One of my favourite things to do is try out new, unique estaurants in Paris. Yes, the food is certainly an important factor, but I actually tend to get more excited about the interior design, to be honest! Especially when you walk into a fresh, empty dining room, before anyone else has arrived – I was able to photograph this place without interference! Like my own personal showroom.
My favourite part of Floyd’s wasn’t just the rough floor, the rich wood, or the south-western elements – it was this lovely little sky-lit room in the very back. It almost looks as if you’ve stepped into the derelict courtyard of an adobe home in New Mexico. There’s even a little planter filled with cacti.
One question I often ask myself is why I like broken-down things so much. What about cracked stones, holes, and faded paint gets me going? My only guess is that the mixture of those dirty-looking things combined with clean, crisp, fresh furniture makes for a good pairing. White marble against a filthy stone floor: heaven. Perhaps I also like the idea of taking something old and making it new again, giving it a new life. Or another thought – maybe I love old things because I rarely saw anything constructed before the 1960s in Southern California. Things that look like they have a long history spark my imagination.
As far as the food goes, it’s heavily inspired by the South and the South-West of the US, but they also have a very British Sunday roast. The highlight for me was definitely the corn chowder. Almost on-par with my step-dad’s famous corn chowder! They also have BBQ ribs, cornbread, lemonade, etc.
Floyd’s is owned and operated by a French-American couple, so the international vibe is real (they even have pecan pie). The dining room becomes a bit more poppin’ during the dinner hours, so I would suggest grabbing food and some cocktails, and just chilling out here for a few hours with some good friends and good conversations.
You can find Floyd’s in the 10th Arrondissement – not the classiest of neighbourhoods, but not far from the Grand Boulevards area, which is full of pubs and nightlife. Just maybe don’t stray too far south past Strasboug-Saint-Denis, as I walked past what looked like a fair number of brothels the other day… haha. Just put on your “metro-face,” don’t speak english too loud, walk like you know where you’re going, and you’ll be fiiiiiine! Nobody wants to mess with someone who looks and acts like a true, tough Parisian.
11 rue d’Enghien, 75010 Paris
Metro Bonne Nouvelle or Chateau d’Eau
