L'OPÉRA RESTAURANT
Paris, France
The famed building of the Paris Opera,
Palais Garnier, is the setting for the lovely
L'Opéra, a multi-level restaurant set in the
edifice’s east wing beneath arcades where
horse-drawn calèches once dropped off
ticket-holding patrons of the opera house.
The building was originally designed by
architect Charles Garnier in the Baroque
Revival style as Baron Haussmann was
undertaking the incredible overhaul of
Paris. Inaugurated in 1875, it remains one
of the most beautiful structures in the
City of Light. The building was also the
setting of Gaston Leroux’s gothic novel,
Phantom of the Opera (Le Fantôme de
l'Opéra, 1911).
The stunning restaurant now is set against
a backdrop of the historical building’s
elegant and classic limestone, albeit with
a boldly contemporary decor. The ultramodern white and red interior is striking,
set as it is amidst the traditional stone
walls and vaulted ceilings.
It is the culmination of the work of French
architect Odile Decq, who produced this
modern masterpiece - an organic, curvaceous structure, which glides between
the walls and ceiling without touching
any of the original structure. Because of
the building's heritage, Decq could not
touch the original stone surfaces or block
anyone’s view of the ornate pendant
suspended from the domed ceiling.
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Working around these constraints, the
architect created a Phantom-like mezzanine consisting of a steel frame covered in
white plaster, moulded onsite by one of
France's few remaining masons with the
traditional know-how. Another significant
highlight of the design are the jaw-dropping glass curtain walls that protect the
old stone and ripple down like the curtain
in an opera house.
The restaurant’s architectural design,
minimal and contemporary while also
magnificent and historic, has won
numerous awards, including the coveted
Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.
Chef Stéphane Bidi designed the menu
for the L'Opéra Restaurant in line with the
ethos of this truly unique place, striking
a harmonious balance between classicism and modernism, around fresh and
seasonal produce. Bidi - a discreet but
very talented chef who has spent time
with starred chefs in famous restaurants
such as Le Crillon and Le George V –
showcases authenticity, creativity and
perfection in his flavoursome and beautifully presented dishes
Here is a tip for those wishing to enjoy
L’Opéra’s charms: come for the daily
breakfast starting at 7am and sit back to
watch the city awaken and prepare for a
new day.
www.opera-restaurant.fr
www.theaddressmagazine.com