in the alleys of Tokyo and let yourself be lulled by the aroma of the broths. You won’t regret it.

Good to know: A victim of its own success, the establishment is often overcrowded.

Highlights:

  • The counter faces the open kitchen.
  • The affordable rates
  • The buns, especially the vegetarian ones, are crowd-pleasers

Website (French)

 

Blueberry Maki Bar

6 Rue du Sabot, 75006 Paris

 

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With a counter sitting right against an open kitchen and hanging paper lanterns, Blueberry’s décor looks like something straight out of a Hollywood film shot in Japan.

But the best is yet to come. The sushi and maki served here have explosive flavors

and the cocktails are no less volcanic: a guaranteed treat!

Highlights:

  • A creative decor

Website