Author: paris-bistro

Interior designer and photographer, Californian Joanie Osburn has always had a passion for the world of Parisian bistros and cafés. Not just for their decor and scenography but for the human relationships they create. She herself ran a café in California’s Nappa Valley, famous for its vineyards. She only served French wines but also sold bistro furniture.Joanie has just published Café Society, a book illustrated with her photos dedicated to Parisian cafés full of life, characters and movements which will certainly serve the cause of those who defend the art of living in Parisian cafés. However, the lady does not…

On Wednesday, November 30, the French baguette entered the intangible heritage of humanity by Unesco. With the beret on the head and the liter of wine, the baguette was for a long time a symbol of the French. Every day 12 million French people go to their bakery. This recognition of the baguette had been heavily promoted for the past 5 years by the bakers’ union. The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, on a state visit to the USA, spoke of this victory as a recognition of the French way of life. The UNESCO application file explains that the…

From the south of the Loire to the Pyrenees, the south west of France is geographic aera with imprecises borders. From Clermont-Ferrand to Birarritz via Carcassonne and Bordeaux, is the rugby country. Yet, it is also a state of mind, marked by a culture of conviviality and sharing. This attribute is found most visibly in its gastronomy, so in Paris the Chez Papa restaurants allow you to savour the cuisine and experience this state of mind. Unusually for Paris bistros, meals are served throughout the day and the waitstaff are exceptionally friendly and helpful. Because Papa, ‘Dad’, is a famous…

With more than a century of history, les Noces de Jeanette is not a simple restaurant but an institution. Inside, the décor evokes the story of the Opéra Comique. Originally known as Poccardi, the restaurant then took the name of ‘Les Noces de Jeannette’ [‘Jeannette’s Wedding’] after a one-act opéra comique by Victor Massé, which premiered in 1853. The opera was performed as a curtain raiser 1400 times in the Salle Favart, just across the road. With its five rooms, Les Noces de Jeannette can host business lunches, romantic meals for two or family dinners, as well as private, family…

What would Paris and France be without its many colourful bistros and terrace cafés? They give uniqueness to the city and are major elements of French life, romance and pleasure. It is the experience of uniqueness and character of each city that is under threat. The bistros and sidewalk cafés of France are threatened by the standardization of the world. Today, the city centers of the big metropoliseis tend to be very similar. Everywhere, the same signs, logos,  fast-food chains and take-away shops with identical decoration and comparable atmospheres.  But cafés are unique places that identify a destination. Paris and France are still slightly spared by…

History, pleasure and fun. Stories of artists, writers like Henry Miller and of all kinds of personalities, people that came for a meal or a drink at Wepler’s to find the atmosphere of this typical Parisian Brasserie. For more over a hundred years the Wepler, the largest oyster house in Paris, has brought happiness to the connoisseurs of fresh and quality food. Located between Montmartre and Pigalle, this brasserie remains a must to Paris lovers. The Brasserie Wepler celebrated its 100 years in 1992. Through the century, Wepler has witnessed the evolution of its neighborhood, of the surrounding cabarets, of…

In front of the Montparnasse Tower, a Bouillon Chartier replaced the old 1900 Montparnasse restaurant. It is not a creation but a renaissance of the address, 116 years after its first inauguration by Edouard Chartier. On his benches, Modigliani must have certainly drink absinthes… It is a miracle that this restaurant is so well preserved. It belongs to the category of Bouillons. They are not bistros but popular Parisian restaurants originally intended for employees and renowned for their very good value for money. The first was created in 1860 by Alexandre Duval, where only broths were served. Thus, those nostalgic…

Vladimir Putin has just authorized an amendment to the liquor law which reserves the exclusive use of the term “champagne” to Russian producers. French Champagne producers will be able to keep the word Champagne in Latin but therefore have to change the labels to Cyrillic for the appellation “bubbly wines” when importing to Russia. The Russian president is following in the footsteps of Stalin, because it was indeed, under “the Father of Nations”, as Stalin was nicknamed, that the Soviet champagne Sovetskoye champanskoye was launched. The sparkling wine technique produced in the former USSR was developed in 1928, created from aligoté…

One thing is certain, the Covid will have demonstrated something that seemed so natural that we did not talk about it: the attachment of Parisians to the terraces of theirs cafes and bistros.Because since May 19, first phase of a progressive reopening, Parisians have flocked to the terraces. At the moment, the cafes are limite to no more than 50% of their customers in their terraces. To compensate for the loss of revenue, thethe municipality has authorized cafes and restaurants to expand and install ephemeral terraces, on parking spaces instead of cars. So the streets are filled with terraces that…

A restaurant doesn’t become a legend by accident, and it certainly can’t stay that way by resting on its laurels. Chartier is over 100 years old and still in the very prime of life. The restaurant is dear to native Parisians, which might help explain why it is just as beloved by tourists from the world over. In 1896, the Bouillon Chartier was born out of a very simple concept – provide a decent meal at a reasonable price and give customers good service in order to earn their loyalty. 50 million meals, and only four owners later, the recipe…