Luxurious, bewitching, inspiring, spell-binding… Our selection of addresses is aimed at pleasure and ideas ! From absolute essentials to wonderful surprises, new experiences to enjoy and share.
On Quai de Tournelle, facing the Boulangerie de la Tour, Le Triporteur is back to enchant the summer. This year the assignment has been entrusted to David Wesmaël, “Meilleur Ouvrier de France Glacier” and founder of the ice-cream parlour. In the containers, an enticing selection of ice-creams and sorbets to relish in tubs or cornets, accompanied by gourmet toppings. All the flavours are there : raspberry, hazelnut chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and, our favourite, irresistible nougat with honey. Le Triporteur du Boulanger de la Tour, 2 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, Paris 5. Ouvert tous les jours, de 7h à 20h.
Already in command of the Brasserie Bellanger and Dubillot, La Nouvelle Garde has given her elders a little sister. Pursuing the same vocation with the accent on fresh, French, and a traditional slate, the Brasserie Martin is a smart neighbourhood local where lives unfold around large, full tables or at the endless counter... Its epicentre ? A sexy roasting spit that rotates non-stop, delivering the sacrosanct roast chicken every lunchtime, here stuffed with olives and served with a scoop of homemade French fries. And don’t worry, the brand’s signature, the exceptional “saucisse-purée” still tops the list. A very welcome relapse !… Brasserie Martin, 24 rue Saint Ambroise, Paris 11. www.nouvellegardegroupe.com
Lots of takers for the creative cuisine with land-and-sea pairings proposed by French-Italian Chef Manuele Rossi at the helm of ISTR. Far from traditional codes of 100% fish restos, ISTR re-invents the seafood and cocktail bar with signatures dishes such as octopus lightly-cooked twice, “vittelo tonnato” or a burger with tempura oytsers and mayonnaise sauce with crab meat. Every day, from 6 to 7 p.m. it is Oyster Hour with Cadoret N°5 oysters from Brittany, ideal for aperos on the terrace washed down with a signature cocktail or a glass of bio wine. Bonus : an event-catering service for evenings shared with pals.
On the hillside, facing the sea and Iles d’Or, Le Mirage is an exquisite new boutique-hotel offering 35 rooms and Bohemian chic in Bormes-les-Mimosas, not far from the Fort de Brégançon. Open to non-residents for lunch and dinner, the restaurant proposes a simple, fresh menu in which each ingredient has been selected with the utmost care. In the kitchen, Chef Marion Pouget opts for generoisty, all in a very enticing setting. www.lemirage-hotel.com
In the midst of nature in Brignoles in Le Var, the Domaine de Cala acquired by Chef Joachim Splichal is comprised of 445 acres of land of which almost 100 acres are dedicated to viticulture. Red, white or rosé, all the property’s excellent wines bear witness to a passion for gastronomy. Well worth a visit. 703, chemin de la Pelegrine, Brignoles. (04 94 69 84 93)
The trio of cooks from the star-rated restaurant Les Agitateurs in Nice now man the ovens at Sous les Pins, the café-restaurant of the venerable Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. They are restoring life to this setting of soul and spirit by offering cuisine with the fragrances of the garrigue, a blend of simplicity, lyricism and sharing. 623, Chemin des Gardettes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence. (04 93 32 45 96)
A restaurant of character at the heart of the Domaine La Martinette, Vigna has just opened its doors. On a sun-blessed menu, Chef Juan Arbelaez invites your tastebuds to relish an escapade focusing on Provence. 4005, Chemin de la Martinette, Lorgues. (03 13 35 40 80)
In a privileged setting on the terrace of the Port Palace, offering a view of the sea and port of Monaco, the festive restaurant La Môme, well-known to locals in Cannes, has launched a new address in the Principality. For its decor, two talented architects, Soraya Djemmi-Wagner and Maxime Liautard, have taken inspiration from the iconic Grace Kelly to create a world of glamour. In the kitchen, Chef Benjamin Zannier conjures up Mediterranean specialities with Provençal, Greek and Italian influences. The bonus ? A VIP Room for private dining. 7, avenue John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Monaco. www.lamomegroupe.com
A first in the history of the star-rated restaurant L’Agapé : a woman at the helm in the kitchens ! Brazilian Rebecca Lockwood - ex-private chef of Madonna who became a star on “Top Chef Brazil” and has plied her trade in the world’s most up-market restaurants - enchants this iconic address in the 17th arrondissement with delicate, sunnny intuition. Her colourful, refined and tasty dishes borrow inspiration from her homeland, focusing on seasonal cuisine, limpid and exquisite, taking us far beyond the City of Light. Restaurant l’Agapé, 51, rue Jouffroy d’Abbans, Paris 17. www.agape-paris.fr
Perched atop the legendary Poste du Louvre, the rooftop terrace of the Madame Rêve hotel, simply known as “Roof”, pursues the imaginative approach of this address showing high potential. Here, the grandiose panoramic view enables guests to enjoy close encounters with Saint-Eustache, the Eiffel Tower or Notre-Dame. A dreamlike moment in a garden reaching to the sky where time slows its pace, while sipping a cocktail accompanied by delicate little treats. Hôtel Madame Rêve, 43, rue Etienne Marcel, Paris 1er. www.madamereve.com
Recently honoured by a Michelin star, this modern restaurant - headed up by talented young chef Tom Meyer and the result of his encounter with restaurant-owner Stéphane Manigold (Substance, Contraste) - has everything offered by a top-notch address. Imposing its ambiance on three floors, Granite clads space in soothing decor signed by architect Michel Amar, who has opted for warm sobriety. Reflecting the creative spirit of chef Tom Meyer, Granite assumes unprecedented, effective combinations, daring sylishness. Ambitious cuisine that attains new heights in pleasure while rousing new sensations. Granite, 6, rue Bailleul, Paris 1er (01 40 13 64 06).
