Shopping in Montmartre: best streets, vintage shops and local gifts
Montmartre in Paris is more than the souvenir shops around Sacré-Cœur. Vintage fashion, independent boutiques, French fabrics and locally made gifts are hidden throughout its winding streets.
This guide reveals where to shop in Montmartre, what to buy and how eligible non-EU visitors can claim a VAT refund.
Planning to hunt for vintage beyond Montmartre? Explore our guide to the best thrift shops in Paris.
Shopping in Montmartre: key takeaways
- Begin around Abbesses for fashion and vintage.
- Walk downhill toward Rue d’Orsel for fabrics.
- Browse Rue Lepic and Rue des Martyrs for food gifts.
- Ask for a full VAT invoice in independent stores.
Where should you shop in Montmartre?
Abbesses and Rue Houdon for independent shops
Start around Place des Abbesses for fashion, accessories, books and food gifts. Rue Houdon connects Abbesses with Pigalle and adds independent designer boutiques to the route.
Rue des Martyrs for vintage and jewellery
The upper section of Rue des Martyrs combines neighbourhood food shops with vintage and jewellery addresses. Choose it when you want a named maker or a professional second-hand shop rather than a generic souvenir.
Rue d’Orsel and Place Saint-Pierre for fabrics
Around Rue d’Orsel, Rue Charles Nodier and Place Saint-Pierre, shops sell dressmaking fabrics, furnishing textiles, patterns and haberdashery. Visit from Monday to Saturday: the Marché Saint-Pierre is closed on Sundays.
8 shops in Montmartre worth adding to your route
Chinemachine: vintage hunting
Chinemachine suits shoppers who enjoy searching through full racks rather than browsing a tightly edited selection. It also opens on Sundays.
📍 100 Rue des Martyrs, 75018 Paris
Matières à Réflexion: independent designers
This boutique brings together bags, shoes, accessories and pieces by lesser-known designers.
📍 220 Rue Houdon, 75018 Paris
Emmanuelle Zysman: locally made jewellery
This shop and workshop is a strong choice for a genuinely local gift: the jewellery is designed and worked in the Montmartre atelier.
📍 81 Rue des Martyrs, 75018 Paris
Les Fleurs Sauvages: craft and design
A little farther north, this shop offers ceramics, glassware, prints and decorative objects by small makers.
📍 8 Rue Ferdinand Flocon, 75018 Paris
Marché Saint-Pierre: the widest fabric choice
This multi-floor store is the place to begin when you want variety. Allow extra time, particularly on Saturdays.
📍 2 Rue Charles Nodier, 75018 Paris
Tissus Reine: patterns and sewing supplies
Across Place Saint-Pierre, Tissus Reine combines dressmaking and furnishing fabrics with patterns and creative supplies.
📍 3–5 Place Saint-Pierre, 75018 Paris
Librairie des Abbesses: a literary gift
This independent bookshop is useful for illustrated books, French literature and children’s titles. It opens on Sundays.
📍 30 Rue Yvonne Le Tac, 75018 Paris
Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, Le Comptoir Abbesses: gourmet gifts
The counter sells boxed chocolates, pralines and bars produced by the Paris manufacture. Keep food sealed and check your destination’s import rules.
📍 34 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris
What to buy in Montmartre?
Good choices include vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, French fabric, an art print, ceramics or a gourmet gift.
Our guide to what to buy in Paris covers more classic souvenirs and practical gifts.
How to choose a genuinely local Montmartre purchase?
Look for a named maker or workshop, distinguish “made in Paris” from “designed in Paris”, check the country of origin and ask whether the shop can provide a detailed VAT invoice. A Montmartre address alone does not prove that an item was locally made.
How to shop tax-free in Montmartre with Zapptax?
Zapptax lets you combine eligible purchases from different shops and days to reach the €100 VAT-included minimum.
For example, a €45 accessory and a €60 gift can therefore qualify together if both sellers provide valid VAT invoices.
Install the app, request each invoice using the Zapptax name and address shown in the app, upload them in the app and generate your tax-free form.
Validate it at your final EU departure point before checking in luggage containing the goods.
To get a VAT refund in France, you must live outside the EU, be at least 16 and stay in France for less than six months. Goods must be new, unused and exported by the end of the third month after purchase.
For second-hand shopping, confirm that the professional seller charges VAT and can issue a compliant invoice.
Make the most of shopping in Montmartre
Montmartre is best explored slowly. Choose the right area, check opening times and prepare your Zapptax billing details before making your first eligible purchase.
FAQ
Is Montmartre better for vintage or luxury shopping?
Montmartre is better for vintage, independent designers, fabrics and creative shops. For major luxury brands, choose Rue Saint-Honoré, Avenue Montaigne or Boulevard Haussmann.
Is the Montmartre fabric district open on Sundays?
The Marché Saint-Pierre is closed on Sundays. Plan fabric shopping from Monday to Saturday and choose Abbesses for a Sunday visit.
Can second-hand purchases qualify for a VAT refund?
Yes, when they are bought from a professional seller who charges VAT and provides a compliant invoice. Purchases from private individuals are not eligible.
Should I start at Abbesses or Anvers?
Start at Abbesses for fashion, vintage, jewellery and gifts. Start at Anvers for fabrics and sewing supplies.
