Pssst, grab a pen and write these down. Laura Jackson knows a thing or two about good taste. Her shoppable editorial magazine Glassette is your go-to for the best interiors, food, travel and culture recs out there.
To celebrate the launch of Papier x Glassette, we asked Laura to open up her address book and share her favorite places for a Euro summer.
Favorite café: Violet Bakery, London
Violet Bakery is one of those places where I always feel completely at home.
Claire Ptak is an amazing Californian pastry chef who trained at Chez Panisse, and she makes the most incredible cakes. Her sheet cakes are something I always order for celebrations. They’re joyful, delicious and always feel really special without being too formal.
The coffee is great too, but I think it’s the warmth of the place that keeps me going back. It has that lovely neighbourhood feeling where you can pop in for coffee and cake and instantly feel comfortable. I’d order whatever seasonal cake is on the counter, but if there’s sheet cake, definitely have that. A weekday morning is probably the nicest time to go, when it feels a little quieter.
Favorite restaurant: La Colombe d’Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
One of my favorite restaurants in Europe is La Colombe d’Or, in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. It’s one of those places that just ticks every box for me because you have incredible food, somewhere beautiful to stay and the most amazing art all around you. The walls are filled with works by artists including Picasso, Matisse, Braque, Calder and Léger, so it feels almost like you’re eating inside a living gallery.
I love sitting outside in the courtyard with a glass of champagne and the big basket of vegetable crudités. It’s such a simple thing, but it’s perfect there.
The pool is also amazing, and I just love places where you can eat, stay and be completely surrounded by art. I’d go in late spring, early summer or towards the end of September, once some of the crowds have gone. And always take a photograph of the menu. It’s such a lovely little memory to keep.
Favorite place to stay: Great Blasket Island, County Kerry, Ireland
One of the most incredible places I’ve ever stayed was Great Blasket Island, just off the coast of Ireland. We went last summer and it was honestly magical. You take a boat across the water, and when you arrive, you feel completely removed from normal life. We stayed somewhere with no electricity, and it was very simple and completely no-frills, but it was pure bliss.
The children ran free, we swam in the sea and everyone was properly present. It ended up being a really important holiday for us as a family and, looking back, it spurred on quite a lot of changes in our lives. It definitely isn’t a hotel experience, but that’s exactly why I loved it. You go for the landscape, the freedom and the feeling of being disconnected from everything.
I’d visit in late spring or summer, when you can make the most of the long days and the boat crossings.
Hidden gem: Portscatho and Porthcurnick Beach, Cornwall, England
It’s probably not really a hidden gem anymore because I’ve told so many people about it, but Portscatho and Porthcurnick Beach will always be incredibly special to me and my family.
I’ve been going there my whole life. I got married on that beach, and it’s somewhere I know I’ll always return to. It’s become completely woven into our family story. It’s so beautiful, but more than that, I love the way it makes me feel. When I’m there, I feel as though I’m right at the edge of the world, completely away from everything. Go for a walk, swim in the sea, spend time on the beach and don’t try to do too much. It’s really a place to slow down and just enjoy being there. Late spring or early autumn is particularly lovely, when it’s a little quieter but the light is still beautiful.
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