Café Society

The Parisian café is an integral part of the city’s daily life no matter the weather, the time of day or year, the mood or neighborhood. It is the spirit of the café, the dance of the waiters, the camaraderie of the patrons, the perpetual movement and joy, that brings Joanie Osburn to share a dollop of history, a shot of insight, and a boatload of images that celebrate the Paris café as a cultural heritage worth preserving. 

Café Society: Time Suspended, The Cafés, and Bistros of Paris is a beautifully presented view of the origins, progression, and current state of the centuries-long tradition of the Parisian café, bistro, and brasserie. The book is neither a history book nor a cookbook, but rather a nontraditional travel guide and coffee table book about a treasured lifestyle. Introductory text and timelines provide a concise narrative of the history and evolution of coffee, coffeehouses, cafés, bistros, and brasseries in Paris and across the globe and form a backdrop for the text and photos in the body of the book that highlights contemporary café life. 

The list of establishments by arrondissement at the back of the book will guide the traveler. Osburn’s unique perspective, honed over many decades as an American in Paris exploring and capturing café society, captivates and amuses with anecdotes and insider recommendations. Café Society: Time Suspended, The Cafés, and Bistros of Paris is a book that matters now as the world reopens and eager travelers return to France.