17th Arrondissement
Establishment
neighborhood
Nail Factory (Closed)
6 Rue Cardinet, 17th
While you won't find expertly-executed nail art or a deep menu of luxurious add-ons, you will find well-priced, quick, and totally decent mani/pedis. The three locations are essentially indistinguishable. There are also locations in the 7th and 16th.
Les Mauvaises Graines
5 Passage Geffroy Didelot, 17th
Whether you have a terrace to landscape, or are just looking for a hostess gift, it's easy to spend the better part of an afternoon here. The Bad Seed is like a garden shop on acid: They're interested in the strange, the otherworldly, and the extreme. It's all pretty amazing, from teeny tiny plants, to shadowboxed insects, to arrangements in wooden boxes named after heavy metal bands, to a vintage motorcycle, overgrown with foliage.
A.P.C.
75 Place Du Docteur Felix Lobligeois, 17th
Known for making the ideal version of everyday staples, you can always rely on A.P.C. for perfectly considered trench coats, dark wash jeans, and striped tops that are just the right thickness. Men, in particular, always strike gold here since their simple shapes easily elevate any outfit without ever trying too hard (guys who struggle to find well-fitting jeans should definitely take look here). While there are nine outposts across the city, we like this one best; meanwhile, don't miss the outlet in the 18th, where everything is always 50 percent off. There are other locations in the 3rd (Rue Vielle du Temple, Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire), the 1st, 6th, 10th, and the 8th.