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.
Designed as a bubble of gentleness and serenity, the Spa Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez pairs the excellence of Guerlain with the expertise of Cheval Blanc. This summer, the spa unveils three exclusive new rituals inspired by the Mediterranean : the Bain Tropézien, the Infinilift facial, and Croisière Riviera, dreamt up in collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Saint-Tropez. Plage de la Bouillabaisse. (04 94 55 91 00)
A short walk from La Place de l’Etoile, Madame Fan promises an expedition exploring the history of China and its gastronomic treasures. The restaurant unfurls a lounge area in carmen red, the main dining-room crowned by a large skylight, and a private lounge on the upper floor. On the menu, a real feast of flavour in a selection of dishes typical of different Chinese regions : superb Xiao Long Bao with pork, tender Angus beef poached with pimento, skewers of lamb… To be rounded off by “crème brûlée au Pandan” with a real “Wow” factor… Madame Fan, 18 rue Bayen, Paris 17 (01 53 81 79 77). www.madame-fan.com
Launched in 2016, Cyril Lignac’s renowned restaurant, a chic haunt for Left Bank personalities and gourmets, has treated itself to a new address in the Golden Triangle, a stone’s throw from Avenue Montaigne. Decorated by Studio KO, the new Bar des Prés is all about glamour : a velvety setting with a splendid marble counter, voluptuous benchseats embroidered with peacock feathers, an electric blue leopard fitted carpet, mahogany wall panelling. Meeting desires and appetites, the menu spoils guests with raw fish and exceptional produce, sashimi, sushi, and maki made on the spot, plus, as always, magnificent cocktails for chilling out elegantly. Bar des Prés Montaigne, 21 rue Bayard, Paris 8 (01 87 53 60 60). www.bardespres.com
A decidedly elegant hideaway, the hotel La Réserve Paris boasts a gem of a patio, La Pagode de Cos, nestling in a luxuriant garden where guests relish the cuisine of 3-star Chef Jérôme Banctel. On the Avenue Gabriel side, the terraces of the bar Le Gaspard invite you to sip new cocktails inspired by travel while tasting awesome tapas, protected from the bustle of the city. Two luxuriously joyful options to benefit from summertime in the capital. La Réserve Paris, 42 avenue Gabriel, Paris 8 (01 58 36 60 50). www.lareserve-paris.com
Crowned with a Michelin star, this gastronomic address a 5-minute walk from the Château de Fontainebleau welcomes Japanese chef Kunihisa Goto, orchestrator of sensational, highly creative cuisine with unprecedented cooking techniques : Onsen egg cooked at 64°, Wagyu beef Binchotan... Hand-in-hand with his longtime accomplice and associate, Vanessa Blondeau, he has propelled this restaurant to the rank of exceptional. L’Axel restaurant, 43 rue de France, 77 300 Fontainebleau. (01 64 22 01 57) www.laxel-restaurant.com
The bistronomic venue of the popular Japanese concept store Irasshai has finally opened its doors ! Intimate and refined, Biwan welcomes Chef Mitsunori Kozen to its ovens, an expert in “kaiseki” cuisine from Kyoto. On the menu, perfect sashimi, charcoal-cooked meat, tempuras with seasonal vegetables, and thrilling Franco-Japanese desserts such as “mille-feuille” with chocolate, coffee and sesame. To savour the moment in all intimacy and enjoy the experience like a getaway, take your seat in one of the traditional, semi-private little salons : a total mind trip ! Biwan, 40 rue du Louvre, Paris 1. Ouvert du mardi au samedi soir de 19h à 22h. (01 84 74 35 34). www.irasshai.co
in Saint-Tropez. On the legendary beach of Pampelonne, the Bagatelle beach club restaurant, decorated by the famous designer Sam Baron, hosts a restaurant, a bar, a pool, and a boutique. Here, thanks to Chefs Rocca Seminara and Bilal Amrani, guests enjoy Mediterranean cuisine giving priority to local products, especially those grown in the restaurant’s vegetable garden. An ode to the joy of living. Les Tamaris. Chemin de Matarane. (04 94 79 83 25)
Facing the Malmousque neighbourhood of Marseille, the little island of Degaby housed a military fortress built on the orders of Louis XIV. It retained its military vocation until the early 20th century, when it was sold to an industrialist from Marseille. It was he who gave it its current name, in honour of his mistress, dancer Liane Degaby. Today, Sofia and Boris Lefevre offer a new lease of life to this marvellous island, with the complicity of Sébastien Dugast and Romain Nicoli, former Executive Chef, and Assistant Manager for 3-star Chef Gérald Passedat. Henceforth, from the end of April to mid-October, this unique site plays host to an ephemeral bar and restaurant reached by boat. Uniquement sur réservation : contact@iledegaby.com
A hotel gem emblematic of the Côte d’Azur, La Réserve de Beaulieu has joined forces with the prestigious Swiss brand La Prairie to create a new Spa, a real sanctuary for well-being. Designed for harmony between body and soul, the Spa by La Prairie offers 5 cabins, a private jacuzzi, a hammam, and sensorial showers. Beaulieu-sur-Mer. La Réserve. 5, boulevard du Maréchal Leclerc. (04 93 01 00 01)
A very festive address, Maison Revka has opened the doors to its wonderful garden on the Place des Lices for the summer season in Saint-Tropez. Blending French elegance with a Slav soul, this “caviar house” proposes classic French dishes and seasonal novelties, plus a list of aperitifs with a selection of Beluga cocktails. Saint-Tropez. 17, Place des Lices. (04 22 40 00 76)
