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 celebrating and preserving.

“Café Society: Time Suspended, The Cafés, & 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 a nontraditional travel guide, coffee table, and lifestyle 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. Osburn’s unique perspective, honed over many decades as an American in Paris exploring and capturing images of 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 Paris.