How to host a Salon Party like a Parisian

With the rise of at-home cafe parties and aesthetically creative gatherings in 2025, we're looking to the Parisian Salons of the early 1900's for inspiration where primarily female, like-minded creatives met to share revolutionary ideas and experiences.

Why Host a Parisian‑Style Salon?

When Always Sunday was founded, it began as a supper club. Lexi moved from Miami to her 200 year old Georgian house in Bath, but she missed the company of the creatives from her art school days. The constant back and forth of ideas and the excitement of being among creative people. And so, opening her doors, she welcomed local artists, architects, sculptors, potters, illustrators, and more into her home for an evening of exceptional food and company. She worked with florists and chefs to fashion an enchanting setting for those present and among these creatives she felt rejuvenated and inspired.

It was not so unlike the salons of the late seventeenth century. Public exhibitions of artwork in Paris attracted a diverse group of Parisians who were interested in works of art, architecture and design and over time, these gatherings moved into the homes of wealthy aristocrats and were increasingly hosted by the influential women in society. The hostess at these occasions, or 'Grande Dame', allowed women a safe space to share revolutionary ideas in a time when women’s voices were largely confined to their own private spaces.

What is the history of a Parisian Salon Party?

With a guest list featuring great literary, political and philosophical minds of the time, new ideas about education, class, and individual rights, as well as art and design, were borne out of these conversations. It’s believed that these gatherings may well have affected the decisions of French government as many of the attendees would have been the daughters and wives of ministers and politicians, and therefore highly influential during the French Revolution. By the 19th century, the salon party became one of the most important cultural and political centres in France and invites to certain households became intensely sought after.

1. Curate your Parisian party setting

It’s been alluded that many of the early salonnieres were held in the bedroom where a lady, reclining on her bed, would receive close friends on chairs or stools drawn around her. It’s likely that as these gatherings grew, they moved to larger spaces like the drawing room that were equally lavishly decorated with crystal chandeliers, velvet drapes, and softened with plush seating and candlelight.

Of course, you don't have to host in your bedroom (although we love that for you), instead choose an intimate yet elegant space like a drawing room over a formal dining room and furnish it with plenty of candlelight, plush seating and layers of quilted silk soft accessories like our Limited Edition Cushions.

Although you may start with a dinner, create cosy corners using armchairs, sofas and even dining chairs huddled together. We find that guests often split off to smaller gatherings as the night goes on in a bid to regroup and recover from possible over socialisation. It will keep the conversation fresh as new formations are created and allow those more introverted to feel comfortable enough to step up to the soapbox.

2. Make your own Parisian Jazz Playlist

Want to add that Parisian jazz cafe aesthetic to your party? Install a vintage radio or retro gramophone and transport your guests to a jazz bar in the early 1900's with a handpicked French-inspired playlist like this one.

3. Serve a Parisian menu

Don't get bogged down cooking five courses of French fine dining, be present with your guests and instead of cooking, offer a simple charcuterie board with cheese, saucisson, freshly baked baguette and olives in rustic handmade ceramics (a firm French food favourite) all served on a marble or wood grazing platter.

4. Start Some Real Conversation

We all know that small talk is the bane of social gatherings. The 'how's work's and 'what did you do this weekend's are the straight-laced, grey-pinstriped accountants of the party world. Inoffensive and moderately but ultimately they're not the life of the party, you’ll make your polite greetings at the beginning of the party and do anything to avoid them the rest of the night.

The best parties have that special guest; the elusive and just a bit dangerous 'what if'. She's mysterious, sexy, full of potential, and you never know how the night is going to end with her around.

Encourage your guests to engage in some genuine conversation with thought-provoking prompts and activities like conversation cards, classic games or even invite your friends to share a book reading or a short talk on their passion to provoke debate.

5. Have an after-dinner surprise

Of course, Parisian salons were the original book clubs; translating documents and doctrines, discussing the findings and exploring new ideas (with probably a bottle of Bordeaux or two) but we love to introduce our guests to an entirely new experience at our parties.

Have you ever tried absinthe the traditional way? Bring out the big guns with a traditional absinthe fountain and teach your guests how to drink the green fairy like they're in a jazz bar in Paris with our Always Sunday Guide to drinking Absinthe.

The idea is to create an experience that fosters connection and creativity; to welcome the diverse opinions of a group of individuals in a safe and beautiful space.

A Parisian Salon Party Checklist:

1. CHOOSE YOUR GUEST LIST WISELY - Mix creatives, artists and even philosophers for an all rounder conversation circle to get people talking.

2. CURATE YOUR PARISIAN SETTING - Decorate with plenty of candlelight, quilted silk soft accessories and plush seating.

3. MAKE A JAZZ PLAYLIST - Transport your guests to a 1900's jazz bar with a vintage radio playing.

4. SERVE A CHARCUTERIE BOARD - A marble grazing platter piled with French bread and olives

5. GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED - Invite your guests to give a talk or a reading from their favourite book.

6. PLAN A GRAND SURPRISE - Introduce something unexpected like an absinthe fountain to learn how to drink absinthe the Always Sunday way.