With outdoor greenery and little tables enveloped in white, Da Valentino is characterized by its Dolce Vita atmosphere. Glamour and sophistication go hand in hand at this new address belonging to the Maya Collection. While enjoying lunch or dinner to the sound of the piano, guests experience trans- Alpine cuisine, masterfully revisited. The finest dishes from southern Italy offer a generous array of flavours from antipasti to Dolci, treated to modernity. The bonus ? Plush decor dotted with black-and-white photos of Italian movie-stars from the “Cinecittà” era. Monaco. 27, avenue Princesse Grace. (+ 377 93 25 12 63)
In the Latin Quarter, the adorable Bistro des Lettres was dreamt up by Franco-Chinese Yinhua Qiu, a devoted fan of French culture and founder of the Larome group which runs almost a dozen restaurants in Asia. In decor inspired by charming Left Bank addresses, the menu proposes bistro cuisine in a creative, ultra-fresh tradition. The bonus ? Each evening, the restaurant manager places a wooden box containing pens on the table and invites you to write a letter immortalizing what you feel right now. The letter will be sent to you in one year’s time, at the address of your choice. Bistro des Lettres, 52 boulevard Saint Germain, Paris 5e. Ouvert tous les jours de 12h à 22h30 en continu. (01 73 71 72 39). www.bistrodeslettres.com
Brimming with joy, this address bearing the Paris Society signature, nestling inside and out at the foot of the Palais de Tokyo, celebrates springtime to the rhythm of La Dolce Vita. Bambini reawakens the ambiance of an Italy that dances and enchants with a wide array of tasty little dishes to share and delicious pasta such as refreshing linguine with lemon and tuna tartare. In classic Italian glasses, Crazy Bellini or Spritz arrive just in time to celebrate life - indeed truly wonderful here ! Bambini, 13 avenue du Président Wilson, Paris 16. (01 40 70 86 08). www.bambini-restaurant.com (06 63 56 49 67). Ouvert du lundi au vendredi au dîner.
Just two numbers down from the Gargouille restaurant, this insider evening annex, which can be privatized (16 guests maximum), proposes a tasting menu that celebrates Mediterranean flavours. Run by the duo Jules Behar and Arthur Billard, this feel-at-home address basks in the joyful mood that led to the success of Gargouille. Highly commendable. La Table secrète de Gargouille, 5 rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, Paris 9 (06 63 56 49 67). Ouvert du lundi au vendredi au dîner.
The third offering from talented chef Thibault Sombardier ! In the wake of Mensae and Sellae, he proposes at Mojju a delightful voyage to the heart of South Korea. In decor signed by the Dorénavant Studio, Mojju expertly combines the attributes of a Parisian bistro with the typical Korean “hanok” : mellow tones, Asian objects, benchseats in printed fabrics, soft lighting. In cuisine pairing flavours from the land of morning calm with French know-how, Mojju focuses on sharing while intoxicating us with sensations roused by impeccably spiced dishes. An exotic little gem. Mojju, 4 rue de l’Exposition, Paris 7 (01 45 51 88 38). www.mojju-restaurant.com
Nestling in the Passage des Panoramas, this very enticing spot fusions Japanese cuisine with street food. Accompanied by a saucy hip hop playlist, Yujin was dreamt up by a quartet of friends : Pierre Sene (Mr.T Paris), Bryan Birget, Alexandre Basse and Guillaume Guedj. Designed by the Parisian architectural firm Régis Botta, its contemporary decor is accompanied by a menu with tasty little dishes and cocktails prepared with today’s most highly coveted spirits. Yummy ! Yujin, 53 Passage des Panoramas, Paris 2. Ouvert du lundi au vendredi de 12h à 14h30 et du mercredi au samedi de 19h à minuit.
A new gastronomic project undertaken by Chef Jean Imbert at the Hôtel Martinez in Cannes, La Palme d’Or naturally awards a place of honour to top-notch cuisine but, above all, instinctive dishes with no complexes, based on the bounty of the sea. In the dining-room, where the entire team is clad in bespoke uniforms designed by Aimé Léon Dore, Jean Imbert presents an array of objects unearthed over many months, rather like a curiosity shop in the movies. Cannes. 73, bd de la Croisette. 04 93 90 12 34
Already acclaimed in Paris with four addresses - Petit Bao, Gros Bao, Bleu Bao and Bao Express -, the Bao Family has now launched its first restaurant in Marseille. Housed in the old Toinou institution, the Céline Chung and Billy Pham duo dreamt up decor for this setting of 350 m2 inspired by Shanghai with the help of the Neri&Hu studio. On three floors and crossed by an alley linking the two terraces, Gros Bao offers contemporary escapism for all fans of top-notch Chinese cuisine. Marseille 1er, 3 cours Saint-Louis. www.baofamily.co
On the Corniche de Marseille, the restaurant Les Bords de Mer has introduced its new Chef : Chester Tsai. Deeply influenced by his Asian roots and backed by an international career stretching from Paris to New York via London and Singapore, Chester Tsai draws on his childhood memories and multi-cultural DNA to create inventive, contemporary cuisine revisiting the terroirs of Provence. Marseille 7e. 52, Corniche John Fitzgerald Kennedy. (04 13 94 34 00)
Following extensive renovation, Nobu Monte-Carlo in the Hôtel Fairmont has just reopened its doors. The space has been redesigned to offer a more immersive experience, a harmonious blend of luxury and warmth. In the kitchen, the new Chef, Olivier Rinaldi, masters the flavours and techniques in dishes by the iconic Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, to enthrall the most discerning palates appreciative of high Asian gastronomy! Monaco. 12, avenue des Spéluges. +377 97 70 70 97
