Brianna Holt's Decadent Paris
The award-winning author on the cafés, wine bars, and neighborhood spots where days stretch and nights linger.
Brianna Holt’s Paris is unhurried. The author of “In Our Shoes,” whose work has appeared in The New York Times, GQ, and Vogue, is pulled to places that invite a slow burn, shifting between café days and wine bar nights.
For Co-Sign Vol. 003, she shares the places she returns to for writing, people-watching, and letting the night unfold.
THE CO-SIGNS
Vol. 003: Brianna Holt
Where to go in Paris when you’re feeling a little decadent, according to Brianna.
For Writing
Soho House Paris, Pigalle (9th arrondissement)
Velvet armchairs and a rooftop pool hidden behind an unassuming facade. I love writing here and then ending a session with a glass of wine or 15 minutes in the sauna.
The Hoxton Hotel, 2nd arrondissement
Sunlight flooding the courtyard and the soft hum of laptops and coffee cups. It’s where I go when I need the feeling of productive anonymity.
Merci, 3rd arrondissement
A no-laptop café and bookshop with an assortment of pastries, cakes, and coffees. I love it because it reminds me that not every creative moment has to be productive to be meaningful.
For Natural Wine
Chambre Noir, 11th arrondissement
Dim lighting, small tables, and a changing menu of light bites. Wine bottles serve as both the decor and the dessert here.
Rojo, 3rd arrondissement
Spanish-leaning small plates and natural wine poured generously. It feels warm, social, and just a little bit chaotic in the best way.
Le Baron Rouge, 12th arrondissement
Standing outside with a glass in hand near the Marché d’Aligre crowds. Their wine and cheese options are endless.
Septime La Cave, 11th arrondissement
A tiny wine cave that feels like a hidden jewel box. An absolute must-visit for anyone wanting a great wine experience in Paris.
For Dining
Mary Celeste, Marais, 3rd arrondissement
Natural wine, oysters, and a buzzing corner location. It always feels like the start of a very good night.
Le Coyote, 3rd arrondissement
Low lighting and plates meant to be shared. It feels cozy, queer, and slightly American.
Early June, 10th arrondissement
Seasonal plates and soft lighting. Eating here feels like being let in on a neighborhood secret.
Red Sauce, 10th arrondissement
American-Italian comfort food in Paris. It feels nostalgic and indulgent, like a tiny piece of home. In the evening, the restaurant transitions into a nightlight spot.
Marla, 18th arrondissement
Most vibey hidden gem for dinner. Come for the shared plates, stay for the cocktails.
Café Charlot, Marais (3rd arrondissement)
Classic Paris café energy with people-watching built in. Be prepared to spend hours here.
For Drinking
Deviant, 10th arrondissement
Low lighting, loud music, and a slightly rebellious energy. It feels like Paris after midnight.
Le Progrès, Marais (3rd arrondissement)
Crowds spilling onto the street with glasses in hand. It feels chaotic, social, and impossible not to love. Be prepared to run into someone you know.
La Perle, Marais (3rd arrondissement)
A legendary corner terrace perfect for long afternoons. It feels timeless and effortlessly cool. My first stop before a night of going out with friends.
Classique, 9th arrondissement
Perfectly balanced cocktails and dim lighting. It feels elegant without trying too hard.
Serpent à Plume, 3rd arrondissement
Cocktails in a dramatic, vibey setting. It feels like stepping onto a glamorous film set.
Le Mansart, Pigalle (9th arrondissement)
Bustling terrace and late-night energy. It feels young, social, and endlessly lively.
Hôtel Grand Amour, 10th arrondissement
A dreamy hotel bar with lush interiors. It feels romantic, cinematic, and slightly surreal.
**For a Google map of Brianna’s Paris, click here.**
THE CITY INTERVIEW
How did you end up in Paris and what made you stay?
I first lived in Paris during the summer of 2023 and fell, somewhat predictably, in love with the city and its people. That summer planted the idea that Paris might one day become more than a temporary chapter, and I began quietly researching long-term visa options.
By August 2025, the timing felt right. I had reached a point in New York where my life felt full, but also strangely complete, as though I had taken that chapter as far as it could go at that moment. As a writer, stagnation is the quickest route to creative paralysis, and I felt an urgent need for new rhythms and new questions. Paris, a city I already knew and where I already had community, felt like the most natural place to begin planting new roots. I was also craving distance from the American political climate and the emotional fatigue that comes with living inside it.
On your best days, what does living here feel like?
On my best days, living in Paris feels like existing in a space where my nervous system is not constantly on alert.
How has living in Paris shaped your sense of self, your creative practice, or your worldview?
Living in Paris has forced me into a slower, more deliberate pace of life. That slowness has been both a gift and a challenge. It has required me to stretch in unfamiliar ways: learning to communicate in another language, navigating social customs that don’t always come intuitively, and building daily structure without the structure of a traditional full-time job.
But in that stretching, I’ve found expansion. My creative practice has become more observational and patient. Living here has made me more comfortable with uncertainty and more attentive to the small, everyday rituals that shape life.
What’s one thing people consistently misunderstand or get wrong about Paris, and what do they miss out on because of it?
Americans, in particular, tend to hold a highly romanticized vision of Paris from the media we consume. We imagine it as effortless, cinematic, and extremely charming. In reality, Paris can be a difficult city. Bureaucracy is slow and often opaque. Daily life requires patience, persistence, and a tolerance for inconvenience. Building community takes time, and the city does not always reveal itself easily.
But it’s precisely this resistance that people miss out on. When you move beyond the fantasy, Paris becomes richer and more textured. It’s a city that rewards endurance, curiosity, and humility.
Describe the soul of Paris in three words.
Layered. Enduring. Inspiring.
CO-SIGN WORLDWIDE
The sexiest hotel you’ve ever stayed at:
Domaine de l’Astragale à Saint-Tropez. Secluded af and makes you feel like you’re on a honeymoon.
The most beautiful place you’ve ever visited:
The Amalfi Coast — made me feel like I was on the set of a White Lotus season.
Overrated destination:
London. The food was pretty bland and the weather was always grey.
Underrated destination:
Mallorca. It’s basically an artist hub that hasn’t been overrun with tourists.
A destination, hotel, or experience still on your bucket list:
Lake Como, Italy. Every time I see a friend there, I get fomo.
A place you’ve gatekept — until now:
Sandhamn, Sweden. I’ve never been somewhere so peaceful and relaxing. You could hear a pen drop here.
The greatest city in the world right now:
New York City, forever and always. There just isn’t any city in the world that compares.