Jazz dinner-concert at Bagatelle: we checked out Melville hors les murs 2026

The Melville Jazz Dinner-Concert heads outdoors this summer to the Parc de Bagatelle, at the foot of the château in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. A staple of Parisian jazz, long a fixture in the 8th, the institution loosens its walls for a string of outdoor evenings that runs through July 29, 2026, every Tuesday and Wednesday (with a pause this week, June 23–24). The offer: a four-course dinner prepared by a rising chef, followed by a live sunset concert. We sampled the experience in a slightly special version, and here’s what you need to know.

Our evening had something truly unique about it. While dinner-concerts are usually held in front of Bagatelle Castle, ours was unusually moved to the neighboring gardens of the Villa Windsor. So we tried the Villa Windsor version, a real surprise that night, even though the entire edition felt right at home in Bagatelle Park. And whether facing the castle or nestled in the gardens of the Villa Windsor, both settings have their own magic. The atmosphere really carries the moment: on a mellow late-day evening, the light sinks over the lawns, the first notes of jazz manouche rise, a glass in hand, and everyday life fades away. The standards we all know take on a fresh intensity in this backdrop.

Did you know? The surprise at Villa Windsor

This exceptional foray into the gardens of Villa Windsor was no casual affair. We’d already had the chance to explore the park in May, during Jardins, Jardin, the landscape festival marking its 20th anniversary, but dining there offers a markedly different flavor. Built in the late 1920s, this neoclassical residence housed General de Gaulle for a year during the Liberation. Its name owes far more to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, who settled there in the 1950s. Later acquired by Mohamed Al-Fayed, owner of the Ritz, it has been undergoing restoration by the Fondation Mansart since 2023. A singular interlude, still remarkable that evening: the dinners-concerts, which are hosted at Parc de Bagatelle.

What’s on the menu at the Melville dinner-concert?

On the plate, young chef Malcom Ecolasse (who cut his teeth in the kitchens of Éric Frechon, Jean-François Piège and Juan Arbelaez) offers a four-course menu crafted for the occasion. The course names set the tone, a blend of wink and indulgence:

• Going Up in Smoke : pan-seared brioche French toast with smoked butter, smoked scamorza, stracciatella, kiwi, onion pickles, scallions and cashews (vegetarian version)

• Poireauter : Lean fish carpaccio, leek leche de tigre, leek pickles, toasted pecans, red currants and yuzu gel (vegetarian option: leek cooked sous-vide at a low temperature)

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• A Sunday at Mom's: sous-vide chicken breast finished with a quick sear, chicken jus, pommes dauphine, parsley mayonnaise, roasted garlic condiment and parsley oil (vegetarian option: seared eggplant steak with ratatouille coulis)

• No rush: caramelized mille-feuille, creamy lemon custard, lime gel, and green shiso (vegetarian version)

We appreciate that every dish offers a genuine vegetarian alternative, thoughtfully conceived rather than tucked away on the menu. The cuisine travels, plays with textures, and holds up well outdoors, which isn’t always easy for a kitchen of this caliber served under the stars.

What Jazz Program Is Planned for the Season’s End at Bagatelle?

The programming blends longtime favorites with rising talents, from swing to blues and the Great American Songbook. Here are the remaining evenings this summer:

• Tuesday, June 30 : Ehran Jade Quartet (vocal jazz)
• Tuesday, July 7 : Anastasia 4tet (soul and standards from the Great American Songbook)
• Wednesday, July 8 : Vik Sings the Blues (blues and vocal jazz)
• Wednesday, July 15 : the duo Ellen Birath and Matthieu Boré (jazz standards)
• Tuesday, July 21 : Estelle Perrault Trio (jazz, groove and folk)
• Tuesday, July 28 : Rémi Toulon Trio (piano jazz)
• Wednesday, July 29 : Victor Demange Trio (swing and boogie)

The full details of each concert can be found on the Melville site and on Paris Jazz Club. The founders, Sébastien and Laurent, say they wanted to extend the emotion that blossomed last year between the musicians, the audience, and this setting, to keep jazz open and inclusive.

How to book and attend the dinner-concert?

To make the most of it, budget €110 per person, dinner and concert included. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the music starts at 8:30 p.m. Access is through the Sèvres gate, on the Sèvres–Neuilly road, in the 16th arrondissement. For transport, bus 43 (Parc de Bagatelle stop) or bus 244 (Bagatelle-Pré Catelan stop) drop you nearby, and a Vélib' station is about 400 meters away—probably the simplest option given the metro’s distance. Plan your return in advance and tuck a light sweater into your bag, as it can get chilly after nightfall. In case of rain, the evening is postponed or refunded, and reservations are made directly on the site of the Melville.

This dinner-concert is for jazz lovers as well as the merely curious, for couples seeking a night out with a difference, and for anyone wanting a brief escape without leaving Paris. You’ll leave feeling you’ve experienced something a touch rare—a blend of an intimate concert and a thoughtfully prepared dinner. Our tip: book early, as spots disappear fast and the park isn’t open every evening.

Want to keep the summer going with music and the open air? Check out our pick of festive and musical terraces in Paris and Ile-de-France, or our guide to guinguettes in Paris and Ile-de-France in 2026, two excellent picks for al fresco evenings.

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, please drink responsibly.

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.