Le Grand Café

About

At 1 place Clemenceau, Le Grand Café brings serious appetite to the newly restored Grand Palais. The monument, built for the 1900 World’s Fair and fully reopened in 2025 after four years of renovation, gives the restaurant instant historical weight without any need for theatrics. Executive chef Benoît Dargère leans into polished French brasserie cooking with craft and restraint: think oysters from the écaille counter, œufs mimosa with bottarga, sole cooked properly, and comfort dishes sharpened by exact technique. The setting, designed by Joseph Dirand, balances grandeur and ease with marble, terrazzo, velvet banquettes and a long, lush terrace under the colonnade facing the Petit Palais. It feels unmistakably Parisian, but not frozen in amber.  Dress code: smart casual, and no sneakers.