Passage Jouffroy: A Historic Arcade in the 9th Arrondissement

Last Updated on 4th August 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

This post may contain affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy and disclosure for more information.

Somewhere along Grands Boulevards, between the wax museum and the Hard Rock café, Passage Jouffroy is all tile flooring, wrought iron detailing, and open-glass ceiling. Pretty to visit, this Parisian arcade is filled with boutiques, bookstores, and even a hotel…

A history of Passage Jouffroy

Once upon a time, Paris was filled with dozens of covered walkways. Ornate passages that encompassed living spaces upstairs and eateries/ boutique shops on the ground floor. The 19th-century marked the golden age for the Passages Couverts as they are so known in French…

Constructed in the 1840s and completed in 1846, Passage Jouffroy is one of the most popular covered arcades in Paris thanks to its sheer beauty and ease of access along Grands Boulevards.

Directly on the opposite of the road from the ever-so-popular Passage des Panoramas, this continuation of the Parisian arcades allows for rain-free shopping all year long.

What is particularly strange about the passage is that thanks to its position on three former Parisian housing plots, the passage stretches for around 140 metres before making a right angle up/ down steps depending on which way you’re travelling and then another right angle before continuing for another 140 metres or so.

Passage Jouffroy is also the first Parisian arcade to be constructed entirely in iron and glass. So ahead of the time was the passage, that it’s heated via underfloor heating!

Though wooden panelling is still present, this is merely for decorative purposes. And while the passage was constructed in the 19th-century, Passage Jouffroy was heavily restored and renovated in 1987, with particular attention to the marble flooring.

Highlights of Passage Jouffroy

Please note that, up until late 2021, Passage Jouffroy was home to a Marks & Spencer’s food store. However, this has since been closed and replaced with a Casino supermarket.

Le Valentin Tea Room

If you’re looking for the ultimate afternoon tea experience in Paris, then you simply must book a visit to the Valentin Tea Rooms. Open every day of the week, this charming Parisian patisserie offers all kinds of French sweets; from the traditional macaron to melt-in-your-mouth bonbons, Le Valentin sells it all.

M & G SEGAS

One of the more unusual stores in Passage Jouffroy is that of Galerie Vayet. Vending all manner of canes, this rather quirky shop sells antique wares as well as newer models. Much if you choose to visit the oldest umbrella repair shop in Paris, you’ll soon discover that you never know what you might spy next should you opt to visit Galerie Vayet.

Librairie Du Passage

Truth be told, the best attraction of Passage Jouffroy is Librairie du Passage. All vintage façade, books spill out onto the marble floor, as well as covering every inch of the shop’s shoebox interior.

Dating all the way back to the 1850s, the bookstore also happens to be one of the oldest in Paris and happens to have survived so long thanks to its incredibly specialised nature (pop inside and you’ll soon discover a world of art reference books and photography guides.)

The Toy Box

A particularly vintage-inspired vibe can be found if you wander into The Toy Box, close to the stairs in the very heart of Passage Jouffroy. Selling all kinds of models, gifts, and Paris paraphernalia, the shop’s particular speciality is actually dolls, including teeny-tiny miniature doll’s houses.

Musée Grévin

For fans of all sculptures wax-related, the Paris wax museum is visited by some 800,000 people on an annual basis. Created in the 19th-century by Le Gaulois newspaper creators Alfred Grévin and Arthur Meyer, today the museum is one of the oldest wax museums in Europe. Purchase your Musée Grevin tickets here.

How to visit Passage Jouffroy

If you’re planning a trip to the City of Lights, then be sure to check out all of my very best Paris travel tips. Otherwise, Passage Jouffroy itself is open between 7 am and 9.30 pm on a daily basis and can be found in the 9th arrondissement of the city.

Entrances to the passage can be found both at 10- 12Boulevardd Montmartre and at 9 Rue de la Grange-Batelière. The nearest metro stations are Grands Boulevards and Richelieu Drouot. Though the passage is open throughout the day, various brasserie and shop opening times may vary.

Free to visit, if you’re looking for the ultimate French experience, then you might consider booking to stay in the Hotel Chopin. Located in the very heart of the covered walkway, at the end of a row of boutique shops, this quirky and unique place to stay is one of the best accommodations in the area. Check prices and availability here.

Watch the video about the covered passages of Paris

Enjoyed reading this guide to the 9th arrondissement Passage Jouffroy? Pin it now, read it again later: