During a trip to Korea a few years ago, Geneviève discovered a revolutionary concept. The idea is simple: you sit down at a table, and while enjoying hot drinks and pastries, you write… a letter to yourself! When she returned to France a few weeks later, everything changed: there were no letter-writing cafes in the country to recreate the experience. Without wasting any time, she made a decision—since it didn’t exist, she would create the first one! And for that, she set up shop in the 11th district, on Faubourg-du-Temple Street, between République and Belleville. We tested this super cool concept for you, and we’re excited to share our experience.
Introspection for Everyone
Talking to yourself, we do it all the time. Whether in thought or out loud, at home or in the street, we all have moments of wandering thoughts.
listening to the little voice that runs around in our heads, which can spend hours decoding even the slightest of our actions. So, while, in principle, writing a letter to oneself may seem easy – after all, we do it a bit all the time – it’s actually a little more special than it seems, and that’s the exercise Café Pli invites you to embrace.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Here, we choose a drink from a pretty simple but very effective list of beverages offered. For the foodies, we also go for a savory or sweet snack. Then comes the eagerly awaited moment : we pick our card from the designs available (all specially imagined for the place), our favorite pens, stickers, washi tapes, in short, everything we need to let our imagination run wild. Everything is ready for a time that's as interesting as it is fun.
No blank page syndrome
For some, it’s the most dreaded moment : having to put their more or less intimate thoughts down on paper. I can see you trembling and sweating in fear of writing nonsense or, worse, writing nothing at all. The good news is that there are several solutions available to you. D&e
acute;jà, remember that the only person who can judge you is yourself! Then, rest assured, the Café Pli, with its huge (and funny) wall of mailboxes and mismatched furniture, is a place where you'll feel great, and where inspiration comes naturally.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
And for those who, despite everything, would still continue to block, no worries. On-site, you'll find card games that feature some pretty personal questions, to ask among friends or keep to yourself, which will give you solid food for thought for topics to discuss. And if, really, nothing comes to mind, then we can make beautiful drawings and write jokes. You can even slip in a photo taken on-site thanks to a booth! It’s something, and it will bring you joy when you receive your lovely card on your chosen date.
A 100% approved concept
The Café Pli is a super family-friendly and cozy place, where you can reconnect with a sacred tradition: the art of writing. Alone or in a group, you take some time for yourself, to treat yourself and recharge a bit. The great thing is that the cards are included in the price of the drinks, and you...
master everything, from choosing the letter to deciding the date to send it (which can be as much as 20 years later!) including the wax seal to close the envelope… Which you pour yourself, and we just love that !
© Solenne Carreras
To wrap things up, two initiatives are being offered to you, and to be honest, we couldn't decide which one we preferred. On one hand, there’s a question box. The concept is simple: every week, the Café Pli asks a question. If you drop your answer into the box, you get to take home someone else's answer! And on the other hand, there’s a correspondence system set up with the association 1 letter 1 smile, allowing you to write to someone who is feeling isolated. It's a lovely, very lovely proposal, at absolutely no extra cost. So, are you ready to share your thoughts?
Café Pli
38, Faubourg-du-Temple Street – 11th
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