Antiquing in Paris & Flea Market Shopping with the Gals

Traveling to Paris

We left Boston on Air France for Paris, France, at 10 PM on a Tuesday in late September. My girlfriend, Lisa, and I were joining Sandra Sigman and Félicie Jungels of Les Fleurs’ curated Parisian antiquing shopping tour, which consisted of five days of antiquing in Paris:

Arrival Day in Paris

We arrived at 11:00 a.m. on a Wednesday, Paris time. Unfortunately, I didn’t sleep much on the way over, and we were genuinely exhausted upon our arrival, but staying up until bedtime on Paris time was our goal to help acclimate to the six-hour time difference.

We arrived at our hotel, took showers, and went for long walks around Paris, visiting shops and cafes until bedtime. It was the most strenuous day, but it was all worth it!

Day Two in Paris

Our antiquing in Paris tour didn’t begin until Friday morning, so we also had Thursday to help us adjust to the six-hour time difference. We walked and walked all over Paris, visiting:

When in France…

After a full day exploring Paris, we enjoyed a good night’s sleep and were up early to start our first day of shopping at the Paris antique stores.

Antiquing in Paris Tour Begins

Morning Meet Up

We gathered in the early morning at Sandra of Les Fleurs’ Paris apartment and met the other nine gals joining us on our antiquing in Paris adventures. Can you believe that four of the women were from York, Ogunquit, and Portland, Maine? That was six of us from Maine!

The others were from California, New Hampshire, New York, and Texas. A friend or a sister accompanied several, and others traveled solo. There was one antique dealer and one small shop owner, and the rest were shopping for new homes, themselves or family and friends.

Paperwork & Shipping Requirements for antiquing in paris

After meeting all the gals, we were informed of our paperwork responsibilities when purchasing antique furniture going back to the U.S.

For our convenience, porters and a shipping container would be provided for all antiques that would not fit into our suitcases. This required invoices, tagging, photos, and stickers. Once we completed one purchase, it was a simple process; it just took a little bit of patience for us and the vendors.

Someone was always immediately available to help walk us through the process, too.

Shipping Container

The most frequent question I received about this antiquing in Paris tour was how do you get everything back home?

Les Fleurs’ provides a large shipping container for this antiquing in Paris tour. You can purchase anything you like and ship it back via the container. There is an additional cost, which can be as high as the cost of the antique, depending on how much space it takes up in the container.

Many purchased numerous cabinets, large gardening pots, benches, chairs, decorative arts, etc. The container can take up to five months to arrive in Boston. Then, you will pick up your French antiques at Les Fleurs’ in Andover, Massachusetts, or they can have your items shipped to you from their location, which many will need to do.

Luggage

All smaller Paris antiques will be packed into your suitcases. You should bring a large empty suitcase and a duffle bag. If you fly business class, you can check up to three bags or two if you fly economy.

A few of the gals purchased 30 Euro suitcases while in Paris to fill and bring home with them. If you are traveling with a companion, that is up to six checked suitcases! Not to mention two carry-ons each. So it is all very doable.

*Sandra and Felicie helped us all every step of the way with all their tips and tricks.

Now, we were ready for all of the antiquing in Paris before us!

Let’s go!

Antique Markets

la Foire de Chatou

The oldest and largest antique market in France, with an impressionist atmosphere, is held twice a year, a Brocante and Ham Fair in Chatou. It is not to be missed!

There were roughly 90 French antique vendors ranging from affordable to high-end, great for bargain hunters, too. All the vendors were housed in tents to shelter them from the inclement weather, as most are open-air markets antiquing in Paris.

We were also very fortunate to have visited on a Friday, sparing us from the large crowds.

I loved getting to know the other gals on our antiquing in Paris tour. We all learned so much from one another. For instance, nobody had ever thought of stacking antique soup tureens like these. In fact, some didn’t even know what I was referencing when I mentioned I bought a stack of tureens.

Introducing each other to new antique collections and trending ideas from various parts of the country was insightful and a large part of why this tour was so interesting and enjoyable.

While antiquing in Paris, there were many passing rain showers, so, during a mini rain storm that rolled in, we enjoyed and partook in the French way of antiquing by taking a break with a glass of champagne and a long French lunch.

It was the best day ever!

Paris Street Fair

Porte de Vanves

On Saturday, we visited the Porte de Vanves, a weekend street fair, where we strolled and shopped until lunchtime, about 3 hours.

There were rows of street vendors selling wares ranging from vintage clothing to rare books. As far as street markets go, I found the pricing a bit on the high side. However, many of the other gals found Porte de Vanves to be their favorite antiquing spot of the week.

See what I mean about the differences in experiences? I still thoroughly enjoyed it, though!

What antique treasures did I find?

One antique dealer was selling a gorgeous set of antique French Gien dinnerware with vintage ivory bone flatware, which I pined over. However, I passed at 39 euros a plate, and there didn’t seem to be much room for negotiation, especially since I had a little insight into our last shopping destination, which promised much better dinnerware pricing.

