Allured by the best of the new? Here is a selection of the most enticing new addresses in Paris this season. The opening of these restaurants has sometimes been delayed, but if it hasn’t already happened, their opening is not far off. And we won’t hesitate to be the first customers, as the dishes that will be served here promise to be delicious.
The most mythical restaurant: La Tour d’Argent, chef Yannick Franques
This is the most well-known address for tourists, offering an unbeatable view of the Seine, Notre Dame, and the Île Saint-Louis, as well as its exclusive recipe for duck with blood sauce. La Tour d’Argent had not undergone such a transformation since 1936, when this temple of elegance, founded in 1582, raised its tables to the 6th floor. The restaurant remains on the same level, with the feeling that one could almost touch Notre-Dame with their fork, but the other floors are also occupied. After a monumental construction project led by architect Franklin Azzi, La Tour d’Argent now offers immersive experiences for guests, from the café on the ground floor to the rooftop bar with a breathtaking view, and even an apartment where one can dine and sleep.
The most popular restaurant: Kitchen, chef Stéphanie Le Quellec
Kitchen is the surprise opening of the season. Stéphanie Le Quellec has taken over the nineteenth-century inspired dining room, eight meters high, on the ground floor of the Hotel Madame Rêve in the former Louvre post office. The former Top Chef contestant, who has earned two Michelin stars, has created a menu without any fuss, offering comforting dishes that are reminiscent of childhood favorites, with her own touch and finesse. “The prices are not exaggerated for the location,” she promises. For example, 29 euros for shrimp curry, 25 euros for steak tartare with fries, 15 euros for a cute bone marrow dish, or 20 euros for a croque-madame, which is served all day.
The most zen restaurant: Blanc, chef Shinichi Sato
Blanc is all about white, pushing zen elegance to its ultimate limits. This is what chef Shinichi Sato promises in the former Hiramatsu restaurant, a well-known address on Rue de Longchamp, transformed by the prestigious Kengo Kuma and Associates architectural agency. Four years after closing Passage 53, a restaurant the size of a handkerchief that earned him the honor of being the first Japanese chef to receive two Michelin stars for his avant-garde cuisine, Sato, who started his career in France at Astrance alongside Pascal Barbot, has embarked on a grand project to showcase his exceptional gastronomy.
The most charming restaurant: Oma at Château des Fleurs, chef Ji-Hye Park
Korean chef Ji-Hye Park has relocated her Pigalle restaurant near Place de l’Étoile, to the cozy setting of Château des Fleurs, one of those new “personality” hotels. After settling in France nearly 25 years ago, Ji-Hye Park has created a culinary identity full of generosity and authenticity, first as a private chef and later as the head of her own Parisian restaurant, Oma, which means “Mom” in Korean. Her menu is a bridge between Korea and France, featuring dishes such as Korean beef tartare with brioche bread, aioli, and parmesan (19 euros) or Oma rice with beef paleron, soft-boiled egg, seaweed, marinated radishes, and sesame seeds (23 euros).
The most secret restaurant: Tracé, chef Clément Vergeat
It’s the same address, but with a new name. And a new cuisine. After the closure of Tamara at the end of July, Tracé took its place. “Over time, our team shifted from a bistro-style approach to a more gourmet one,” explains Clément Vergeat in an interview with Le Chef magazine. Open only in the evenings, the former Top Chef contestant from 2018 offers a tasting menu with eight courses for 130 euros, as well as the option to reserve the cellar for a menu at 110 euros. Vergeat describes one of his signature dishes centered around langoustine: “Composed of 95% proteins, it allows you to rediscover familiar tastes from a different perspective, balancing on the edge…” As for the rest of the menu, it’s best to leave it as a surprise, in line with the restaurant’s motto: “Tracé mais pas divulgâché” (Trace but not divulged).
The most convivial restaurant: Sama, chef Karim Haidar
At a turning point in their lives, political scientist Loulouwa Al Rachid, chef Karim Haidar, and restaurateur Marwan Rizk are preparing to open Sama in a few days, with the goal of combining Lebanese cuisine with the present moment. A touch of modernity promises to create a bright, convivial, and joyful dining experience, reimagining “mezzé” as a moment of sharing. We already dream of dipping the pistachio-crusted taouk skewers into the mouhammara, a paste made from peppers, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses. And for dessert, the katayefs assafiri, small pancakes filled with achta cream, roasted pistachios, and served with orange blossom syrup, are sure to make your mouth water.
The most comforting restaurant: La Brasserie des arts, chef Valentine Davase
Located in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, La Brasserie des Arts will open in a few weeks as a new establishment with a terrace for continuous service. The menu will be created by Valentine Davase, known for her food truck and catering service, Le Refectoire. The chef spent the summer delighting customers at Château La Martinette in the Var region before returning to Paris to spoil locals with her traditional dishes that highlight high-quality ingredients. Depending on the season, guests can enjoy a sautéed mix of oyster mushrooms and chanterelles with parsley (mushroom garnish), hunter-style chicken, sole meunière with Robuchon-style mashed potatoes, or lovely courgette flower fritters.
The most family-friendly restaurant: Sharmaji, chef Manoch Sharma
Call him “Monsieur Sharma,” the literal translation of Sharmaji, the new Indian restaurant opened by Manoch Sharma and his wife Sangmi Lee. This very personal establishment is an homage to almost forgotten Indian flavors. It has little to do with the often sanitized Indian cuisine we are familiar with in Paris. Start with the crunchy ravioles (corn and mozzarella ravioles, Achaar tomatoes, and royal cumin for 16 euros) as an appetizer, and don’t miss the signature lamb gee roast, roasted lamb dish, priced at either 36 or 64 euros depending on the portion size. Monsieur Sharma and his wife offer an ode to sharing and a convivial and relaxed culinary experience in a setting that will make you want to come back for more.
The most intimate restaurant: Guefen, chef Ohad Amzallag
At Guefen, you dine as if you were at home. Chef Ohad Amzallag has moved the dining room and kitchen from his home in Tel Aviv to the heart of Paris.
