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.
Sheltered from the bustle of Parisian life, this listed courtyard plays host to the ruins of the city’s medieval ramparts. Now open to the public for the first time, it has been transformed into an ephemeral café. You can choose from a healthy but gourmet lunchtime menu, and relax in the sun or the shade of vines during the day... From 6 p.m., chic and festive cocktails are accompanied by concerts and arty events throughout the summer. Until Septembre 27th, Carré Cour, 55-57 rue des Francs Bourgeois, Paris 4.
In “home from home” spirit, this address on Place Franz Liszt is the ideal retreat for urban dwellers. Here you’ll find a taste for beautiful and refined things in both the decor and the dishes. Homemade cuisine proposing market-fresh produce and tender meat roasted on the spit. La Maison Bleue, 7 Place Franz Liszt, Paris 10 (01 44 65 01 80 - www.lamaisonbleue.paris).
Near the Opéra, this former cabaret transformed into an elegant bistro has been revamped throughout in trendy style while keeping its finery with beautiful mosaics and original ceramic tiling. Well-known Parisian night-owl Franck Maillot is at the helm of this ship which has taken the fashionable “Tout Paris” on board. On the menu ? Traditional brasserie dishes and a few ship-shape specialities to be sampled with mates from mid-day to midnight. La Belle époque, 36 rue des Petits Champs, Paris2.
The 5-star “Relais et Châteaux” summertime restaurant nestling in a fabulous spot on Cap d’Antibes, “Le Cap” has just opened its doors. Offering a panoramic view from the Lérins Islands to the Estérel hills, this intimate but festive restaurant set on a private sandy beach proposes a refined menu of Mediterranean dishes orchestrated by the star-rated chef, Nicolas Navarro. “Le Cap” will remain open until October 18th. 10 boulevard Maréchal Juin, Cap d’Antibes (04 92 93 13 30).
With ingredients imported from across the Channel and a selection of artisanal beers brewed in England, Le Rosemary offers a very cheerful interpretation of British cuisine. Designed by the Studio Janreji, the decor retains the DNA of a pub with an extra touch of chic. Manning the ovens, Frenchman Aurélien Sérugue and Joseph Rawlins of the UK have concocted a seasonal menu : shank of lamb marinated in beer with mashed peas, veggie risotto with Cheddar, prime rib of Hereford beef... For those with a sweet tooth, an amazing carrot cake with lemon icing and popcorn flavoured with whisky ! Drinks at the bar are accompanied by typical snacks such as Yorkshire pudding with Cheddar. Rosemary gastropub, 4 rue Crillon, Paris 4 (01 42 78 09 71).
When Le Paris-New-York, specialist in homemade burgers, asks well-known journalist François Simon to design a burger, one can certainly expect it to be unlike any other. Taking inspiration from Asia, this fresh, light burger captures in a soft gluten-free bun, avocado, shizo leaves, pomegranate seeds, ginger, lettuce and organic meat from Breton butcher Le Ponclet. “It is all designed to leave a taste that puts you in a good mood with a slightly “tangy” aspect making you want to come back for more,” says François Simon. Head for the brand new address of Le Paris-New-York opposite Le Carreau du Temple to sample this exclusive morsel. PNY Marais, 1 rue Perrée, Paris 3.
Just a short walk from Le Marais, an extra-large food hall distilling the very best of French know-how in 3,000 rigorously selected products ? Thank-you, Delphine Plisson, for this elegant address clad in marble, which titillates our taste-buds with its meticulous stalls and rewards our appetites at its gourmet table with ultra market-fresh cuisine. An ode to “healthy eating” which scores high marks, with a large terrace as a bonus. Maison Plisson, 93 boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris 3 (www.lamaisonplisson.com).
Diamond Oxy Lift is the first treatment by the Swiss brand L. Raphaël to use diamond powder. Combined with oxygen, this luxury treatment for the face and body promises to embellish both the look and feel of the skin, giving it a glow while acting as a brake on visible signs of aging. Spa L. Raphaël, Grand Hyatt Hôtel Martinez, 73 boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes (04 92 98 74 90).
Young chef Julien Duboué gives a place of honour to the gastronomy of the south-west in this gourmet address very close to La Bourse, with three dining areas and as many ways of appreciating his cuisine. Take-away with taloas, large tables with an array of tapas and, on the upper floor, a generous menu featuring the finest products from the Basque country. A Noste, 6 bis rue du 4 septembre, Paris 2 (01 47 03 91 91).
Inside the swish Hôtel Particulier Montmartre, this unexpected bar offers an ultra-sensual atmosphere. Acting as an extension of the garden, it proposes plant-filled rooms with brass and aged mirrors providing a play on perspectives. Here, in bright red sofas and armchairs on a black-and-white chequerboard floor, guests relax at tea-time with refined pastries, or in the evening when the place is transformed into an audacious cocktail bar with a menu combining gastronomy and the fine art of mixology. Chic ! Le Très Particulier, Hôtel Particulier Montmartre, 2 avenue Junot, Paris 18 (01 53 41 81 40).
