Last Updated on 15th October 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
One of the best things about Paris is that you never quite know what you’ll stumble on next. Vintage is always just around the corner. Paris is the kind of place where you can be wandering in a super chic modern shopping centre one moment and browsing vintage the next. Cue: L’Objet qui Parle.
You know those shops that you enter on a whim and end up staying for hours? Well, that’s exactly what happens when you enter l’Objet qui Parle in the 18th arrondissement for the first time.
In French, ‘l’Objet qui Parle‘ literally means ‘the talking object’. This is a pretty fitting name considering that’s just what the unusual wares do.
Each carefully curated item in the store has its own individual story, history. Think clay smoking pipes next to plastic doll heads. Think quirky mirror frames next to pencil sketches.
The shop is laid out like a curiosity shop of the past. Everything is arranged in a ‘n’importe quoi’ style and you have to ‘dig’ through wares to find gems.
Although the Old Curiosity Shop in London is now a luxury shoe shop, this is how I love to imagine it would have looked back in the day. What I’m trying to say is that, when I open my own antique shop (a very probable future occupation), this is how you can expect it to look!
Vintage shopping in Paris: Where else to go?
While we’re speaking vintage shopping in Paris, it would be a crime not to mention that the biggest flea market in the World is located just north of Paris in Port St Ouen and is pretty easy to reach as a day trip from the city.
Although not in Paris, it’s easily reachable by metro. A weekly weekend occasion (there are some stores open during weekdays but everything is open on the weekend), it’s the perfect place to find a quirky souvenir from Paris. It was here that I managed to pick up a vintage 1920s postcard for €1. Not a bad souvenir! If you’re looking to thrift clothes, here are the best vintage clothing shops in Paris.
How to visit L’objet qui Parle
Home to some of the prettiest carousels in Paris, a hidden vineyard and the Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre is one of the chicest neighbourhoods in Paris. It is here where you can find l’Objet qui Parle in Montmartre.
Address: 86 Rue des Martyrs, 75018 Paris, France.
Opening times: 1 pm – 7:30 pm Monday-Saturday. 9 am – 7:30 pm Tuesday. Closed on Sundays Please note that the opening times can be somewhat erratic. Multiple people told me that they have visited the shop during its opening hours, only to find the store closed!
Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.
Dana
Wednesday 5th of July 2023
Thank you for the tip! So excited to find so many of the places you’ve recommended. I love your comparison to the Old Curiosity Shoppe. Went there when I was 5 years old. Then again at 22. Then again in my 40’s. Yikes was it a shock this last time to see what it’s become and across the street from giant new buildings! When I was 5 I brought back tiny ceramic dogs and cats in tiny wicker beds for my Grandmas and friends. I still have one today.
101 Ways to unearth the real Paris - My Paris Story
Sunday 17th of September 2017
[…] and you will hear the city sing. Just for you. Then walk rue d’ martyres and find L’Objet qui Parle for that other special […]
Maggie
Sunday 23rd of October 2016
One thing I know nothing about when it comes to Paris is shopping - I usually get so wrapped up in the landmarks and visiting Parisian brasseries that I never get time to shop. I need to change this next time I'm in the city though as l'objet qui parle looks fantastic! xx
Andreina
Sunday 23rd of October 2016
Love this! Def will set out a whole day on my next visit to Paris to find quirky vintage shops like this one! Thanks for sharing Sophie! :)
Darina
Sunday 23rd of October 2016
I love vintage shopping in Paris. The next time I will visit this shop!