A brief history of the great restaurants of Paris: Drouant, literary temple of the Prix Goncourt

Since 1880, Drouant, located on Place Gaillon in the 2ᵉ arrondissement, has embodied the very essence of the Parisian restaurant of tradition and culture. From its origins as a bistro to its status as a literary and gastronomic mecca, it crosses the ages with panache, welcomed in a unique Art Deco decor.

Highly symbolic, it has been home to the Prix Goncourt and Prix Renaudot for a century. A look back at the history of a place that combines literature and cuisine in a historic setting.

Parisian beginnings at the height of the Belle Époque

The restaurant opened its doors in 1880, in a Paris in full artistic and intellectual swing. At the time, the capital was teeming with salons, writers' circles and places for debate, and Drouant quickly became a rallying point for lovers of art and gastronomy. In 1914, theAcadémie Goncourt chose Drouant as the official venue for its deliberations. In 1926, it was joined by the Prix Renaudot. Since then, France's two most famous literary prizes have been proclaimed here every year from the private salons on the second floor, reinforcing the legend of the place.

An Art Deco décor steeped in history

In 1924, the restaurant was adorned with its famous Ruhlmann staircase, a masterpiece designed by Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann, one of the major figures of the Art Deco movement. This majestic staircase, still in place today, became the symbolic stage for the announcements of the winners of the Goncourt and Renaudot awards. The renovation carried out in 2020 pays tribute to this era, restoring the walnut woodwork, travertine mosaics and oak armchairs of the original furniture. The restaurant now houses a library dedicated to the original editions of the Goncourt awards, as well as a"Cocteau" ceiling recalling the marine world of the original décor.

• To be read
• A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: La Closerie des Lilas, a literary bastion
• The history of Paris's great restaurants: La Coupole, symbol of the Roaring Twenties
• A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Lucas Carton, imperial Paris at the Madeleine

A Mecca of French gastronomy

If Drouant is renowned for its connection with letters, it is no less so for its refined cuisine. The house has welcomed some of the greatest names in gastronomy, including chef Antoine Westermann, who left his mark on the 2000s with a generous and precise vision of bourgeois cuisine. Even today, the menu blends tradition and modernity, emphasizing classic sauces, table-side cuts and an elegance of service rare in Paris.

A landmark for lovers of history, literature and fine dining

Located at the crossroads of Parisian boulevards, not far from theOpéra Garnier, Drouant remains a must for Paris lovers. People come here to relive the great hours of literary debate, but also to enjoy lunch on the terrace or dinner in one of its historic dining rooms. A restaurant that is both discreet and fundamental to the capital's gastronomic and intellectual landscape.

Our review of Drouant:

Drouant, the mythical home of the Académie Goncourt
A new page is being written for Drouant, the legendary Parisian institution that has been home to the Académie Goncourt since 1914. Taken over in 2018 by the Gardinier brothers, the restaurant surprises and delights with great classics of French gastronomy, brought up to date. [Read more]