L'Opéra Restaurant
The recent restaurant opening at Palais Garnier in Paris can be called a historic one and there is a good reason for that. Situated in a gorgeous, late Empire style building, it had to wait entire 136 years to finally witness it! Foundations of the building were laid in 1861 while its actual construction started in 1862. Legend is that the Emperor's wife, the Empress Eugénie, asked the architect Charles Garnier during the construction whether the building would be built in the Greek or Roman style, to which he replied: "It is in the Napoleon III style, Madame!" The mystery-surrounded Opera House has even served as an inspiration for Gaston Leroux gothic novel The Phantom of the Opera. Garnier in his last sketches had envisioned the Opera to have a restaurant as well, yet unfortunately the project was not carried out and later on followed to more failed attempts to complete it. Now, 136 years later, the architects dream has finally come true. The new Opéra Garnier restaurant designed by the French architect Odile Decq (the author of Rome's Macro museum's new extension opened in spring 2011) features a bold fusion of the legendary past of the building and a modern-day design. Typically to Decq's projects, bright red color dominates its décor, yet being not the color of extravagant daring, as considers the architect herself, but the color representing life and vitality. The restaurant spanning over a total of 788 m² is divided into 3 zones - the main dining room, bar and lounge area. The restaurant's open-air terrace features Odile Decq designed chairs as well. The long kept in secret name of the chef, causing numerous rumors and intrigues, is the two Michelin-star-awarded, Christophe Aribert. Creativity may triumph on two stages at Palais Garnier now - on the Opera House stage and that of fine gastronomy.
Palais Garnier
Place Jacques Rouché
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