While a simple stroll along the streets of Paris presents a feast for the eyes, these ten restaurants embodying Parisian elegance and innovative interior design will delight all the senses.
Sur Mesure
Conceived by the Jouin Manku Agency, the pristine space at Sur Mesure by Thierry Marx where white fabric is draped along the walls and ceiling and an elliptic crystal appears to be suspended in mid-air, invites into what feels like a contemporary cocoon. Awarded two Michelin stars thanks to the magic of Thierry Marx, each carefully concocted course plays on the senses, complimenting the surrounding blank canvas.
Lapérouse
The first restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars in 1933, Lapérouse is a place of myths, where the likes of Emile Zola, Marcel Proust, Victor Hugo, and Colette once gathered. Each intimate salon is uniquely embellished with lavish table settings, wall frescos, drapes by Pierre Frey, and crystal chandeliers. The largest dining room seating 30, L’Astrolabe reveals a world map on the ceiling recalling the epic journeys of famous navigator Lapérouse.
DAROCO Bourse
At the entrance to the storied Galerie Vivienne in what was once Jean-Paul Gaultier’s workshop, DAROCO Bourse entices both with its avant-garde design and authentically Neapolitan pizza and homemade pasta. It’s impossible not to gaze upwards at the mirrored ceiling reflecting the green marble tables and plant-filled walls, a vision brought to life by architects Olivier Delannoy and Francesca Errico. For a better view, head to the mezzanine tucked above the open kitchen.
Le Train Bleu
Take a journey without leaving Paris when dining at Le Train Bleu within Gare de Lyon train station. Designed by French architect Marius Toudoire and dating back to 1901, history is omnipresent. Each of the ornate dining rooms (protected and classified as a historical monument since 1972) is decorated with paintings by prominent artists of the 20th century and represents a city or region of France. With Chef Michel Rostag mastering a menu of innovative French classics, the voyage is complete.
Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée
Prepare to enter a more imperial era when dining at one Michelin-star restaurant, Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée, inaugurated in January 2022. Imbert’s haute-cuisine courses inspired by the traditions of French gastronomy perfectly complement the palatial setting. The iconic dining room honors its original details, where ornate chandeliers overlook plush chairs and marble tables with legs carved in gold. Even the table setting is fit for royalty.
Pink Mamma
While each of the Big Mamma Group’s Italian restaurants proves theatrical in design, Pink Mamma with its 4 floors and hidden basement bar, reigns supreme. Created by the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the plant-filled first floor with its pink and green tiles allows diners to watch the chefs at work. Meanwhile, the second floor where meats hang on display invites into communal dining. The cozy top floor with lounge seating and timber floors unveils a lush greenhouse with prime views of Paris.
Monsieur Bleu
Neighboring the Palais de Tokyo and overlooking the Eiffel Tower, Monsieur Bleu tops the list of cosmopolitan restaurants credited to architect Joseph Dirand. The airy space extending to an outdoor terrace creates a convivial ambiance with cushy green velvet chairs surrounding gold-trimmed tables. The who’s who of the Paris fashion scene can often be found tucked in a banquette dining on seasonal dishes or sipping on globally-inspired cocktails.
Le Grand Restaurant
While it’s called Le Grand Restaurant, this two-Michelin-star dining experience conceived by Chef Jean-François Piège only seats 25. The sculptural black and white glass ceiling creates an illusion of light in this windowless space outfitted with wooden walls, black marble floors, and minimalist furniture. Both the gastronomic dining revolving around Piège’s “mijotés modernes” and the inventive interior by Gulla Jónsdóttir leave a lasting impression.
Le Chambre Bleue
Discover a taste and vision of Malaga, Spain when dining at La Chambre Bleue set in the new hotel Maison Delano Paris. Inspired by Pablo Picasso’s namesake painting, globally renowned Chef Dani García takes his guests on a culinary tour of Spain within an interior courtyard brought back to life with the help of Spanish architects Lázaro Rosa Violán Studio. Design highlights inside this former 19th-century mansion include fabric-paneled walls and red leather seats alongside rattan armchairs.
Café de Flore
A landmark restaurant dating back to the late 1800s, Café De Flore is named for a sculpture of Flora (the Roman goddess of flowers) which stands nearby on Boulevard Saint-Germain. Many notable personalities including Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Ernest Hemingway made this their local haunt. In later years, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Paco Rabanne held fashion shows within the iconic setting of red banquettes, mahogany furniture, and brass railings still present today.
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