A flurry of new openings has swamped the French capital; could it be because of this month’s Olympic Games? There’s nothing like a deadline to get a city’s venues, institutions and restaurants buzzing before welcoming the world et son chien. Voilà! Our top picks for anyone visiting la Ville Lumière this summer.
If Hong Kong has the Black Sheep Group, then the French capital has Paris Society, the restaurant empire that owns some of the city’s swankiest dining joints, including Maxim’s, rooftop hotspot Perruche and Trocadero’s Girafe. And now, after a period of closure during Covid, the group adds to its portfolio the newly revamped Laurent, the storied establishment that’s seen multiple transformations since it was originally built as Louis XIV’s hunting pavilion. Situated at the end of the Champs Élysées and a stone’s throw from the Élysée Palace, Laurent exemplifies Parisian grandeur with its chandelier-abundant private dining rooms, majestic palm-filled grand salon and sophisticated outdoor terrace. Now led by chef Mathieu Pacaud, the menu interprets traditional French cuisine with a modern touch. Signatures include the blue lobster salad and Bresse poultry suprême with girolle mushrooms, while dessert and cheese are still served from le chariot. Because some things should never change.
Laurent, 41 Avenue Gabriel, 75008
Given that the Pompidou Centre will soon close for a five-year renovation, Parisians will be doubly glad to see the reopening of the beloved Grand Palais. Built in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition, the Art Nouveau grand dame has continued to host milestone cultural events, though you’re forgiven if you only know it as the home of Karl Lagerfeld’s most dazzling shows at Chanel. The Paris landmark was closed in March 2021 for a €466 million renovation led by Chantillon Architects, and though it won’t fully open till next year, this month parts of the building are serving as an Olympic venue for fencing and taekwondo (whatever your thoughts on those sports, it’s surely worth trying to bag a ticket for the views alone). It will then close again before hosting Paris + Par Art Basel and Paris Photo later this year.
Grand Palais, 3 avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008
The arrival of Dover Street Market at the Hôtel de Coulanges building in Le Marais is quite possibly the most momentous retail event in Paris since Colette closed in 2017. Since Adrian Joffe and his partner Rei Kawakubo first opened a store in London in 2004, the multi-brand retailer, known for stocking the best in luxury fashion and avant-garde brands, has since moved to locations that include Tokyo, Beijing and New York. You wonder, then, why it took so long to launch in the City of Light. Designed by Kawakubo herself, the space prioritises discovery and community and will even host exhibitions and concerts. This month, there’s a chance to buy exclusives from independent labels Chopova Lowena, Duran Lantik and Charles Jeffery’s Loverboy. And on the ground floor, a pop-up space hosts Simone Rocha’s Jean-Paul Gaultier couture installation, as well as the plastic fantastic clay sweaters and shorts from Jonathan Anderson’s spring/summer 2023 collection. Fashion lovers, eat your hearts out.
Dover Street Market, 3537 Rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75004
The historic Place Vendôme might possibly be the most coveted address in all of Paris. It’s home not only to the Ritz but also a multitude of luxury boutiques selling the world’s rarest jewellery and watches, so it’s no surprise the Chopard’s Scheufele family has chosen to open their first hospitality venture at 1 Place Vendômela to. The new hotel, or rather anti-hotel, occupies the floors above the Chopard boutique and comprises just 15 rooms and suites. Indeed, the property is so discreet that you could easily miss the entrance – the blue doors without signage feel more akin to those of a private residence – and even the bar is accessible only by hotel guests and VIP clients. For the meticulous restoration, which took five years, the family enlisted interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon (previous projects include Four Seasons Georges V and The Peninsula Shanghai), who brought together Europe’s finest artisans to deck out the place in ornate chinoiserie, gilded walls and crystal chandeliers. Quiet luxury? Erm, sort of.
1 Place Vendôme, 75001
The reopening of one of the oldest and finest dining establishments in Paris was always going to cause much fanfare. La Tour D’Argent dates back to 1582, since when it’s hosted everyone from Louis XIV to Queen Elizabeth II – and its famous pressed duck has been a signature since the 19th century. Located in the 5th arrondissement on the Quai de le Tournelle, La Tour exudes old-school splendour in bucketloads with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Île Saint Louis. After being closed for a year for renovations, the establishment’s facelift goes beyond mere updates to the dining room and adds a new ground-floor lobby restaurant, a one-room apartment and a rooftop bar, meaning you don’t have to pay for the three-course dinner to enjoy the views. Which is just as well, considering the top floors will have sight not only of the Summer Olympics opening ceremony, which takes place on the Seine, but also the reopening of Notre Dame in December.
La Tour D’Argent, 15 Quai de la Tornelle, 75010
(Hero Image: Dover Street Market Paris, courtesy of Dover Street Market)
Assistant Editor
A print and multimedia journalist, Madelaine covers fashion, beauty, art & culture, travel and F&B. Before moving into journalism, Madelaine worked for luxury brands such as Estée Lauder Companies, Tom ..Read More
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