After opening the doors to its beach house in Ramatuelle last summer, unveiling its chalet in Val d’Isère this winter, Gigi has moved into its new address on the rooftops of Paris, facing the Eiffel Tower. Under the inspired direction of Hugo Toro, it offers grandiose decor in palazzo style with intimate nooks and a real gem of a terrace. True to its art of receiving guests, and ingredients that assert its style, Gigi is also, and above all, cuisine that whets the appetite by re-interpreting all the treasures of Italian gastronomy. In the evening, the ambiance warms up, courtesy of a perfect soundtrack with the best Italian hits ! Gigi, 15 avenue Montaigne, Paris 8 (01 47 23 55 99).
At the very heart of Pigalle, an insider bar tucked away behind a little door that gives nothing away... Designed by architect Christophe Beaugrand, Yago features an elegant marble counter and a second, more intimate space clad in red velvet. On the cocktail list, great classics retweaked with a Japanese influence. As for dining, a generous array of dishes giving precedence to raw fish. All accompanied by a delightful soundtrack, DJ sets and other heady surprises. Yago, 25, rue Victor Massé, Paris 9. Du mardi au samedi de 19h à 2h.
The Majestic Cannes has come up with a new proposal : a themed package dedicated to discerning palates. On the menu ? A laid-back ambiance, gourmet treats, but also a trip to the market with the Chef, a cookery class with sampling, a champagne breakfast at Fouquet’s Cannes, and a sumptuous dinner at Le Paradisio owned by Nicole Rubi and Pierre Gagnaire, voted in 2015 “the greatest star-rated chef in the world” ! Majestic Barrière. 10 boulevard de La Croisette, Cannes. (04 92 98 77 00)
After eight months of renovation, this legendary 5-star hotel nestling at the historic heart of Saint-Tropez now hosts a new address, soberly called “Le Restaurant Bar”. Thanks to Chef Thomas Danigo, it proposes inventive cuisine, focusing totally on the South. Luxury and authenticity blend with voluptuousness, in this place steeped in history. La Ponche. 5, rue des Remparts, Saint-Tropez. (04 94 97 02 53)
This spectacular, exclusive estate invites you to the heart of the Luberon for the summer season. Comprised of eight “nature” suites and 11 villas, this address nestling amidst lavender fields offers a harmonious blend of luxury, art and nature. As for dining, Chef Aurélien Egger - who has worked with Jamie Oliver, Pierre Gagnaire and Antony Trezy - proposes cuisine from the vegetable garden, healthy and tasty, in two restaurants, Le Platane and La Loggia. An exceptional address ! (04 83 88 33 77)
The famous Chef Sylvestre Wahid (2 stars in the Michelin Guide) is taking up his summer quarters at L’Auberge de Saint-Rémy de Provence. From menu to wine-list, the restaurant called “ALYA’S by SW” promises a culinary trip down the Old Silk Road, from Asia to the Far East. Sheer escapism ! Auberge de Saint-Rémy. 12, boulevard Mirabeau, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. (04 90 92 15 33)
The 5-star Villa Belrose hotel near Saint-Tropez has just unveiled its ephemeral new club “L’Indochine” created for the season with The Duc Ngo. This Chef from Berlin, currently heading up 15 restaurants in Germany, here proposes fresh, expressive cuisine combining French flavours with products commonly used in Asia, especially ancient Indochina. Villa Belrose. Boulevard des Crêtes, Gassin. (04 94 55 97 97)
After a prolific career at star-rated addresses in France, with Daniel Boulud in New York, and a widely noticed appearance in Season 10 of “Top Chef”, Florian Barbarot has launched his very first own restaurant. In a streamlined, minimalist world, it proposes an unprecedented experience for the senses, with a surprise “capsule” tucked away in the basement... Intensely salty, the menu pays tribute to the sea’s finest offerings with dishes expressing the chef’s talent and audacity in recipes that revitalize the palate : memorable mullet briefly grilled on a wood fire and served with shell-fish couscous sprinkled with a civet sauce. Ultra-creative ! Restaurant Quelque part, 1 rue Ambroise Thomas, Paris 9 (01 83 97 22 65).
Moored at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the most festive barge in Paris has reopened and promises to enchant the entire summer ! Guests love its plant-life and greenery, like a garden on the Seine, lounging on large, comfortable white sofas for the sacred cocktail hour, sharing finger food with friends, and dancing beneath the stars to the end of the night... It’s summer, time for partying ! Chez Mila, Port de la Bourdonnais, Paris 7 (01 58 80 45 49).
