On June 2, restaurants, cafés, and bars in Paris — still considered an orange zone in terms of COVID-19 risk — were able to open for business, exclusively in outdoor areas. I was one of several reporters from around the world to share a brief picture of the moment with Eater for their piece: One Day in June . This is the unedited version and includes additional photos by my friend and colleague, Joann Pai.
Until very recently, it felt inconceivable to imagine that the cornerstone of Parisian society would regain its place in everyday lives. But as the number of deaths and hospitalizations steadily declined, and restaurateurs ramped up their delivery offers to make it through the lockdown (and bring comfort to clients in the process), hope began returning.
Walking around eastern Paris on June 2 for phase two of the city’s post-confinement rebirth was not unlike the experience I distinctly remember in the week following the November 13 attacks, when locals flocked to their favorite bars and restaurants in solidarity. From the early risers gleefully settling onto café terraces for their first morning espressos to friends gathering for extended apéritifs, intrepid Parisians were determined to reclaim control over a…
