Time to enjoy the sun: the best Parisian Terraces
This Spring didn't break the record of sun hours, but with the Summer coming up, this is the time to enjoy your lunch or dinner on a nice terrace outside. Patios, gardens, small yards and terraces, they are inviting you for a gastronomic experience with a breath of fresh air. Here are some of Luxe-Magazine's favourites ...
La Maison des Arts et Métiers: intimacy on the menu!
A19th century private mansion, a perfect location right in the heart of the "fashionable districts" (in close proximity from the Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower), the 30 seats intimate garden-terrace obviously is a very sought-after address on sunny days, especially with their monthly renewed menu: the winning combo of La Maison des Arts et Métiers. Located not far from the Guimet Museum, this address is primarily interesting for its terrace. The dining room Interior, occupied by businessmen at lunchtime is rather classical and even a little old-fashioned in its decoration. Fortunately, what is on the plate is tasty and interesting. An address to remember for the sunny days we are all longing for!
Average price « à la carte »: 60 € - Special of the week: 41,60 €
La Maison des Polytechniciens: an enchanting break
Close to the National Assembly and the Orsay Museum, Le Poulpry restaurant is opening its brand new terrace in the courtyard of the Maison des Polytechniciens. Sheltered from the frenetic flow of cars and pedestrians this is a calm place to enjoy good food outside. Lunch is the best time to test the “terrace menu”: a short but punchy list of Parisian brasseries favourites: fresh mixed salads, sublime raw minced beef to begin with. But you can also choose from the – of course more expensive - à la carte menu: yellow tail carpaccio with ginger green peas puree, monkfish on a fennel bed, cream of sea urchin baked in Chardonnay. A mouthwatering experience not to miss.
Average price « à la carte »: 60 €
Average price for the terrace menu : 36 €
Le Café Carlu: right in front of the sparkling Eiffel Tower!
It's not so much for the food but this restaurant's offers you an exceptional view of the Iron Lady and the Trocadéro Gardens. You can find Café Carlu in the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine featuring a new salad bar with classical wraps, quiches, specials of the day and brownies on the menu … Exclusive location but affordable.
Prices: salads from 8 € to 9,50 €
Table du 8
Close to the noisy and crowdy Champs Elysées, in the backyard of the astonishing and newly redesigned Maison Martin Margiela, you will find the Table du 8 terrace, nested between box trees, palm trees, rose bushes, hydrangeas, rhododendrons and a fifty year old olive tree, this terrace seats around 40 guests. On the menu of this wonderful oasis, some daring market fresh products, as well as some “classical” dishes: foie gras (goose liver paté), hake, polenta, sea bass, auvergnat-style burger, rack of lamb, notwithstanding the chef’s star recipies: the creamy rice pudding ! A clever menu in a lush setting.
Prices: set lunch menus at 39 € or 48 €
Welcome to the Maison Blanche
Grand opening last Spring for the Maison Blanche terrace, perched on top of Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and featuring striking views on the Invalides Dome and the Eiffel Tower. Kitchenwise, young chef Hervé Nepple absolutely adores cooking with local or sunny Mediterranean products, thus following in the Frères Pourcel’s foorsteps. An absolute must? His Corsican-style dishes, such as stuffed young lamb, cold cuts and Aziminu.
Prices: menu from 48 to 110 €
Castille Hotel: We love it the Italian way!
Looking more like a patio than a real terrace, the Castille Hotel inner yard is right next door to the famous Chanel house, located in the rue Cambon. Its Italian look comes from the trompe l’œil paintings, its fountain and most of all the menus: Chef Fabrizio La Montia (a former Guy Martin student, heading le Senso, his Italian restaurant) cooks surprising dishes, mostly in the Italian tradition, such as the nettle soup with pancetta, or his mackerel with tiny cut vegetables. His creativity is surprising and boundless: you should try his lukewarm veal head stew on a sucrine lettuce bed. Whatever your choice, everything is tasty and refined, but without fuss. The wines are good and affordable. La dolce vita in the heart of Paris.
Prices: 37 € for a three course meal
L'Hôtel: The hidden terrace
Just off the main St Germain turmoils, chic and confidential, hidden behind its tinted glass windows: here is the Hôtel. The sky dome restaurant design is signed by Jacques Garcia and includes a fresh and unexpected mini patio. Although small and charming, the place looks and feels like a garden, with just a handful of tables scattered around on the stones and a murmuring fountain in the middle. Featuring a gourmet cuisine inspired by famous classic French recipes, L'Hôtel offers an relaxing gourmet experience at an affordable price. Kind of exotic!
Prices: 45 € for a three course meal
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme: The hidden jewel
Even though the address is not as confidential as you’d like it to be, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme terrace is the best place to taste Chef Jean-François Rouquette’ssummer or “healthy” cuisine, seated under some olive trees. The chef’s creativity is never caught unprepared! A wonderful and tasty shelter from the city turmoil. An address to be trusted with your eyes closed!
Prices: 45 €
Roland-Garros for a break!
The very intimate terrace, backing the stadium of the central tennis court, is one of the sought-for places in Summer. The Roland-Garros restaurant is a legend, a true «must se », located close to the mythic Parisian tennis courts. Its cute terrace is open for leisure or business lunches, as well as for Sunday brunches. This 1927 building was first head quarters of the FrenchTennis League, followed by Lacoste’s, then a nursery for the players’ children and finally it served as a dorm for the young champions-to-be such as Yannick Noah or Leconte. For lunch, you can start off with a goose liver paté (foie gras) on a beetroot salad; then choose from a sea perch or a green asparagus risotto, cockles or a rack of lamb in a basilic sauce, a polenta roll, to finish with a cubic red fruit Vacherin or a fruit minestrone with ice cream. There’s also a new Sunday brunch formula: assortment of salads, cold cuts, eggs any kind, cereals and pastry. Charming and countrylike style, a good breath of fresh air in Paris!
Prices: average 50 € « à la carte » - Brunch: 38 € and 19 € for the children
Juin 2013