It’s no small wonder that there’s good shopping in Paris. Consider Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, or the iconic Champs Elysées, lined with high-end stores like Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton, to name a few, and largely known as “the world’s most beautiful avenue.” But I’m going to let you in on a little fashion secret: the best shopping just might be at La Vallée Village, located 40 minutes from the city in Serris, en route to the Champagne region of France. For the uninitiated, the outdoor shopping center is built to look like a quaint European town, complete with wide paved roads, art installations (@inlovestreetart’s scrawlings can be spotted on façades across the property), and vintage-style wrought-iron lamp posts. Here are more reasons to visit.
Luxury Designers
Perhaps above all, La Vallée Village’s impressive roster of top-tier boutiques make it very much worth the trip. From Bottega Veneta and Chloé to more contemporary labels like Maje and Ami, shoppers can expect savings as large as 33 percent off the listed retail price. (Which, by the way, is in addition to the VAT refund.)
Bespoke Service
The hospitality here is what really sets it apart. At the village, The Apartments offer a respite for private clients to relax with a glass of champagne after a hours of retail therapy, attend a panel, or shop an exclusive trunk show. Other member benefits include complimentary valet parking, hands-free shopping (where attendants collect your bags so you don’t have to carry them yourself), and a fast pass to skip lines at stores on a busy day.
Award-Winning Cafés and Restaurants
There’s no need to sacrifice the flavor of a good meal here either: Indulge in French gastronomy at Menu Palais, helmed by renowned Parisian chef Stéphane d’Aboville and modeled after the Mini Palais restaurant at the Grand Palais in Paris. Think: cheese boards, escargot, and niçoise salads. If you’re in a hurry, grab a cappuccino to-go at Ralph’s Coffee or something sweet at Ladurée or Amorino.
Live Events
Whether it’s DJ sets, live music from up-and-coming artists at 5 P.M. on the weekends, or kid-friendly activities like today’s Easter egg hunt hosted by Bonpoint, there’s something for everyone here, even if you (gasp) don’t like shopping.