Drew Barrymore’s Paris Escape: Girlfriends, Sunsets, and Buttery Dinners

For a decade, Drew Barrymore and her closest friends have marked each year with a girls-only getaway. Usually, that means sand and surf. But for the 10th anniversary, they swapped the beach for the boulevards of Paris. And honestly? It was a perfect pivot.

In a personal account for Us Weekly, Barrymore describes the trip as a love letter to the city—and to friendship. “Paris is one of those places that never loses its magic,” she writes. She paints a picture of sidewalk cafes spilling onto cobblestones, aimless walks down tiny streets, late dinners, and butter. Lots of butter.

Highlights included a sunset cruise on the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower stealing the show. The group also toured the Musée d’Orsay, which Barrymore calls “one of the most beautiful places,” and wandered through the garden of gowns at La Galerie Dior. Dinner at L’Ami Louis, she says, felt like stepping into the Paris everyone dreams about.

Throughout the trip, Barrymore posted snapshots of her “Wishbones”—her term for these travel companions—along with a reminder that resonates beyond vacation: “We’re all so busy, but make time to be with the people who fill your cup.”

For Barrymore, the milestone trip proved that sometimes the best traditions are the ones you dare to change.