Le Grand Café

Nestled within the freshly renovated Grand Palais, Le Grand Café stands as a monument to Parisian glamour. Star architect Joseph Dirand has crafted a stunning space filled with marble, plush velvet, and beveled mirrors beneath soaring ceilings. With 300 seats inside and a leafy terrace overlooking the Petit Palais, this brasserie has become the gathering spot for Paris’s fashion elite and polished professionals during the day.

The menu reads like a love letter to classic French brasserie traditions, with sections devoted to hors d’oeuvres, crudo, generous salads, fish, meats, and impressive shellfish towers. Seafood lovers should consider the catch of the day, prepared with theatrical precision right at your table, or splurge on one of the towering oyster and crustacean platters that arrive with undeniable panache. Servers in crisp white vests and black ties complete the old-world ambiance.

By evening, the crowd transforms from power-lunch executives to dressed-up jet-setters, both local and international, eager for an excuse to don their finest. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance between grandeur and accessibility—a place where you can feel special without feeling stuffy. It’s ideal for those who appreciate both excellent food and exceptional people-watching.

Save room for dessert, where the throwback indulgence continues with a memorable banana split or a stunning red berry pavlova meant for sharing. Yes, the prices are unapologetically upscale, but for a taste of Parisian high society in a breathtaking setting, Le Grand Café delivers an experience that justifies the splurge.