Cafe de la Paix Gourmet Restaurant in Paris
The Cafe de la Paix is a historical restaurant situated in a fabulous location by the Opera Garnier and was found in 1862, and with a wide variety of French cuisine, a Sunday Brunch, even breakfast, sandwiches, lunches and more.
About Cafe de la Paix
It was on the 5th May 1862 that the Cafe de la Paix was inaugurated by Empress Eugenie with the hotel of the same name, yet even when the hotel became the InterContinental Paris le Grand Hotel, the restaurant remained exactly the same including keeping its name.
Inside you will find the impressive Second Empire styling complemented by listed frescos and sumptuous gilding, making the Cafe de la Paix exudes elegance, which has lead to this venue being awarded a Grand Heritage Prize in 2000.
And although this restaurant was entirely renovated in 2003, it still provides the same ambiance, but with a brighter and less cluttered feel, whilst preserving the original decor with the restaurant now classified as an historical monument in Paris.
And as well as the main restaurant and separate rooms for private dinners, cocktail parties or other functions, there is also an indoor terrace for those not so nice days, but during the warmer months, there is an outside terrace with a fabulous view to the impressive Palais Garnier Opera House.
Plus over the years there have been many famous people visit the restaurant, and in 1948 it was the setting for This is Paris, a TV show with Yves Montand and Maurice Chevalier. Yet many other events have also taken place at the Cafe de la Paix over the years including the entire company of the Comedie Francaise Theatre celebrating their 300th anniversary here and a celebration of the Bicentennial of the French Revolution with displays that were produced in cooperation with the Musee Grevin waxwork museum in Paris.
Cuisine at the Cafe de la Paix
As you can no doubt imagine, the gourmet cuisine complements the sumptuous decor for an a la carte dinner to remember in a prestigious and historical location, yet there is far more to the Cafe de la Paix than just dinner.
Now lets start with the terrace menu, as it is referred to. To start with you can opt for a breakfast served between 9am and 11am, however, from midday you can opt for lunch such as the plate of the day, Beef tartare with either French fries or salad at a cost of €33 as of 2014 or maybe fish and chips for €24.
Seafood such as oysters or Dublin Bay prawns are available, yet snacks such as a hotdog, salmon or turkey club sandwich or a vegetarian pita accompanied by either fries or salad are also on the menu. However, the Cafe de la Paix also provides delights such as very tempting salads, soup, cheese platters, sushi and maki selections, canapes and much more to tempt you.
If you do not think the terrace menu was inviting, then you could always go for an a la carte option for lunch with starters such as a traditional cheese topped onion soup or crisp duck sweetbreads, almonds and pomegranate juice with prices from €21 as of 2014. A fish main course could be poached turbot with roast acacia seeds or a meat dish such as Burgundy countryside poultry with a creamy sauce and asparagus for an average cost of around €48.
Yet the Cafe de la Paix offers a Garden Market and Before Show menu that is available from noon to 3pm and from 6pm to 7.30pm with a choice of starter and main course for €41 or just a main course for €30. One selection could be a starter of pan fried squid with sumac and grapefruit followed by flamed veal kidneys with old Port wine and Millefeuille laying of potato, but do bear in mind that these dishes are always changing, as they use the freshest ingredients and what is available depending upon the season.
Dinner at Cafe de la Paix is an a la carte menu, which is served from 6pm through to 11pm which does include a vegetarian option. Plus if you are thinking of a romantic evening for two then you could opt for a preserved shoulder of lamb with straw potatoes at a cost of €86 as of 2014 for the two of you, or a prestige seafood platter for €185. But there is also a discovery menu that cost €86 per person along with numerous other mouth wateriing options available at this prestigious and historical restaurant in Paris.
Visiting Cafe de la Paix
As we have mentioned above, the Cafe de la Paix is open for breakfast from 9am through to 11pm, then from 11pm certain dishes and meals are available and others start being served from noon up until 3pm for lunch.
However, the winter or summer terraces are open right through to 12.30pm, even just for a coffee, soft drink, glass of wine etc, but dinner is served from 6pm through to 11.30pm, and although reservations are not always necessary, it is advisable to avoid any disappointment.
On a Sunday there is Sunday Brunch, which is €85 including a glass of champagne as of 2014. Yet there is a 50 percent discount for children under the age of 12 and during the brunch there is a childrens workshop, where they can discover different cultural aspects of Paris and create various different works for their added enjoyment, while you can relax in the beautiful setting, however, booking for this is normally required.
You will find the Cafe de la Paix gourmet restaurant within the 9th Arrondissement in a prestigious location at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel looking onto the Opera Garnier and the nearest Metro station is the Opera stop.
