Love & basketball
THIBAULT MASSINA • Amour Drink
WORK • Friday Routine
THIBAULT MASSINA • bartender, content creator • Amour Drink
Neighborhood you live in: 3rd Arr
It’s Friday afternoon. How are you rolling into the weekend?
I’m meeting up with my business partner Paul, who handles videography and graphic design for our project, Amour Drink, at the coworking space La Felicità. It’s hands down the best spot to work in Paris. We grab two flat whites and plan out tomorrow’s shoot.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I write the recipe or script for the next day’s video while Paul is usually finishing up current edits. Then, we pool our ideas and review the storyboard, whether it’s for a tutorial or a spotlight on a specific location. I love my job intensely, because we’ve built something that’s truly ours and reflects who we are. We wrap up around 6p, and I head to the basketball court, alternating between jump rope and three-point shots. I started six months ago, and I’m loving it.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Today, I might head to Tempête, a restaurant in the 10th arrondissement run by three childhood friends from Brittany. The place is incredible; I’ve been going almost weekly for nearly two years. The guys have become close friends — I even spent Christmas with them last year. I’ll probably also stop by Le Cornichon to catch up with friends. It’s a trendy bistro offering affordable, well-executed French cuisine.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I love going to the Les 7 Parnassiens cinema. It’s unlike any other: The screening rooms are tiny, the screens are small, and it feels like you’re at someone’s house. I also plan to visit some friends at the gallery Ground Effect. There’s an exhibition by Jakman, a talented young artist who goes by the name “Urban Cowboy.” Plus, there’s a concert by Saints in the basement afterward.
Any weekend getaways?
I’m planning a sporty cycling trip to the Fontainebleau Forest — one of the most beautiful forests in the world, in my opinion — with a picnic on the rocks.
What was your last great vacation?
Since I travel a lot throughout the year for work, I prefer staying in France for my vacations. This summer, I went to the mountains — first to the Alps in Chamonix to visit friends, then to the Massif Central in Auvergne to help other friends renovate their house. I love the mountains, the fresh air, and the landscapes. There’s nothing better for disconnecting from the city’s pace and detoxing digitally.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A red leather Walk x Schott jacket — it’s stunning and feels satisfyingly heavy when I wear it.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I love wandering around the Strasbourg-Saint-Denis neighborhood in the 10th arrondissement, with its amazing shops: a fantastic bakery, wine cellar, cheesemonger, and the best Indian, herbalist, and Asian stores. It’s the perfect place to get inspired and find the best from every culture. I also have a special connection to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis — I worked as a wine merchant there for a year when I first arrived in Paris, and then spent five years at Le Syndicat, one of Paris’s best cocktail bars.