Casual comforts
Abbaye de la Bussière, Kunitoraya, Bourse properties, Crimson, Adélie Ducasse, Paris Art Week, London arts bookstores, MORE
GETAWAYS • Burgundy
Abbey road
I only had one night at Abbaye de la Bussière (a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Paris), but it was enough to feel the thrill of being somewhere extraordinary. Founded in the 12th century by the Cistercians, the abbey’s stone cloisters, still ponds, and quiet gardens set a serene, unhurried rhythm, reinforced by the attentive and thoughtful staff.
That evening, my companion and I dined at 1131, the abbey’s fine-dining restaurant, where Burgundy’s terroir is celebrated in a smartly curated way. There are seasonal classics like escargots, frogs, freshwater fish, blackcurrants, and honey from the park’s flowers. Wines suggested by the staff hit all the right notes. I also enjoyed glimpsing at the Bistrot des Moines, also at the abbey, whose cozy, approachable atmosphere promises simpler, rustic dishes to explore on a future visit.
The rooms themselves balance history and comfort with quiet elegance and details like exposed beams, soft linens, and antique touches. Walking the cloisters and gardens felt like a meditation in motion, each corner offering a small, deliberate pleasure. Even in a brief visit, the abbey encourages slow observation and the kind of lingering attention that makes a short stay feel surprisingly worth the trip.
The next morning, I went for a walk with my dog as the sun rose, and he promptly teased the ponies grazing on the front lawn. Breakfast followed in the sunlit dining room, where Arnaud, the general manager, joined me for a brief chat over a final cup of coffee, his warmth and attentiveness making the morning, and the stay, quietly unforgettable. –Marie Sadron
→ Abbaye de la Bussière (La Bussière-sur-Ouche) • 19 rue de Saint-Aubin • Rates from 408 €/wknd night.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Checking into Château de la Commaraine in Pommard, a new Burgundy getaway • Inside Emanuel Ungaro’s treasure-filled Provençal hideaway • Air France to fly direct CDG-LAS (Las Vegas) route starting in April • London’s Chiltern Firehouse sets 04/2027 reopening • The rough magic of Porto.
REAL ESTATE • On the Market
Three properties currently on offer around Bourse in the 2nd arr:
→ Rue Notre-Dame des Victoires (metro Bourse, above) • 2BR/1.1BA, 92 m2 apartment • Ask: 1.69M € • 3-room pied-à-terre on 3rd floor • Annual maintenance/condo fees: 3750 € • Agent: Mathieu Coipeault, Daniel Feau.
→ Rue du Mail (metro Bourse) • 2BR/2BA, 106 m2 duplex apartment • Ask: 1.785M € • modern design on top two floors of 19th-century building, suitable as pied-à-terre • Annual maintenance/condo fees: 4500 € • Agent: Guillaume Puech, Daniel Feau.
→ Rue des Jeûneurs (metro Sentier) • 4BR/3BA, 125 m2 duplex apartment • Ask: 1.95M € • top-floors unit with triple exposure • Annual maintenance/condo fees: 3976 € • Agent: Victor Thiery, Fairway Luxury Real Estate.
PARIS WORK & PLAY LINKS: In wake of heist, Louvre has reopened • 8 must-see fairs and events during Paris Art Week • Early sales at Art Basel Paris see collectors favoring substance over speculation • Chatting with Quedubon’s Ollie Clark, a chef not made for Instagram • Paris restaurants for special occasions.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
In the red
In the world of high-end shopping, tiny and independent Crimson stands out for the quality, design, and savoir-faire that owner Linda Wright brings to her customers. High-end cashmere and other knitwear are displayed on towering shelves in countless shades and updated classic designs, in the shop located steps from Champs-Elysees and Avenue Montaigne.
