Monoprix, Paris

No trip to Paris would be complete without a trip to one of the many Monoprix stores. You can buy everything there. Be patient because they are always crowded with lots of Parisians and tourists. I like to go to the grocery stores in the basements. Lots of gourmet items and great wines. The prices are fantastic. I buy a lot of souvenirs there. My friends and co-workers love the cookies, the liquer-filled candies, the French chocolates, and the pastries. You can also get lots of goodies to take back to your hotel room for an inexpensive meal.

my husband and i spent a week in paris near the champs elysees and found the cheapest way to eat great french food was to go to the grocery store----monoprix was recommended to us by our concierge and it did not disappoint. There was a good selection of breads, produce, deli meats, cheeses, chips, candies, wines. And soft drinks. Oh, and it might sound weird, but we especially enjoyed their selection of canned foods! We even bought some items to take home for souvenirs at a fraction of the cost of other stores in the city. For the price of one meal in a touristy restaurant, we were able to eat 4or 5 hearty meals that we could easily transport around the city on our sightseeing jaunts. This allowed us to save money and we ended up splurging on a memorable meal at the a michelin toprated restaurant. monoprix has a bunch of locations around the city and in addition to their grocery section, they have clothing and personal hygeine products on one floor, along with cheap postcards, film, and sunblock. It's kind of like a combination of target, rite-aid, ralphs, and 7-11 all in one.