Francophile Gifts: The Perfect French Gift Guide

Francophile gifts for everyone on your list who loves France, with French cookbooks, kitchen treats, pharmacy favorites and a little something for young Francophiles too.

Francophiles are easy to buy for. At least this one is. Give me a new book about Paris, a tin of good tea or a candle that smells like a hotel lobby in Paris, and I am happy for days. If someone on your list loves all things French, here are my favorite Francophile gifts this year: books, treats for the French kitchen, a few things from the French pharmacy, and gifts for the youngest Francophiles too.

I studied in Paris and in Limoges, so France has been part of my life for a long time. Choosing gifts for fellow Francophiles is one of my favorite holiday traditions.

France is one of my favorite places to travel. I love the culture, the art, the food and the sights. I fell in love with Paris a long time ago, with its cobbled streets, beautiful gardens and cafés, and every time I return I visit my old favorites, then wander off to discover something new.

On one two-week trip, I took exactly one photo (unheard of in the age of social media) and never set foot in a museum. I simply woke up every day and wandered from one arrondissement to another. I stopped in churches and was lucky enough to hear a few of the choirs practicing for their Christmas concerts. I peeked through open doors and discovered secret courtyards. When I was chilled or tired, I stopped at a tea room or café for a chocolat chaud, or just to people watch. I sipped mulled wine at the Christmas markets and nibbled éclairs and Punitions from Poilâne while enjoying a minute of quiet in a favorite park.

I know many of you are Francophiles too, so here is my list of gifts that bring a little bit of France home.

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Books for the Francophile

Every Francophile gift guide should start with books, and mine always does. My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks, full of the dishes a Parisian actually cooks at home. The Cook’s Atelier: Recipes, Techniques, and Stories from Our French Cooking School is another favorite at our house, and the authors also teach cooking classes in Burgundy, if you want to give a truly memorable gift. Molly Wilkinson’s French Pastry Made Simple has foolproof recipes for éclairs, tarts and macarons, and Molly teaches pastry classes in Versailles.

For the coffee table, Life in a French Country House: Entertaining for All Seasons and Timeless Paris are both lovely to page through on a winter afternoon, and Paris: An Inspiring Tour of the City’s Creative Heart is one of my all-time favorite books about Paris. A new book about Paris or Provence is always welcome in my house, too.

If your Francophile loves to cook, Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking is the classic, and Ina Garten’s Barefoot in Paris is the friendlier way in. Pair either one with a tin of Punitions cookies from Poilane Bakery , my favorite bakery in Paris, and you have fed the imagination and the appetite at the same time.

From the French Kitchen

A French foodie would love a box of Parisian croissants and jam from Williams Sonoma, delivered right to the door. I love cheese, so a French cheese selection on a good cheese board is always on my list, and a crock of herbes de Provence costs very little and brings the south of France to every roast chicken. A jar of Dijon mustard and some sea salt will fill a stocking nicely.

For the tea drinker, Mariage Frères French Breakfast Tea in its black and yellow tin is a little luxury. For the coffee drinker, a classic French press. And for the serious cook, a Le Creuset Dutch oven is the gift of a lifetime. It comes in so many colors you can match her kitchen, and it will probably outlast us all.

Laduree truffles in their jade green box are decadent and delicious, and if you are ever in Paris, make sure to try the hot chocolate they serve. It is so good. And don’t forget a Bon Maman advent calendar, filled with little jars of jam and honey to count down the days until Christmas.

The French Pharmacy

Ask a Francophile where she heads first in Paris, and there is a good chance it is the pharmacie. French pharmacies are known for skincare that works, costs less than you would expect and comes in beautiful packaging, so a little bag of pharmacy favorites makes a perfect gift. Fill a pouch with lip balm, a hand cream and face cream, and she will feel as if she just stepped off the Métro.

For a splurge, a La Bonne Brosse hairbrush is a French brand with a devoted following, and a Sézane perfume is the kind of timeless piece she will reach for every day.

A Little Bit of France at Home

Limoges, where I studied, has been famous for its porcelain for centuries, and a little hinged Limoges box is a classic Francophile gift. They come in every shape imaginable, a croissant, a teapot, a tiny Eiffel Tower, and they are the kind of keepsake that gets passed down. A Limoges dessert plate or teacup is another lovely choice for the woman who sets a beautiful table.

A candle inspired by a hotel lobby in Paris, or by her favorite corner of the city, will scent the living room all winter. For something grander, a Diptyque or Cire Trudon holiday candle is the kind of little luxury most of us never buy for ourselves. A whimsical Eiffel Tower ornament for the Christmas tree makes a sweet stocking stuffer.

Anthropologie always has a few fun Parisian pieces, a Paris street scene mug or a Métro serving tray would be at home on any table. A 1,000-piece puzzle of a Paris scene, complete with the Métro, the cafés, the shops and the Eiffel Tower, is perfect for a long winter weekend. A French market basket is useful all year, for the farmers market in summer and for carrying gifts at Christmas. And for a true statement piece, a dress made from a map of Paris is a splurge, but I think it is wonderful.

French Style

A Longchamp silk scarf is a timeless piece that goes with everything, and Veja sneakers are what half of Paris seems to be walking around in these days. For something playful, a Bonjour t-shirt or a Karl Lagerfeld Paris tee says it all without a word of French.

For Little Francophiles

Don’t forget the youngest Francophiles. They will love the Claris books about the chicest mouse in Paris, and this wooden box of Paris landmarks is so charming I might be tempted to keep it for myself.

Artists and Small Businesses

Some of my favorite Francophile gifts come from women who followed their hearts to France. Carol, a longtime blogger and artist, moved to Paris many years ago to live her dream, and her original watercolors are available on her blog, Paris Breakfasts, and in her Etsy shop. I have purchased several and love them. Photographer Jamie Beck and her husband left New York for Provence, and her prints, cards and books are available through Jamie Beck & Co, which I have also purchased. This year and last her agenda and in the past some of her art.

Sharon at My French Country Home puts together beautiful subscription boxes and a magazine your friends and family will love. They are a little expensive, but they are worth it. Mimi Bleu of Belle Inspiration also offers tours, a magazine and a subscription box. Buying from small businesses is a lovely way to give a gift with a story behind it.

How to Make a Francophile Gift Basket

If you would rather make something yourself, bake a batch of madeleines, add a tin of tea and a pretty cup, place everything in a basket, wrap it in cellophane, and voilà, a Francophile gift basket. Tuck in a handwritten recipe card for the madeleines and write a few words in French on the tag.

Until Next Time

I hope you found a little inspiration for your Francophile gift shopping, and maybe one or two things for your own list. For more ideas, see my gifts for book lovers and my Classic Christmas Gifts for Women Over 50 She’ll Love.

Tell me: what is the one thing you always bring home from France? And if you have never been, where would you go first?

You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. And last but not least, if you like Pinecones & Acorns, share it with a friend!

You might also enjoy:

Classic Christmas Gifts for Women Over 50 She’ll Love.

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