A short history of Paris's great restaurants: Le Café de la Paix, breeding ground for emperors

For over 160 years, the Café de la Paix has embodied a certain idea of Parisian chic, between gastronomy, culture and history. Located just a stone's throw from theOpéra Garnier, this legendary restaurant in the 9ᵉ arrondissement has seen writers, celebrities, politicians and modern-day adventurers come and go.

A social gathering place, impromptu literary salon, cinema stage and symbol of the Second Empire style, it remains an emblematic address of Parisian life to this day.

An imperial birth in the heart of the capital

The Café de la Paix was opened in 1862, at the same time asEmpress Eugénie inaugurated the Grand Hôtel (now InterContinental Paris le Grand), of which it is an integral part. From the outset, the café attractedParis' elite and visitors from all over the world, seduced by its strategic location - at the corner of Place de l'Opéra and Boulevard des Capucines - and its sumptuous style directly inspired by the Second Empire. The Empress herself, on discovering the salons, is said to have exclaimed: "It's exactly like home!", a reference to the refined atmosphere and golds reminiscent of Compiègne or Fontainebleau. This proximity to power and prestige definitively established the Café de la Paix as a Parisian mecca of refinement.

A setting preserved between history and elegance

The Napoleon III style of the Café de la Paix has stood the test of time. Gilded moldings, massive columns, mural frescoes, imposing chandeliers: everything in the décor evokes the grandeur of imperial France. Even during the 1930s, when Art Deco swept through classical interiors, Le Café retained its identity. In the 80s and 90s, it was restored by decorator Pierre-Yves Rochon, who respected the original style while adding a few touches of modern comfort. Even today, the place exudes a timeless atmosphere, ideal for large-scale dinners and suspended moments.

A haven for writers, artists and royalty

From the end of the 19ᵉ century, the Café de la Paix became the writers' headquarters. Guy de Maupassant, Émile Zola, Oscar Wilde, Victor Hugo and Arthur Conan Doyle regularly met there. The café even featured in several literary works, from Zola(Nana) to Hemingway(Le Soleil se lève aussi). The Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, met there; Serge Lifar, ballet master of the Paris Opera, invited his artist friends; and in 1948, Maurice Chevalier, Henri Salvador and Yves Montand recorded a radio program that was broadcast live to the United States. Later, Marlène Dietrich, John Travolta and Jean-Paul Belmondo also settled here.

• To be read
• A brief history of Paris's top restaurants: Le Pharamond, Normandy-style ambience
• The history of Paris's great restaurants: La Tour d'Argent and its numbered ducks
• A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Le Train Bleu, a journey to the Belle Époque

An active witness to the history of Paris

During the First World War, the Café de la Paix became a gathering place for soldiers and Parisians. In 1916, it was at the heart of the July 14th celebrations. In the 1930s, it resisted the rise of modernism. In the post-war years, it played a part in the city's renewal, serving as a backdrop for film shoots, a stage for cultural events and even a radio forum. It's also a place of urban memory: over time, the café's terrace has become a landmark for Parisians and tourists alike, on this Place de l'Opéra where classicism meets contemporary bustle.

A living café, more than a monument

In the kitchen, the house has always emphasized the great classics of French gastronomy: seafood, foie gras, choice meats and fine pastries. Today, the menu is faithful to the spirit of the place, combining revisited traditions with timeless elegance. But you don't just come for a coffee or dinner: you enter a place where the past resonates in every element of the décor. More than a century and a half after its opening, the Café de la Paix remains one of Paris's most vibrant symbols.

Our review of the Café de la Paix:

Le Café de la Paix: the sublime historic restaurant in Paris with a renovated setting
The Café de la Paix, this world-famous restaurant classified as a historical monument, is without a doubt one of the most beautiful restaurants in Paris. The emblematic Parisian restaurant, ideally located on the magnificent Place de l'Opéra, welcomes you since its renovation in its two bright and airy spaces, entirely redesigned by the architect Pierre-Yves Rochon in 2021. [Read more]