WORK • Friday Routine
SOPHIE PEYRARD • documentary filmmaker, culture writer, and reporter
Neighborhood you live & work in: 11th arr
It’s Friday morning. How are you rolling into the weekend?
It depends! When I’m deep in the editing of a TV documentary, like my recent one on Tim Burton, Monsters Within, Fridays are just another workday with long hours in front of screens, fully absorbed. But when I’m in a writing and research phase, like now, the rhythm shifts: mornings at home with coffee, reading and taking notes, then yoga before a quick lunch back home. In the afternoon, I like to loosen the day with a coffee out with friends, or an apéro that often stretches into dinner and marks the real start of the weekend.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today I’m working on my Substack newsletter, Anti-Algo Club, which I launched this summer. It’s free, twice a month, and it has quickly become my favorite space to share what inspires me most: music, documentary, and art, away from the pull of algorithms. Alongside that, I’ve also been invited to collaborate with BEAU Magazine as deputy editor-in-chief for their winter issue. BEAU is an independent publication that just launched an English edition. This afternoon, we have an editorial meeting to plan the next edition.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I love the weekday lunch menus at Paris restaurants. For around 25 euros, you can enjoy the full “entrée-plat-dessert” experience without breaking the bank. One of my favorites is Pluto, the restaurant inside Lafayette Anticipations. The food is refined and inventive, the setting is beautiful, and you can wander straight into the current exhibition afterward. This weekend I’m planning to try La Joie, a new Sri Lankan spot not far from where I live known for its vibrant flavors and lively atmosphere. Unless I fall back on one of my safe bets, like Café Content.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I often spend time wandering through galleries, usually with the help of Paris Gallery Map. It’s a great way to discover new artists and turn it into a walking tour. For the big exhibitions, whether at the Musée d’Art Moderne, Palais de Tokyo, or the Bourse du Commerce, I prefer to go during the week, which is one of the perks of being able to organize my own schedule. I do not see as many concerts as I did when I was working for the underground TV show Tracks on ARTE, but I still keep an eye on the lineups at the Trianon, La Gaîté-Lyrique, or L’Olympia.
Any weekend getaways?
My last getaway was to Margate, a seaside town in Kent. It’s about three and a half hours from Paris: Eurostar to London, then a train to the coast. I stayed at the wonderful Fort Road Hotel. Margate is home to Turner Contemporary and the Carl Freedman Gallery, and it is also where Tracey Emin, an artist I admire deeply, has established her foundation. The food scene is impressive, with standout names like Angela’s, Sète, or Sargasso. It was a brilliant discovery, a true alternative to London, with the sea, fresh air, and unforgettable sunsets.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I don’t usually spend on objects, but on experiences. My most recent was subscription to painting classes with Savoir Dessiner, which has become something I truly enjoy.
What store or service do you always recommend?
The record store Born Bad, a Parisian institution for vinyl and underground sounds
Arts Factory, a gallery for zines and graphic art
Papier Tigre for their beautifully designed stationery
The alcohol-free wine shop Déjà bu?
Buddy Buddy for their organic cinnamon roll nut butter
JJ Hings for ice cream
Where are you donating your time or money?
I support several causes, but if I had to highlight one, it would be Blast, an independent investigative media outlet in France. At a time when most major news outlets are owned by billionaires, supporting independent journalism feels crucial. Blast is led by a younger generation of journalists, including Salomé Saqué, whose book Résiste I particularly admire.