It’s easy to spend a few hours soaking in the atmosphere of the warm and cozy dining room, which is usually filled with a mix of well-to-do Parisians, film industry veterans, and travelers with an appreciation of classic French gastronomy. The atmosphere is chic and retro, without the pretentiousness you would expect from a celebrity-frequented haunt. Many come to Fouquet's to see and be seen, but the seasonal menu by three Michelin-starred Chef Pierre Gagnaire makes it a worthy stop for more than just a cocktail. Beyond the luxury goods, a highlight is the rooftop terrace, which offers a spectacular view of the city. On the fourth floor, one of the broadest shoe selections in the world boasts over 200 brands ranging from Veja Shoemakers to Maison Margiela. Some labels, like Ester Manas (a sustainable and size-inclusive fashion brand) offer exclusive pieces you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll find almost every major luxury brand under Galeries Lafayette Haussmann’s roof but the department store also makes a point of spotlighting emerging designers. And with over 750,000 square feet of retail space, beautifully designed window displays, and special events, it's easily one of the best places to shop in Paris. The French chain's flagship location in the 9th arrondissement features a striking domed roof with stained glass windows by master glassmaker Jacques Gruber. Historic department store Galeries Lafayette Haussmann isn’t just one of Paris's first “luxury bazaars” but also an emblem of Art Nouveau architecture. You could speed through the audio guide in an hour, get a view of the Place de la Concorde from the covered balcony, and take in the jaw-dropping Cabinet des Glaces, a mirror-walled boudoir not unlike the hall of mirrors in Versailles, covered in paintings. Key to the visit is the audio guide, which leans theatrical. Open to the public for the first time in 250 years, its new incarnation as an immersive museum experience allows visitors to explore the 18th century apartments of the Garde-Meuble intendants, recreated and restored to their original layout and design, as well as the structure’s grand reception halls filled with period furnishings, paintings, and objets d’art. Given that it is only a year old, it remains moderately trafficked but the word is out. Perched over the Place de la Concorde, the museum occupies the former royal Garde Meuble-the depository for the King’s furniture collections, crown jewels, tapestries, and decorative arts-and what later became the country’s naval headquarters for 200 years. This recent addition to the capital’s cultural offering is unlike any other in the city, largely by dint of its heritage and size. The spaces it does occupy covers the usual terrain: streetwear and luxury ready-to-wear which includes pieces exclusive to La Samaritaine, clean beauty and classic perfumers, handbags and fine jewelry, and several rooms used for rotating thematic installations. Approximately 215,000 square feet are devoted to retail space in this complex, which includes the Cheval Blanc hotel, office space, and housing, making it the smallest of the city’s department stores (the others are Le Bon Marché, Printemps, and Galeries Lafayette). But it's an Art Deco and Art Nouveau wonder which is the primary reason to visit. Locals used to shop here for everything from light bulbs and garden supplies to dresses, but now it's a gallery of sorts for designer clothes, beauty brands, and a handful of food and Champagne concept spaces throughout the shop. But this one has a legacy that laid dormant for 16 years: The 19th century landmark reopened in 2021 after a $900 million restoration by LVMH, and swapped the utilitarian focus for one decidedly more upscale. Did Paris need another department store? Certainly not.
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