The Art of Becoming a Regular in Paris
How to find community and truly belong in Paris' hippest neighborhoods
Slice of Life Guides are personal, specific, and subjective glimpses into what makes Paris meaningful to someone. They’re not about what’s “best,” but about what’s beloved: the routines, routes, and rituals that shape our lives here. Each guide is partially or fully hand-drawn or handwritten, grounded in the idea that there are endless ways to live well in this city. They’re not exhaustive or definitive; they are one person’s obsessive perspective on their Paris. This edition: Saish’s guide to becoming a regular.
is the kind of person who seems to know everyone in this city. More impressively, it seems like everyone knows him too. Originally from India and raised in Dubai, he’s spent the past five years weaving himself into the fabric of Parisian life. A fluent French speaker, he’s deeply embedded in the city’s tech and venture scene, while also co-creating and championing communities like DM Dinner Club, Outrun run club, and vibe-coding Saturdays.
The first time you meet him, his big personality and bold presence can feel almost foreign to Parisians. He is unselfconscious, direct, and impossible to miss, because he will talk to you and earnestly listen. What grounds his approach is an unmistakable generosity. If staff end up in one of his film photos, he’ll give them a print with a note. When he travels, he brings back small food gifts for his favorite barkeeps, waiters, and baristas. He’ll meet other regulars at a bar or café, and the next thing you know, they’re at his place for apéro. It’s genuine, and it makes him magnetic.
Many of his favorite spots (Furia, for example, where he camped out every Friday evening for half a year when it first opened; and where our group of friends knew we could go after work without fail) are hotspots. But in Saish’s hands, they also become community gathering places and homes away from home. It’s hard to pull off—and exactly why I asked him about his playbook for becoming a regular in Paris.
Getting to Know Saish’s Paris
A memory that epitomizes your experience of Paris.
Walking around the Marais or the 11th and casually running into multiple groups of friends I haven’t seen in a while!
Your favorite neighborhood in Paris and why?
Easy answer: my new neighborhood. The sheer number of restaurants in the △ between St. Ambroise, Voltaire, and Bastille is reason enough.
Where do you find inspiration in the city?
Often walking in the unexplored corners, like the edges of the 13th arr.; tiny streets in the 5th, 6th, and 7th; and definitely in the village-like neighborhoods of the 19th and 20th.
A Parisian tradition you cherish.
The Salon de l’Agriculture! Where else can you experience the peak of what French terroir has to offer and yet manage to be completely sloshed?
Favorite French word or concept.
Bienveillance. Very difficult to translate to an adequate word in English.
[Editor’s Note: In French, bienveillance means kindness, goodwill, or benevolence in the sense of wishing well for others and treating them with care, respect, and understanding. Beyond just being nice, it implies a sincere, attentive, and generous disposition toward others.]
A common misconception about Paris that you’d like to dispel?
Strikes. They are not all the same. They exist on a spectrum of causes and activities.
How to Become a Regular in Paris
What are your favorite places to be a regular?
It used to be Furia but increasingly I find myself being a regular at Le Cornichon. Apart from being a card-carrying regular at Onze Bar, a cheeky glass (or bottle) at Cave Canaille is always welcome with a slice of Rori. Oh, and I cannot forget the brunches at Gramme 11.
Coming to my Indian side, I make occasional trips to Gare du Nord and Saravanaa Bhavan (who have changed places since) alongside Seeklo and Deb’s.
How would you describe Paris and “regular” culture in three words?
Sacred
Gatekept
Trust
Paris is, despite it being one of the global capitals, our home. And, especially since Instagram and TikTok have taken over our lives, many places remain “undiscovered” for maybe a week max.
Where in Paris can you be a regular?
Some new neighborhood spots I could see people (or myself) becoming a regular:
Where do you like to go to be a regular in your free time?
Onze Bar, Kissproof, Bar Nouveau, and Septime La Cave since now it’s practically behind my house. And the Centre sportif Émile Anthoine, which is right by the Eiffel Tower, and where I do Wednesday VO2Max runs with my club, Outrun.
What’s your approach to becoming a regular when you’re inhabiting a new neighborhood or city?
It starts with finding the place…
Pick your nearest pub (or cafe if you’re not into alcohol), go watch a match or read a book—it doesn’t matter what—and introduce yourself to the barkeep or barista. If you’re into health, pick small run clubs or biking groups that meet at spots around you (trust me, there’s always one)
Then, keep going for a solid month or so for them to remember you and for you to notice other regulars. Appearing regularly is the most important part. You can create a habit if you want, but different days and times works too.
…then it’s about the people…
If you have the space and time to do so, invite the great acquaintances you met for a meal at home, and boom you’re now a regular in your neighborhood or city.
…and it takes time.
You know you’re embedded when 2-3 people recognize you and ask how your holidays were (there are always holidays in France).
Hidden gems to hang out at multiple times in Paris that you think deserve more attention.
The garden spot right in front of the Saint-Ambroise church.
The PMU down your street (anyone’s street!).
Jardin du Port de l'Arsenal.
Is it possible to become a regular at a trendy place?
Yes, but I have a regularity law: The probability of being a regular at a place is inversely proportional to the trendiness of a place (within normal parameters! If a place is dead, there’s a reason; sanity and gut-check are implied).
Any common mistakes people should know about?
I think the biggest mistake I’ve seen people do is not getting the right side of the equation between being friendly (as a regular) and being genuine friends (that comes with quite some time, especially in France).
Emerging trends or movements that you find interesting or follow closely?
Two opposite answers:
Junk deluxe food (think chicken wings & caviar), in which Cendrillon excels
Bon, pas cher, cool places, where Le Cornichon is leading the charge
Editor’s Note:
Saish actually submitted this guide months ago, back in April 2025. I’ve been behind, but I like that it still holds true.
Have someone in mind whose Paris you’d like to see in this series? Reply here or drop me a note.
screaming, crying throwing up at the attention i'll be getting... but this is such a well-edited, thoughtful write-up you've produced i must accept 🙂↕️
Just stumbled upon your "Guides". This is the Paris I am learning to move during my visits. The small quiet tucked around a corner, becoming a regular Paris. I have frequented a few of the same places during my visits. Hoping to make the move permanent in couple of years. Merci. A bientôt.