Ahhhh Paris! Its cafés, its sumptuous buildings and its hidden places… Hemingway said Paris is a party, but it’s much more than that. It’s a constant source of wonder and discovery! Between its listed Art Nouveau restaurants,secret gardens and bucolic strolls, there’s no room for boredom. This time, we’re taking you to discover a nugget known only to a few insiders: Le Grand Véfour. An absolutely sumptuous, emblematic Parisian café-restaurant that has been a secret haunt of artists and intellectuals for over 200 years…
A sumptuously decorated restaurant hidden away in Paris…
Founded in 1784 as “Café de Chartres”, Le Grand Véfour is one of the oldest gastronomic restaurants in Paris. Hidden away in the beautiful Galerie de Beaujolais, a stone’s throw from the Palais Royal, it has always been a haunt of the politicians and intellectuals who have made history! From Napoleon Bonaparte to Victor Hugo, George Sand and Colette, they all flocked here to enjoy fine, refined cuisine in a dream setting.
It has to be said that this restaurant is truly dazzling, so unreal does it seem. Its prodigious neo-classical decor is adorned with carved woodwork, mirrors, gilding and Pompeian frescoes. Virtually unchanged since its creation almost 250 years ago, it is listed as a Monument Historique. An enchanting and quite exceptional setting, where you’ll feel as if you’re dining in a real museum, so full is it of detail.
Le Grand Véfour: a chic and affordable gastronomic address
It’s in this plush, elegant setting that chef Guy Martin orchestrates the premises with a master’s hand. His fine, inventive cuisine earned him a third Michelin star in 2000, which he retained for eight years. Since 2019, the chef, who has since become the owner of the premises, has decided to make a 180° turn. Gone is the two-star extra-cher restaurant: in its place is more accessible cuisine, but still offering all the high quality of a gastronomic restaurant. You’ll be able to take advantage of lower prices, such as a “semainier” formula, available Tuesday to Saturday from €59.
You’ll love the caramelized pork loin or the extra-fresh lacquered salmon steak. For dessert, there’s the inevitable chocolate profiterole or the summery apricot and almond tart. And weather permitting, we recommend ending your meal with a coffee on the terrace, which is quite simply magnificent.
📍 Location: 17 Rue de Beaujolais, 75001 Paris
💶 Price: Weekly menu, available as starter-main course or main course-dessert at €59 or €68 for a full meal.