I spent a humongous amount of time in the (huge) book section of FNAC during our last two visits to…read moreParis (in 12/04 & 5/10) and I'm sure I'll do the same thing the next time we visit Paris; their selection of photo/etc. books (my passion) is really terrific. I also visited two of FNAC's other bookstore locations in Paris, but nothing quite compares to the one at des Halles. The reason why I'm not giving five stars is because the employees were rather perfunctory. Still, I gladly spent a small fortune on books each time because of the great selection.

I sent several messages and an email to support regarding a problem I have. No one answered my…read moreemail even after a weeks and someone from facebook support arogantly told me that I would probably never get an answer. I don't speak French so I naturally wanted to solve this problem by email or text since I can translate things.. It's impossible to get an answer. They don't do anything to help you and their rules are ridiculous. I even bought an issurance for the concert ticket and they are not even willing to reply to me. I'll never buy anything there again.

This was worth the visit for some quirky and amazing folk art. There is an exhibit in a dark room…read morethat had so many fabulous pieces of art, that I thought we had seen the whole museum. But wait! Up some windy stairs is a sunlit room with about the same amount of art. Some things were creepy, some were a level of obsessive detail that required long minutes of marveling, and some were inspiring. 2 hours is a sufficient visit, and you will want to reserve time to peruse the bookstore and get a snack, lunch, or beverage at the café. The museum is in the garment district, and the art may inspire you to pick up some fabric to make a collage.

A stunning cyclorama with two feature exhibits, a bright and airy bookstore, and a crazy busy cafe…read morefor an accessible 9€. We popped in for the Jeunet/Caro exhibit, because when in Paris, you Amélie. The design of the exhibit space is in a wagon wheel, with fixtures from the duos filmography segmented by "pie piece." An intriguing blend of movie props, original script notes, stills and videography paint a brilliant behind-the-scenes for The City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, MicMacs, Alien: Resurrection and more. A floor up, sunlight floods a year-long showcase residency called Turbulence in the Balkans, featuring Eastern European works but unfortunately, no brass bands. Sad dance party loss. Anyhoodle, the space open, well-designed and easy to get through in an hour or so. If the exhibits catch your fancy, pop in for an afternoon delight.

This store was a MUST visit when I decided on traveling to Paris. If you love Le Petit Prince by…read moreAntoine de Saint-Exupéry you will adore this magical little store! I think I spent half an hour looking at all the amazing Little Prince items. This little shop has books, journals, bookmarks, mugs, dishes, scarves, shirts, postcards, stuffed animals, bags, toys, figurines, cards, pictures, baby bibs, cookie cutters, key chains, onesies... Anything and everything Little Prince! The owner is super friendly and very nice to talk to. The music is calming, the shop is orderly and well stocked. This was the best store I've visited my whole trip in Europe! Next time I'm in Paris, I'll visit again for sure! I can't recommend this lovely little store highly enough- just visit you'll be so glad you did!

Whimsical and enduring! Great place to buy souvenirs and return to a lovely story! Remember!read more

The CD lives!…read more Record stores with this much charm are rare. This shop is a heaven for music lovers and throwback officianados. Walls and walls of CDs and records surround you in visual organized cacophonic bliss. Also has a lovely book collection with a sweet owner who sits peacefully at the front if the shop to greet you and is not a pushy salesperson at all. Enjoy! It's a rare piece of charm and history.

We looked up this place as an alternative to the over-crowded Shakespeare Book Store in Paris &…read morewere NOT disappointed! It's definitely VERY cozy inside, so best to watch out as you turn around in close quarters - especially if carrying a backpack or shoulder bag! The cellar is very cool, too and lots of books out on the sidewalk for anyone who doesn't appreciate the tight fit inside. ; ) As a former bookstore worker, this was a little slice of heaven for me - I had to be dragged out LOL

Such a fun English bookstore to stop by. It's every book lovers dream! They have all the different…read moregenres available and I could spent hours in there just exploring. The used books are definitely a bit cheaper. Must visit spot!