Paris Flea Market

There are three Marché aux Puces (flea markets) inside the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, where you can peruse the different markets for antiques, vintage clothing, and almost anything else you can think of that is unique and hard to find.

1. Marché Paul Bert Serpette

First, we browsed through the Marché Paul Bert Serpette. In Paris, it is considered one of the most prestigious flea markets in the world. It is located in the heart of the famous Saint-Ouen Flea Market. It’s a haven for antique lovers, offering an incredible range of high-end vintage furniture, rare art, and unique decorative pieces. The market’s charming maze of stalls brims with Parisian history, making it a must-visit for serious collectors and casual shoppers alike.

That means, bargain shoppers, there is plenty for you here, too!

We spent the entire morning inside this one flea market and enjoyed another customary long French-style lunch, including another delicious dessert at the onsite Le Bistrot Paul Bert.

Here is where I found these timeless treasures:

2. Marché Dauphine

After lunch, we strolled over to the Marché Dauphine, one of Saint-Ouen’s largest markets. It is a vibrant blend of vintage charm and eclectic finds. Known for its expansive indoor space, it offers a diverse selection of antiques, from classic furniture to rare books and vintage fashion. With its lively atmosphere and array of unique treasures, Marché Dauphine is a favorite among antique enthusiasts and curious shoppers alike.

Some of the most exciting features in this market include the orange 1970s spaceship in the central square, the unusual second-level flooring, a sort of wooden cobble-block affair, and the colorful entrance mural.

3. Marché Biron

Lastly, just across the road is the Marché Biron, one of the upscale flea markets within the Saint-Ouen complex in Paris, known for its luxurious selection of high-end antiques and fine art. Specializing in exquisite furniture, decorative objects, and classical art pieces, it caters to serious collectors and those seeking timeless, museum-quality items. The elegant atmosphere and meticulously curated stalls make it a must-visit for anyone looking for rare and prestigious finds.

Antique Shops

Monday was our last day of scheduled antique shopping in Paris, and it promised to be the most rewarding. We arrived in Rungis at a private dealer’s warehouse and enjoyed a buffet luncheon hosted by the antique dealer.

This was my favorite antiquing experience of the entire trip. The prices were fantastic, and the selection—well, simply amazing!

This antique dealer’s warehouse is frequented by filmmakers, photographers, hotels, dealers, and all others who seek to recreate antique and vintage interior home decor. From average homes to the studios of Paris, this antique shop had it all. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public.

Treasures I found here:

Because the 1900s French Alps ski sled and the antique beverage cart would not fit into my suitcase, they were ticketed to go onto the container along with the dishes and small crystal ice buckets. I didn’t want any of those things to get broken in transit.

Antique Shop Luncheon

Have you ever had lunch in an antique store? The owner of this private antique warehouse hosted us for lunch and set two tables so beautifully that one of the gals on our trip bought almost the entire table setting!

Each French antique dinner plate was unique and paired with intricately designed silverware, including a French knife rest. Since these were new to me, I bought a set, and I’ll be blogging all about them soon. Each matching glass candle burned during our visit, and the water glasses were a mix-and-match.

Little silver sherbert bowls displayed fall hydrangea bouquets with scattered acorns—simple yet exquisite.

It was a casual luncheon as we helped ourselves to a buffet while others continued to shop.

Favorite Shop Owners

One of the benefits of joining an antiquing in Paris tour like this one, hosted by Sandra of Les Fleurs, is that she combines her experience, knowledge, and artistry to enhance your overall expertise in French style.

Here are some other favorite shop owners we visited and enjoyed while in Paris, selected by Sandra on our antiquing tour.

I have always wondered how florists create arrangements with crisscrossed stems with beautifully designed styles. Now, with my fingers crossed, my flower bouquets should look amazing.

It’s certainly something that takes practice.

Standout Restaurants While Antiquing in Paris

After hours of walking and shopping for Paris antiques, the French restaurants and food pairings were delectable.

Le Train Bleu

What a thrill to spend our first dinner together at Le Train Bleu.

Le Train Bleu, an old soul nestled in the Gare de Lyon metro station, is a great place for antique enthusiasts to step back in time while enjoying exquisite French cuisine. With its opulent Belle Époque decor, this historic restaurant offers a dining experience as timeless as the antiques you’ll find throughout Paris.

La Divina Comedia

An Italian restaurant in Paris, which gave us a bit of a break from the French cheeses and sauces after a morning spent at the Porte de Vanves street fair.

The mushroom pizza with truffle oil and the charcuterie boards were oh-so-yummy. Although the meal may have been Italian, it was served in traditional French style, lasting almost three hours.

Le Procope

Le Procope, the oldest café in Paris, is a true gem for antique lovers and history buffs alike. This historic restaurant, which opened in 1686, famously houses Napoleon’s hat. It offers a unique blend of culinary excellence and rich French heritage. Dining at Procope feels like stepping into a living museum, where the atmosphere is as captivating as the food.

We gathered and dined here before saying goodbye to our vintage-loving gals who joined us in Paris this week. It was so hard saying goodbye, but the time had come for us to return home.

Until next time…

Thank you, Paris~