Lafayette's

Welcome to the last residence of Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette, honorary US citizen and ‘hero of both worlds’, famous for the courage he displayed in the military during the American War of Independence. Profoundly attached to the principle of freedom, the Marquis was also a man of wit, who enjoyed good food and partying. This private mansion was the scene of sumptuous banquets, famous high-society functions, secret meetings and the most coveted parties ever known to 19th-century Paris. Nowadays, the venue is managed by Benjamin Patou, who runs Lapérouse, among others, and Mory Sacko, the chef at the Michelin-starred Mosuke, restaurant.

A melting pot of flavours from three continents

The place where the Paris smart set used to get together to dance and party has been taken over by a decidedly stylish brasserie. Mory Sacko transports you with his vision of seasonal cuisine. The inspiring, neobourgeois menu carries the influence of his African origins. But there’s more to it. The dishes also have an American, New World influence, as a nod to the venue’s former owner.

This is sheer excellence in the art of combining the traditional tastes of France with flavours from other cultures, to create dishes that leave your tastebuds reeling. On the menu: French Mac and Cheese with truffle, whole bass braised in a banana leaf and served with Creole sauce, or corn-fed Landes chicken supreme with mafé sauce, roast carrots and broken rice.

But the experience doesn’t end there. Your journey continues with the wine & cocktail list. At your table or at the bar, you can sip at a French vintage, a wine from elsewhere or one of the chef’s special cocktails.

A decor made to measure

While the cuisine may carry you off to distant lands, the setting reminds you of the glory days of old. It won’t be long before you’re thinking of dressing up in period costume. Located at no. 8 Rue d'Anjou, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, the site has been redesigned by Lázaro Rosa-Violán. His intention was to revisit past trends by giving them a modern twist. Opulent lounges with a refined decor of period mouldings and wood panelling, 18th-century Aubusson tapestry, chandeliers and candles, tailor-made velvet furnishings and precious printed textiles. You can almost still picture men and women from that period tucking into a banquet.

As for the tableware, the silver cutlery, the tureens and the porcelain crockery of that era ooze with French elegance. A clever mix of obstinately modern cuisine and an atmosphere that’s as Belle Epoque as they come.

A moment suspended in time, waiting to be experienced, like other new addresses in the Paris Region.