Our Giant Paris Black Book

I can’t believe it’s been nearly three years since we published our first Paris Black Book. Back then, it was my personal list of favorites, plus those of a couple of other friends, and  it was really good. But I felt it was time for us to revisit the city and give it the same full-on approach we have evolved into over the last two years—polling all of our friends and creative contacts to tell us their favorite addresses. Our working Google doc came in at 105 pages, and the final version below is something I can’t wait for you to read. Our contributors range from architects to jewelers to chefs to designers to writers, and their ideas are so.damn.good. There are a lot of places I’d never heard of before, and so many that everyone agreed on (we love when that happens). A huge thank you to Team Paris! And for you subscribers, we could have made this much less of a lift, but you know us—as overachievers that isn’t our style, so think of this as our holiday gift to you! —Yolanda

IN THIS GUIDE

• Food & Drink (classic bistros and old-school brasserie, croissants worth crossing the city for, low-key lunch spots and OTT dinners, best wine/cocktail/hotel bars and where to go for late night) 
• Stays (charming neighborhood hotels, splurges for a special occasion, best for families and good-enough if you’re not in the room much anyway)
• Shopping (hidden vintage shops, the best French pharmacies and what to buy there, bookstores, flea markets, independent designers and everyone’s favorite department store)
• Neighborhood Guides (brief itineraries and best walking routes to connect it all)
• Family (parks with great snack spots nearby, how to spend a few hours with kids, and restaurants that are especially family friendly)
• Wellness & Beauty (running routes and workout classes, facials/massages/mani-pedis, everyone’s favorite salon, a 360-degree ‘check-up’ centre and trainers who will make house—or hotel—calls)
• Culture (under-the-radar museums and entry hacks for the very on-the-radar ones, touristy experiences that are worth it and untouristy experiences Parisians share with friends who visit, plus who to call for guided tours of museums, monuments and even flea markets)

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Alexandra Weinress is a gallery insider turned fixer in Paris. She founded The Seen to create art-based experiences across the city. (Read our Navigator with her here!) 

Alex Rash is the owner of the cult cocktail bar and restaurant Serpent A Plume and Cafe Du Canal. Originally from Minneapolis, Alex Rash has called Paris his home for the last 12 years, carefully navigating the picturesque that we miss so much in the Paris of our time.

Anne-Cécile and Kimberley Blanchot are sisters and co-founders of media relations and storytelling studio, August 28. Born in the US and raised in France Kimberley lives in Paris while Anne-Cécile is based in New York.   

Annie Waterman is the Paris-based founder of artisan-sourcing AOW Handmade, which links artisanal producers to global markets. She recently launched a  membership  for retailers, designers, and lovers of craft  and design looking to source unique, handmade artisan finds and brands from around the world; she also offers private artisan-sourcing tours in Lisbon and Paris. 

Caroline Morrison, a Franco-American entrepreneur and fashion industry veteran, opened Landline General Store in a dilapidated pharmacy in 2021 to give a platform for beautifully presented products that emphasize sustainability (and are all made in Europe!). 

Christine Bergstrom – Born in Sweden and raised in London, she’s lived for 25+ years in Paris, where she worked as a model for Jean Paul Gaultier, Azzedine Alaia and Helmut Newton, among others. She runs Liwan in the 6^th, showcasing designs by Lina Audi and collections by Mediterranean artisans.

Christine Muhlke is a former magazine editor (Paper, T, Bon Appétit), a culinary consultant and the author of the xtine newsletter on Substack, who’s had a place in the 18th arr. for 20 years. You can access her Paris guide here! 

Clara Hranek is a student at the University of Edinburgh, who chronicles her affordable food finds at @clarashangry.

Clément Le Coz owns an experience agency called Le Coup de Foudre with a strong fashion and design DNA. He and his partner, Justina Socas, organize tailor-made trips in France and curated events in Paris. 

Diego Delgado-Elias is a Peruvian-born, Paris-based architect who established his eponymous studio in Paris in 2014. Following a debut collection developed with Peruvian artisans, a new series of furniture and objects will be launched in 2024.

Elizabeth Colling is the co-owner of Merci Montecito. She has been living in Paris with her French husband and their two daughters since last fall. 

Elliott Barnes has run his eponymous, award winning interior design firm since 2004 and has made the AD100 list several times in the years since. Passionate about art, he started The Barnes Contemporary, a private collection based on portraits of his family members, created by artists from the African diaspora. 