A restaurant but also a trendy club, L’Opéra has reopened its doors in Saint-Tropez for the summer season. This temple to partying flaunts a fitting new decor : a vast teak terrace, ample sofas, oversized lighting, a sleek bar covered with mirrors, artworks on the walls, not forgetting a unique view of the port of Saint-Tropez. What about dining ? The cuisine gives precedence to French and Provençal classics with a few international specialities... L’Opéra, Résidences du Port, Saint-Tropez (04 94 49 51 31).
A short walk from the Champs-Elysées, La Table du Huit plays on contrasts between reality and impressions, and opens out to a vast terrace nestling in the midst of a refreshing garden. Under the guidance of chef Benoît Hilaire, the market-fresh cuisine blends excellent ingredients, sophisticated flavours and delicate notes on a menu that changes with the seasons. Beautifully presented starters, main dishes reflecting the bounty of the sea or staying on dry land with tasty meats, not forgetting gourmet suggestions that are impeccably orchestrated. In a nutshell, a serene address, ideal for enjoying fine weather. La Table du Huit, 8 rue Jean Goujon, Paris 8 (01 40 74 64 94).
The ephemeral “Ange Noir” lounge bar in Saint-Tropez is to be found in the Hôtel Sezz, this summer celebrating its 5th anniversary. From July 3rd to August 1st, this luxury hotel of contemporary design will adopt the concept of glamorous evenings that originated in the UK. On the programme : evenings attaining the summum of international hype with night-owl Marchella De Angelis at the turntables and high-flying cocktail mixers behind the bar ! L’Ange Noir, route des Salins, Saint-Tropez (04 94 55 31 55).
This large, legendary, early 19th-C. brasserie close to the Gare de l’Est has unveiled its new decor. With the complicity of architect Laurent Vialle, Clémence and Clément Goutal have restored majesty to its interiors by emphasizing the decoration in black and filling the space with rattan armchairs, benchseats clad in emerald green velvet, tropical plants... recalling an Italian palace. The address will no doubt continue to enchant night-owls, but others too : La Fidélité welcomes guests non-stop from 8 a.m. with a menu giving a place of honour to traditional French cuisine. La Fidélité, 12 rue de la Fidélité, Paris 10 (01 47 70 85 77).
Eighty square metres of elegance and the French art of living with the finest materials and precious fabrics ! Such is the definition of the new Dior Suite signed by interior architect Nathalie Ryan in this palatial hotel at N° 10, La Croisette. It has been designed to represent the expertise proper to this legendary “couturier”. Period furnishings rub shoulders with more contemporary creations, specially dreamt up by Nathalie Ryan and made by specialized craftsmen. Majestic Barrière, 10 La Croisette, Cannes (04 92 98 77 00).
Popularizing “haute gourmandise” is the challenge taken up by two young Parisian women who have joined up with pastry-chef Eddie Benghanem (of Le Trianon Palace) to transform traditional pastries into irresistible delicacies. French classics such as the “Fraisier”, “Baba”, “Opéra”, “Religieuse” and “Saint-Honoré” are here presented in original creations in the guise of small chic bites ! Surprising technical feats, as beautiful as jewels, the little gems proposed by these “cake-making fairies” are real treats for the taste-buds ! Les fées pâtissières, 21 Rue Rambuteau, Paris 4 (01 42 77 42 15).
One of the region’s most talented chefs, Yannick Franques has just joined the 5-star hotel owned by Jean-Claude Delion, La Réserve de Beaulieu. This institution steeped in history is now likely to retrieve its reputation for gastronomy (and its 2 stars ?) with such a chef manning the ovens. Yannick Franques freely admits to basing his creations mainly on the bounty of the sea. Already open, the gastronomic restaurant and chic bistro propose gourmet, traditional and Provençal cuisine. 5 boulevard du Maréchal Leclerc, Beaulieu-sur-mer (04 93 01 00 01).
Facing the Île Saint Germain on the banks of the Seine and basking in contemporary decor with touches of minerals and plants, this restaurant offers an original backcloth in which to sample diligently prepared dishes. Depending on the chef’s inspiration and what’s fresh at the market, original recipes blend colours, flavours and textures in sophisticated presentations. All giving the impression of being a long way from Paris... La Passerelle, 72 quai de Stalingrad, Issy-les-Moulineaux (01 46 48 80 81).
The legendary Louis XV restaurant at the Hôtel de Paris no longer exists. From now on, the palatial hotel’s restaurant will be known as “Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris”. The multi-starred chef remains at the helm of the kitchens of this 3-star institution. In a brand new decor designed by Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku, guests discover a menu compiled by Chef Dominique Lory and Pastry Chef Sandro Micheli under the direction of Alain Ducasse. The dishes proposed promise to introduce clients to the “crème de la crème” of Mediterranean specialities, accompanied by great vintages selected by Head Sommelier Noël Bajor. Hôtel de Paris, place du Casino, Monaco (00 377 98 06 88 64).
A listed monument and a legendary address, the Café de la Paix has been sumptuously renovated and set back on the path to excellence thanks to the talent of chef Christophe Raoux (“Meilleur Ouvrier de France”, 2015). The new spring menu takes a fresh look at seasonal produce featuring, among other things, a creamy soup of Méréville cress, turbot, asparagus, vegetables including a “Parmentier” and, of course, awesome desserts. As a bonus, Sunday brunch with magnificent buffets... Café de la Paix, 2 rue Scribe, Paris 2 (01 40 07 36 36).
