Bonjour Paris
Over the last two years, we’ve travelled across the UK, exploring towns and cities, photographing fonts along the way. It felt like the right time for a change of scene, so we headed to the amazing city of Paris — and it didn’t disappoint!
As always, before heading to a new city we plan ahead. After a few hours on Google tracking down iconic buildings, restaurants, and shops, we dropped 30 pins onto our Paris map. With that framework in place, we were ready to say bonjour Paris!
Day One
Staying in Le Bourget, we made our way into Paris on the RER, hopping off at Luxembourg station. From there, we headed straight to our first point of interest: Boulangerie Moderne. Relying on images found on Google, you’re never quite sure what you’ll find when you arrive. Scaffolding, building work, traffic, or bad weather can all get in the way. Thankfully, this time everything lined up perfectly, and we were good to go.
A short walk took us to our second stop: Martinez, a well known store supplying old maps and lithographs of Paris. Located on the Rue de Seine, it was unfortunately half covered in scaffolding, leaving only the final three letters visible. Luckily, the Z was still on show — a letter that’s always hard to come by!
Our first day took us right across Paris. Clocking up an impressive 17 km on foot while discovering fonts of every colour, shape, and style along the way. Far too many to list, but here are a few highlights:
La Samaritaine — One of Paris’s smaller department stores, built in the Art Nouveau style and featuring beautiful lettering formed from coloured mosaic tiles.
E. Dehillerin — Supplying the kitchens of Paris since 1820, this legendary store is a true classic.
À la Mère de Famille — The oldest chocolate shop in Paris, operating continuously since 1761.
After a full day on foot, we headed for a well-earned rest and evening meal at Bouillon Chartier on the Grands Boulevards.
Opened in 1896, it boasts an immense dining room filled with huge chandeliers, towering mirrors, and beautifully sculpted wood.
It was a perfect spot to unwind and soak up a little Parisian history.
Day Two
Back out on day two for more font hunting. We explored the Champs-Élysées, Pigalle, and Montmartre, uncovering some classic finds along the way:
Café des Deux Moulins – Famously known as the Amélie café, thanks to the iconic film of the same name.
Montmartre – With so many stunning buildings, it was impossible to choose just one. Incredible Christmas decorations still adorned the restaurants and cafés in the main square, and a fresh blanket of snow made the whole scene absolutely magical.
Galeries Lafayette — This iconic upmarket department store, founded in 1894, sits just opposite the Place de l’Opéra. With its stunning architecture and elegant lettering, it’s a must-see for both shoppers and typography enthusiasts alike.
Au Revoir
