Our Story
We’re James and Elena, and Paris happened to us the way love usually does—gradually, then all at once.
Twenty-five years ago, we started visiting this city a few times each year. Back then, we were those tourists clutching a Rough Guide, getting lost in the Metro, and ticking off each classic Parisian thing to do. Fast forward to today: we’ve been living here full-time for five years, and Paris has become our daily reality—not just our vacation fantasy.
Our home sits in the 20th arrondissement, which feels a bit like where real Parisians actually live. Our work takes us everywhere from corporate offices in La Défense to creative studios in Belleville. This means we experience Paris as both insiders and eternal admirers.
James brings his American perspective and never-ending enthusiasm for Parisian café culture. Elena adds Italian sensibilities and the ability to actually pronounce French words correctly. Together, we’ve become locals who somehow always know about the new wine bar before it opens.
What Happened When We Stopped Being Tourists
Living here changed everything. You stop photographing every croissant and start having opinions about which boulangerie makes them best. You develop neighborhood loyalty. You learn that the “real” Paris exists in Tuesday morning markets and Thursday evening apéros, not just weekend monuments.
We’ve watched entire districts transform. We’ve seen Paris restaurants and bars close and reopen under new management. We’ve discovered that the best recommendations often come from casual conversations with shop owners who remember your name.
This daily immersion gives us something different from travel writers who fly in for a week. We know which Metro lines to avoid during rush hour and which ones smell year-round. We understand seasonal rhythms—when Parisians leave for vacation, when new restaurants launch, when neighborhoods come alive.
Why We Started Paris Playbook
Most guides either focus on obvious tourist spots or try so hard to be “authentic” that they recommend places locals wouldn’t actually visit. We wanted to bridge that gap.
The Problem With Most Paris Guides
Paris Playbook represents our honest recommendations—places we actually go, experiences we genuinely enjoy. If we put something on this site, it means we’ve spent our own time and money there and would happily return.
Travelers Who Want More
You’re planning a Paris trip, but you want recommendations beyond the usual suspects. You’d rather discover a brilliant neighborhood bistro than wait in line for overpriced tourist food near Notre-Dame. We cover everything from the best stays in Paris to fun, new, and unexpected Parisian things to do. We also keep on top of the latest local Paris news, so you’ll know when the latest strike is about to throw a spanner in your well-made plans.
Fellow Expats and Locals
You live here too, or you’re considering it. You want to explore your own city with fresh eyes. Sometimes locals need tourists’ enthusiasm to rediscover what makes their home special.
Repeat Visitors
Paris keeps changing, and so do you. That romantic weekend you had five years ago? Those restaurants might be gone, but better ones have opened. We help you stay current on everything from Paris style trends, gallery openings, free events, theater, and more.
How We Choose What to Share
Every recommendation starts with personal experience. We eat at the restaurants, attend the events, explore the neighborhoods. We return multiple times before deciding whether something deserves space on Paris Playbook.
We’re not trying to be comprehensive—Paris has thousands of restaurants, and frankly, many aren’t worth your time or money. We focus on quality over quantity.
Our taste runs toward places with character over places with marketing budgets. We prefer family-run establishments to chains. We like spaces that feel authentically Parisian rather than designed for social media.
What Living Here Really Means
We grocery shop at markets where vendors know our preferences. We complain about Metro delays and celebrate when our favorite restaurant adds a new dish.
This isn’t romantic expat fantasy—it’s ordinary life that happens to unfold in an extraordinary city. We deal with French bureaucracy, pay French taxes, and navigate French healthcare. We also get to walk past the Louvre on random Tuesday afternoons.
Living here means understanding Paris’s rhythms. August empties out. September brings energy and new openings. Winter drives everyone indoors. Spring transforms the city and everyone’s mood.
Connect With Our Daily Discoveries
We share real-time finds on Instagram (@theparisplaybook), longer thoughts on Facebook, and visual inspiration on Pinterest. Follow along to see Paris through our everyday experiences—not just the highlight reel.
Email us: hello@parisplaybook.com
