A brief history of the great restaurants of Paris: Fouquet's, glamour on the Champs-Elysées

For over 120 years, Le Fouquet's has embodied timeless elegance, prestige and the inseparable link between Paris and the world of cinema. In the heart of the Golden Triangle, on the corner of the Champs-Élysées and Avenue George-V, this legendary brasserie is an address where glamour meets French cuisine.

A birth under the golds of the Belle Époque

Le Fouquet's opened its doors in 1899, at a time when Parisian boulevards were seeing the emergence of exceptional brasseries. The establishment quickly became a favorite meeting place for artists, writers and figures from the world of Paris. Its name has become an essential reference in the city, for its hushed, refined atmosphere.

A history closely linked to cinema

Fouquet's earned its reputation as the favorite haunt of French cinema. As early as the 1930s, leading actors and directors held premiere dinners there. The brasserie officially became the venue for the César awards dinner, reinforcing its status as a cultural institution. The greatest icons of the seventh art left their mark here, immortalized by the famous Studio Harcourt portraits that still adorn the restaurant's walls today.

Gastronomy faithful to French traditions

The Fouquet's menu evolves without ever betraying its heritage. It revisits the classics of French bourgeois cuisine with elegance. Beef tartare, sole meunière, Burgundy snails, vanilla millefeuille: each dish pays homage to a culinary heritage while adapting to the expectations of an international clientele, from Parisian breakfasts to afternoon snacks and late dinners.

• To be read
• A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Lucas Carton, imperial Paris at the Madeleine
• A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Grand Colbert, a brasserie in a spectacular setting
• A brief history of the great restaurants of Paris: Maxim's, the crème de la crème of the Belle Epoque

A setting emblematic of Parisian art de vivre

Inside, the place is a showcase of dark wood, velvet banquettes, subdued lighting and subtle details. The restaurant combines glamour and discretion, elegance and warmth. The red terraces overlooking the Champs-Élysées have become an iconic image of Paris, popular with tourists and regulars alike.