Lafayette Galleries, international image, affordable French fashion
Galeries Lafayette was founded in 1893. It was then just a modest shop purchased by two Alsatian cousins, Theophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn. Several years earlier, Printemps had opened its doors, and more than forty years had passed since Le Bon Marché had already existed. A lot has changed in 130 years.
How to navigate Galeries Lafayette Haussmann – Preparing your visit
The Boulevard Haussmann store is enormous: it spans three contiguous buildings and offers just about everything that’s in fashion. If you’re interested in Galeries Lafayette, you’ll probably want to visit it.
To avoid getting lost and wasting time searching for what you want, check the paragraph below. You’ll find the floor plans and different departments of the store listed below.
The best way to understand the layout of Galeries Lafayette is to click on “Galeries Lafayette Floor Plan.” You’ll get the layout of each of the three buildings, as well as the levels that interest you.
First building – 40 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 75009 – the main store “La Coupole”
Clothing
Lingerie
Shoes
Accessories
Beauty
Jewelry, watches
Children’s items, toys
Leisure, bookstore
Paris souvenirs
The Wellness Gallery
Second building – 48 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris – the store “L’Homme”
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Beauty
Third building – 35 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris (on the opposite sidewalk) – the “Maison et Gourmet” store
Design, decoration
Table art
Home linen
Le Gourmet
Where to eat at Galeries Lafayette? Plenty of options to satisfy every craving!
With so much to see, you’ll likely spend a great deal of time (a great deal, a great deal …) wandering the halls of Galeries Lafayette. In other words, you’ll probably work up a bit of an appetite… but don’t worry. You’ll find everything you need on site, with more than ten restaurants or dining spots spread across the three buildings of Galeries Lafayette.
In the “Maison et Gourmet” building – 35 boulevard Haussmann
Le Gourmet, located in the basement, on the ground floor and on the 1st floor, is more than just a single restaurant: it’s a 3,500 m² space housing over ten brands, a market, a delicatessen, a wine cellar, gourmet shops and restaurants.
In the main building “La Coupole” – 40 boulevard Haussmann
This building, the tallest with its eight floors, features at its center the iconic Dome. On the 8th floor, a panoramic terrace offers restaurants where you can admire all of Paris.
In the basement: DS Café serves takeaway meals or on-site dining. You’ll also find fresh juices and vitamin-packed smoothies, as well as homemade desserts like apple crumble or an açai bowl. The à la carte menu highlights delicious, balanced recipes made with high-quality local ingredients.
On the 2nd floor: JOE & THE JUICE, a concept focused on fresh, green, and healthy products. Enjoy fruit and vegetable juices, sandwiches and bowls, homemade cakes, and a wide selection of coffees.
On the 3rd floor: Café Coutume, where you can enjoy coffee while admiring the Dome.
On the 4th floor: EL&N LONDON, with its magical and luxurious decor and signature recipes, offers a unique experience.
On the 6th floor: still in the same store, but on the 6th floor: the Lafayette Café. Here, everything is brought together to satisfy every appetite. First, a vast buffet of starters, a variety of hot dishes, and a multitude of self-service fruits and desserts. The hardest part? Making a choice! Between the grill and its selection of meats, the starter buffet, homemade burgers, or the perfect Caesar salad. And of course, don’t forget the desserts for foodies and the fruits for a lighter option.
On the 8th floor: Finally, two restaurants on the terrace of the 8th floor of the main building, 40 boulevard Haussmann: Pierre Sang Express, an Asian restaurant also featured in the “Le Gourmet” section (see above), and CRÉATURES, a 100% vegetarian pop-up restaurant open only during the summer season.
The impressive growth of Galeries Lafayette
But what you see today began in 1894. Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn opened the Galeries Lafayette department store at the corner of Rue La Fayette and Rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin. Ideally located near the brand-new Opéra Garnier, the Grands Boulevards, and the Saint-Lazare train station, the store quickly attracted office workers as well as the lower and middle bourgeoisie.
In 1894, they opened the Les Galeries Lafayette department store at the corner of rue La Fayette and rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin, more than forty years after Le Bon Marché. The store was ideally located near the Opéra Garnier, the grands boulevards and Gare Saint-Lazare. It quickly attracted office workers and the lower and middle bourgeoisie.
In 1896, the company purchased the entire building at 1, rue La Fayette. In 1903, it acquired the buildings at 38, 40 and 42, boulevard Haussmann, as well as 15, rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin.
Galeries Lafayette today
This is the largest department store in Europe and the second largest in the world after Macy's Herald Square.
In 2014, it generated €1.8 billion in revenue, surpassing Harrods in London, Bloomingdale’s in New York, and Isetan in Tokyo, reclaiming its position as the world’s most profitable department store.
In 2024, following the COVID-19 crisis, revenue reached €2 billion. Figures shared by Alexandre Liot, Operations Director of Galeries Lafayette[4].
It is part of the Galeries Lafayette group’s “Department Stores” division.
The Galeries Lafayette welcomes an average of 37 million visitors per year. That’s over 100,000 customers daily, spread across the store’s four interconnected spaces (Coupole, L’Homme, Maison, and Gourmet).
To visit near Galeries Lafayette
Musée Grévin - Book Musée Grévin tickets
Opéra Garnier - Book Opéra Garnier tickets
and other must-see attractions:
3 important tools at your disposal to help you organize your stay in Paris
1. Phrasebook Translator for those who don’t speak French fluently
Having trouble finding the right word or expression in French? Click here on PHRASEBOOK – or at the top right of your screen. It’s a lexicon of 100 useful words and/or phrases for a tourist visiting Paris. Whether at a restaurant, hotel, while shopping, on the Metro, or for greetings, asking for directions, etc. Eight languages are available. And here’s the best part: each word and phrase can also be heard aloud in French.
2. VPBY’s Stay Generator
There are many interesting and educational things to see in Paris. We strongly recommend organizing your stay well. To help you, we offer you FREE access to our Trip Planner.
In just 5 minutes and 5 clicks, you’ll get your half-day itinerary and all the necessary bookings. If you wish, this is completely optional. It includes the sites you want to visit, as well as transport (plane, train, or car), accommodation, and even suggestions for high-quality gift ideas for you, your friends, and your family.
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Notre-Dame de Paris entry reservation (Free entry but reservation recommended to avoid the queue)
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