Catering to both men and women, the atelier-like boutique is an ode to luxury and comfort. A former model and fashion editor, Wright chose to focus on the versatility and timelessness of knitwear for the shop she took over in 2004. The staff here is knowledgeable and experienced, the colors have names like turmeric and port, and the tops are elegant and adaptable to business attire as much as a pair of stylish house pants. Beyond the effortlessly tasteful tops and sweaters, the selection of scarves and mittens (as well as other accessories) make it more than worth this trip to the 8th. –Andra Zeppelin
→ Shop: Crimson (8th arr) • 8 Rue Marbeuf • Mon-Sat 10h-19h30.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Slip Away
Mireille Mathieu • L’Olympia (9th arr) • Sat @ 20h • balcony cat 2, 75 € per
Khatia Buniatishvili • Grande salle Pierre Boulez - Philharmonie (Parc de la Villette) • Sun @ 18h • cat 1, 90 € per
Perfume Genius • Le Trianon (18th arr) • Thu 30/10 @ 19h30 • GA, 36 € per
WORK • Friday Routine
Light speed
ADÉLIE DUCASSE • artist/designer • Adélie Ducasse
Neighborhood you work and live in: 5th arr
It’s Friday morning. How are you rolling into the weekend?
My home is my workspace, so I wake up surrounded by my creations: ceramic lamps, a custom-made sofa, paintings. It’s a colorful and joyful space, with a palette centered around primary colors. I start my day with a matcha latte and avocado toast, put on some music or a podcast, and dive into emails.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I often work outside at Cinéma du Panthéon or Le Floor. I try to exercise daily — pilates, yoga, or a walk through Jardin des Plantes, right across from my home. A lot of my time is spent on calls with my workshop in Italy, overseeing the production of my ceramic lamps, developing new prototypes, and coordinating deliveries. Each lamp is custom-made for the client, so I handle every order individually. I also make it a point to visit exhibitions regularly to stay inspired.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
A work-from-home snack at Cinéma du Panthéon, yesterday’s business lunch at Hôtel Hana and its Japanese-influenced restaurant. This weekend, brunch at Pluto inside Lafayette Anticipations, followed by evening drinks at Cravan in the 6th arrondissement.
How about a little leisure or culture?
The Fondation Louis Vuitton always has incredible exhibitions. Around Paris, I’d also recommend the Marta Pan and André Wogenscky Foundation or the Theo van Doesburg House for those interested in De Stijl aesthetics. Both are well worth the visit.
What was your last great vacation?
Mexico this summer. I fell in love with Mexico City, where I visited Luis Barragán’s houses and the extraordinary Parque & Casa Orgánica by Javier Senosiain. Before that, I was in Copenhagen, which is magical when the days grow longer and everyone swims in the Søbad. It’s a fantastic city for design and art, with highlights like the Louisiana Museum, Arne Jacobsen’s gas station, and the Design Museum Denmark.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A Gaetano Pesce lamp, Salvatore.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I love Isabel Marant, otherwise Le Bon Marché and my hairstylist Adrien Coelho at Palais Royal.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
London bookstores, arts and design
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Artwords (Broadway Market), contemporary visual arts and culture w/ith classic Hackney scene on weekends, statutory tote
ICA Bookstore (St James’s), radical art, design, and cultural studies; zines galore, no-frills decor
RIBA Books (Bloomsbury), Royal Institute of British Architects, curation follows function
Design Museum High Street Shop (Kensington), best of contemporary design, plus homeware and prints
November Books (Cecil Court), subcultures paradise featuring rare and secondhand editions; appointment only
Tenderbooks (Cecil Court), artist books, including hard-to-find and out-of-print runs
TPG Bookshop (Soho), photography book selection par excellence, fitting its location in The Photographers’ Gallery basement
IDEA (Soho, above), proclaimed ‘coolest bookshop in the world’; ring bell for vintage gems
Reference Point (Temple), post-War radical art, architecture, design, fashion, and culture in 180 The Strand, library/bookshop/bar
RESTAURANTS • FOUND Table
Bowled over
Steps from the Japanese restaurants and grocery stores clustered around Rue Sainte-Anne, Kunitoraya is part of a small network of eateries bringing casual Japanese comfort food to central Paris. The bustling udon bistro on Rue Villédo in the 1st arrondissement is the perfect place for a solo dinner.