Paris, a city renowned for its captivating sensory experiences, offers much more than just delicious food. Each bite is an adventure, a journey through aroma, presentation, and ambience. The city’s restaurants are not just places to eat, but stages for history to unfold, adding an enchanting frisson to your dining experience. Join us as we explore some of the most captivating Parisian restaurants, where timeless elegance meets culinary brilliance.
Timeless Elegance: Maxim’s and Laurent
Maxim’s, arguably Paris’s most legendary restaurant, needs little introduction. This Art Nouveau masterpiece boasts a classified interior that’s a symphony of floral lamps, botanical stained glass, and opulent ruby and mahogany hues. It’s a place where history unfolds, having hosted a who’s who of A-list clientele, from Marcel Proust to Brigitte Bardot to Mick Jagger, and has graced the silver screen in films like Gigi, Chéri, and Midnight in Paris.
But Maxim’s is not simply resting on its laurels. This 130-year-old restaurant is experiencing a revival with a refreshed management that has revitalized its storied menu of French gastronomic classics. Indulge in the cheese soufflé and crêpe Suzette, and soak up the exotic ambience – not to mention the late-night bar.
Laurent, a salmon-pink Pompeian-style pavilion nestled within the charming Jardin des Champs-Élysées, is another restaurant steeped in history. This former royal hunting lodge, transformed into a restaurant in 1842, has long been a place of power, hosting influential business lunches and dinners due to its proximity to the Élysée Palace and numerous embassies.
Under the stewardship of Paris Society, Laurent has undergone a stylish transformation, orchestrated by Cordélia de Castellane, artistic director of the group and overseer of Dior Maison. The result is a harmonious blend of black and white floor tiles, pastel walls, and glittering chandeliers, creating an airy and elegant atmosphere. The Belle Époque greenhouse allure is enhanced by potted palms, while the menu offers sensory delights, such as crudités with soufflé aioli, sea scallops with truffle vinaigrette, and golden caviar mousseline brioche, culminating in a glistening dessert trolley.
History and Innovation: Lafayette’s and La Tour d’Argent
Lafayette’s, the most anticipated new restaurant of 2023, is nestled within the glamorous salons of an early eighteenth-century townhouse, formerly the residence of the Marquis de Lafayette. This French hero of the American Revolution entertained guests here regularly from 1827 until his death in 1834.
Chef Mory Sacko, the breakout star of French Top Chef Season 11, honors this inspiring history with a Gallic menu infused with American and African influences. Experience a fusion of flavors with dishes like corn chowder encased in puff pastry, fried chicken, sole meunière in champagne sauce, sweet potato curry, and a cheeseburger accompanied by Cajun-spiced fries.
This melting pot of a menu reflects Lafayette’s love of travel and adventure, while the plush, candlelit interiors evoke the warmth and conviviality of the Marquis’ final years.
La Tour d’Argent, the most anticipated restaurant renovation of 2023, is an iconic Parisian landmark that embodied haute cuisine for twentieth-century visitors. This gastronomic institution, tracing its roots back to 1582, has a history that spans centuries and attracted royalty, political figures, and business titans.
The current building, dating back to 1830, has witnessed a spectrum of high-society patrons, from playboys to princes, courtesans to countesses. In 1911, the esteemed Terrail family took over, elevating La Tour d’Argent to multi-starred heights.
The latest renovation, overseen by grandson André Terrail, preserves the signature pressed duck dish and the spectacular river view of Notre-Dame, but adds a modern twist. The sixth-floor dining room now boasts a streamlined style, while a zinc-adorned rooftop bar offers a casual alternative, and a first-floor speakeasy-esque bar provides a welcoming ambiance.
A Legacy of Elegance: Procope and Lapérouse
Procope, one of Paris’s first cafés, opened in 1686 and has been a restaurant ever since. The chandelier-lit dining rooms, adorned with mirror walls, antique furniture, and curiosities, evoke the Age of Enlightenment. These rooms even house a desk and hat that belonged to Voltaire and Napoléon, two of its most famous patrons.
With the opening of its Café-Glacier room, Procope pays homage to its original history. This new Salon de Café is a luxurious retreat to savor coffee, hot chocolate, ice cream, and pastries, harking back to its early days when it was renowned for serving iced drinks and coffee.
Lapérouse, though renovated in 2019, is a must-mention in this exploration of Parisian restaurant history. Its revival, a testament to Paris’s passion for preserving its culinary heritage, has sparked a trend of revitalizing the city’s glamorous food institutions.
Lapérouse’s story began in 1766 as a wineshop serving snacks, but it was during the Belle Époque that it transformed into a gastronomic sensation. The lavishly decorated private rooms, accessible through a secret stairway, became a favorite haunt for libertines of the late nineteenth century. These rooms, adorned with patinaed wall paintings, crystal chandeliers, and scratched mirrors, whisper tales of past pleasures and indiscretions.
Today, Lapérouse continues to offer lavish dining rooms, a traditional French menu, and a ground-floor bar that starred in Midnight in Paris, a film celebrating the multifaceted layers of Parisian cultural history.
Paris offers an enchanting tapestry of culinary history, where gastronomic delights are woven with timeless elegance and captivating tales of the past. From legendary restaurants like Maxim’s and La Tour d’Argent to reimagined gems like Laurent and Lapérouse, these Parisian institutions invite you to indulge in a unique dining experience, where every bite is a journey through time.