Great little video game store. The owner was extremely friendly to us while my wife and I were…read morebuying souvenirs for our trip. I had to have the little statue of Toad (of Super Mario fame) with the Eiffel Tower to take home as my souvenir. It looks perfect on top of my bookshelf.

It's a bookstore. It's a souvenir store…read more It's an agenda store. Really now - it's about everything! Gibert Joseph is a chain of stores that cater to those seeking books, souvenirs, and agendas. I mean, yes, they have other things, but these are the mains. We stepped in there because it was on the way. My companion was lacking souvenirs, and well, he thought I might find a worthwhile agenda in there. Turns out they had pretty bland-looking agendas and I wound up getting one back in the states. Still, their book selection floored me. They had floors upon floors on books and they had unique souvenirs. I only wish I had discovered this store sooner. I'd probably have bought some stuff there!

What a wonderland of books. This place is dangerously good and stocked with great books.read more

I've been to a lot of book offs all over Southern California, so when I walked by this one in the…read morecity of lights, I had to go in. It is exactly what you would expect. A very random selection of titles. It is bigger than many and more claustrophobic than the Cali stores. FYI I did not find a section for English language books.

There are two book-offs across the street from each other. One that has Japanese books and music,…read moreand one that has French/English/other languages books and music. However, if you are looking for Japanese versions (with bonus tracks!) of CDs by for English/American/French bands, then you will want to look at the French/English store. Prices are reasonable, although a bit more expensive than other Book-Offs around the world.

One of my favorite bookstores in Paris, mostly because of the store's sheer diversity.read more

Maintenant à 37 rue St Ambroise dans l'11ème Now at 37 rue…read moreSt Ambroise in the 11th Et maintenant plus grand que d'ailleurs Now bigger than ever. There are very few LGBTQ bookstore left anywhere in the world, and maybe only a city as large and as intellectually active as Paris can sustain one. Les mots à la bouche has everything a gay reader could wish: social theory and the history of drag, emerging queer novelists and the inspiring works of James Baldwin, Gertrude Stein, Edmund White, Jean Cocteau. It is the one indispensable stop for the queer traveler/ reader in Paris. Plenty of books in English, too. Afterwards you can go to Père Lachaise and drop in on Oscar Wilde. Dear Oscar. How he would have loved this shop. How he would have cruised the boys who come here

I could (and did) spend hours here. There are so many books to look at and it's absolutely amazing…read more They've got quite a selection of first editions. Just incredible. The shop opened in the 50s by an American called George Whitman and he initially named it Le Mistral. I believe the name changed in the 60s to what we know it as today. As a fan of literature, Shakespeare and Company is like Mecca. The Holy Grail, if you will. Whether you stick downstairs where it gets busy or upstairs where it's for more of a library feel, it's simply a magical experience. An experience that transcends you into the pages of your favorite novel or book of poetry. A timeless, nostalgic, and electric adventure awaits you.

Shakespeare and Company is one of the notorious Global booksellers. It is located in Paris, on the…read moreRiver Seine across from Notre Dame (you really can't miss it), and there seems to be a block-long queue everyday, anytime it's open. Founded by Sylvia Beach in 1919, it was a hangout for many American and British writers when they lived in Paris. Like any great bookstore, this retail establishment has an impressive inventory of books in English, in all major categories: Children's literature, classics, culinary, culture, economics, history, politics, travel, etc, etc. We checked 4 different days, and finally got in on our fifth try. The shop is a labyrinth of interconnected rooms, and actually takes up nearly a whole block. The check-out clerks will stamp your books with the Shakespeare & Co logo and name; so it's fun to gift a classic, like Winnie the Pooh, to your grandkids. And there is a cafe next door where you can sit and enjoy your purchases. Read up on the Tumbleweeds.