Franck Audoux is the founder of Cravan—located in a 1911 Guimard building in the 16th arrondissement—which shook up the Parisian cocktail scene when it opened in 2018. Last year, he opened Cravan across 4 floors in Saint Germain des Prés. He is also the author of French Modern Cocktail (Rizzoli). 

Frank Herrmann is a Zurich- and Paris-based strategy consultant and the other half of #f2ontour, who always has a little calendar with him outlining a three-month rolling itinerary with a focus on architecture, art, history and food.

Gabriel Vachette is the Paris-based co-founder of the independent watch company Serica, and the founder of Les Rhabilleurs, an online magazine devoted to watches.

Jeanne Signoles is the founder of L/Uniform, a line of beautiful and practical bags and travel accessories. She’s based in Paris and travels frequently, always with a caravan of gorgeous luggage in tow.

Josh Hickey is an American writer and literary curator who lives between Paris and Hydra, Greece, where he has founded a site-specific literary project, the Hydra Book Club, now entering its fifth year. He also publishes an annual journal of new writing, The Journal of the Hydra Book Club. 

Leonardo Pucci is a photographer and Dior Men’s Director of Leathergoods and Shoes.

Liana Engel is the Global Director of Talent & Entertainment for Cartier. Originally from Santa Fe, she is now based in Paris with her husband and kids. 

Linda Solanki and Jérémie Colin are the founders of Where Should I Go?, which shows travelers a different side of Paris. With custom recommendations packed into one-of-a-kind guides, travelers can explore the city like locals and find spots that fit their vibe.

Louise De Rothschild and Keagan Ramsamy founded the jewelry house Mazarin in 2022. The duo met at the auction house Pierre Bergé & Associés, and their contrasting cultures yet shared passion for gemology inspired them to create Mazarin, whose collections are made from recycled gold and laboratory-grown diamonds.

Maï de Colnet is a creative entrepreneur who founded Cherished Corner, a curation of objects for everyday life, two years ago. She has been living in Paris for almost 20 years. Now living in the countryside close to Paris, she still spends time each week in the city.

Maria Lemos is the founder of Rainbow Wave and the owner of our favorite concept shop in London and Athens, Mouki Mou. 

Mathieu Lebreton is the Parisian co-founder of GiftShop, a new destination to discover Parisian institutions and buy their unique souvenirs. He tries hard to stay fit while spending a big chunk of his life in restaurants.

Mimi Thorisson is a food writer and cookbook author, who moved to Turin with her husband and eight children after many years of living in France. 

Monica Mendal transitioned to travel writing, becoming a regular contributor to Vogue, T, and more after nearly a decade working as a fashion editor for magazines like Vogue, GQ and Glamour. Today, she lives in Paris and recently launched her own travel newsletter, So there’s this place… on Substack.

Nicolas Saltiel is the owner of Chapitre Six Hotels, a group of eight boutique hotels in Paris and the South of France: Monsieur Cadet, Maison Saintonge, Hôtel des Académies et des Arts, Monsieur George, Hôtel La Ponche, Hôtel Aristide, Cap d’Antibes Beach Hôtel and Hôtel Hana.

Pierre Maheo is the founder, CEO and creative force behind Officine Générale, which has been making that elusive, chic French style just a bit more attainable for Francophiles globally since 2012.

Rebekah Peppler is a Paris-based food, travel, and lifestyle writer and stylist for The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and more. Her latest cookbook, le SUD, was published in 2024. When she’s not working, you can find Rebekah cooking, eating, and drinking with friends in the 18th arr.

Sofia Coppola needs no introduction. One of our favorite filmmakers, she just launched Important Flowers, a publishing imprint of books that reflect her interests across film, fashion, art and photography. She lived in Paris with her family for several years before moving back to NYC. 

Sophia Achaval and Lucila Sperber are the Argentine co-founders of ÀCHEVAL, a Paris-based fashion brand inspired by the gaucho spirit.

Tony Conrad is a founder and investor, former board director of Blue Bottle Coffee and current board member of the Tony Hawk Foundation, holder of Parking Karma and Drip Coffee Skills.

Victoire de Taillac-Touhami co-founded the apothecary brand Officine Universelle Buly, which has several locations in Paris.  

Vincent Ribat has always been passionate about the world of luxury luggage. With a background in interior design, he created the bags & accessories line Rue de Verneuil in 2014.