83 Le Café: Sotheby's secret address for lunch in the 8th arrondissement

Fancy an elegant and discreet break in the heart of the 8th arrondissement? A few steps from Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré,Sotheby's Paris unveils an unexpected gourmet address in the heart of its galleries: 83 Le Café. A place designed to offer an elegant and discreet interlude for visitors and regulars alike. Combining luxury, culture, and culinary art, this café-restaurant, open every weekday at lunchtime (and on weekends during various Parisian fashion and cultural events), offers a soothing experience, ideal for a refined break or a moment of relaxation between two exhibitions.

From 10 a.m., 83 Le Café welcomes visitors with a breakfast menu served until 11:30 a.m. Lunch service then takes over from noon to 2 p.m. with a short, carefully selected menu highlighting local and seasonal products. In the afternoon, the restaurant transforms into a gourmet spot with its fine snacks, tea time from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and a wide range of hot and cold drinks to accompany every moment of the day. The idea behind this restaurant is to offer a gourmet and delicate moment in the midst of the works on display in the exhibitions.

Subtle cuisine inspired by the finest houses

Having worked at the Ritz and the George V, Gaëtan Thibert, an alumnus of theFerrandi school, creates a sober, contemporary cuisine, full of references to French tradition. Each dish revisits a culinary classic with precision and precision. Nothing ostentatious, but meticulously executed to sublimate the ingredients, always in line with the seasons and the French terroir. On the menu, you'll find declensions of tomatoes, king crab, miso salmon and grilled eggplant.

On the sweet side, pastry chef Emma Teulade, also a Ferrandi graduate who trained at Le Cinq and Cheval Blanc Paris, creates desserts that are like works of art, such as the Saint-Honoré on the menu, the restaurant's signature dessert. Desserts are regularly enhanced with new creations, in line with organized events, such as the "Cube bleu," a dessert created for the exhibition orchestrated by Pierre Hardy. These are temporary creations that invite you to come back and discover them (in this case, until November 25, 2025 for the cube in question, but you get an idea of what the pastry chef can offer for exhibitions or sales events in general).

To be enjoyed between sales or during a visit, these sweet treats are the perfect accompaniment to a cozy afternoon in the heart of the mansion. And for tea time, try the strawberry pavlova, coffee roll, or raspberry tart, to name just a few.

A cultural and gourmet experience in its own right

83 Le Café is more than just a table. It's also a place for sharing, where culinary masterclasses and wine tastings are held on a regular basis as an extension of current auctions and exhibitions. Are you a lover of contemporary art, curious about design, passionate about fine jewelry or the history of tableware? This place is designed to satisfy your aesthetic appetite as much as your palate.

But be warned: if you're looking for a lively bistro, a noisy atmosphere or a quick bite to eat, this is not the place for you. Here, everything invites contemplation and slowness: a bubble of calm, ideal for a hushed business lunch, a moment of complicity for two, or a chic tea-time between art lovers.

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We were able to discover this cuisine during lunch. It began with an amuse-bouche, a crispy puffed corn and shallot tuile, sprinkled with popcorn powder. A subtle and delicate introduction. Just to clarify: we were served a version without shallots, as we are allergic to them, but the result was the same after comparison. Next came the sesame tuna tataki with jalapeño sauce and crunchy fennel, which was just as refined. Two small pieces of perfectly tender fish... Special mention goes to the fennel, perfectly complemented by the Granny Smith apple, which cuts through the taste and bitterness (but still leaves a little) of the fennel, which in turn cuts through the sweetness of the apple. In short, a clever mix of flavors.

For the main course, we were tempted by the scallops, roasted baby potatoes, and smoked beurre blanc. A dish that might seem rather heavy, given the ingredients, but everything comes together very subtly, resulting in something very delicate, slightly salty, and melt-in-the-mouth. We loved the baby potatoes topped with lumpfish roe, adding a salty touch to the sweetness of the potatoes and giving the whole dish a lively kick.

And for dessert, the Saint-Honoré, slightly revisited by pastry chef Emma Teulade. A bold but effective proposal, since the puff pastry base is replaced here by a palm-shaped puff pastry tartlet base. A curious sweet twist, but ultra-regressive and ultra-indulgent. And the Chiboust cream is as creamy as it is tasty. In short, a lunch of rare finesse, to be discovered when visiting the neighborhood.

Immerse yourself in beauty at every level

Visiting 83 Le Café is a complete experience within the world of Sotheby's Paris, where gastronomic excellence echoes the richness of the works on display. Whether you are visiting the neighborhood for an auction or simply curious to discover a discreet and refined restaurant in an unusual location, this café nestled in the heart of an iconic building promises an unforgettable experience. Please note that it is also possible to order pastries to take away in advance on the restaurant's website (or on ZenChef).

Available throughout the week, at any time of day depending on the menu on offer, 83 Le Café is positioned as a destination apart in the Parisian landscape, at the crossroads of art and cuisine.

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