A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: La Lorraine, a brasserie with a taste for the sea

Established since 1919 on the Place des Ternes, La Lorraine is one of Paris's most emblematic brasseries. Renowned for its exceptional seafood platters, sunny terrace and Art Deco decor, it embodies a certain idea of Parisian gastronomic tradition: generous, refined and rooted in the life of the neighborhood.

Nearly a century after its opening, it continues to welcome sea lovers, 8th arrondissement regulars, gourmet tourists and visiting artists.

A brewery born in the Roaring Twenties

It was in 1919, in the effervescence of thepost-war years, that La Lorraine opened. The Ternes district, close to the Étoile, was undergoing a major transformation: elegant, commercial, bourgeois and lively. La Lorraine quickly established itself as an essential meeting place, attracting customers from all over Paris, from businessmen to young girls on the prowl, from local families to night owls passing through. The brasserie soon specialized in seafood , benefiting from daily supplies from Brittany, Normandy and the Arcachon Basin.

Art Deco decor revisited with elegance

Entirely renovated by decorator Laura Gonzalez, La Lorraine has retained the soul of the brasseries of yesteryear, while offering a breath of modernity. The atmosphere is bright and warm, with light leather banquettes, wood panelling, an American bar, elaborate mouldings and, above all, an XXL south-facing terrace, which is very popular in fine weather. Today, the restaurant combines classic elegance with contemporary comfort, whether for a business lunch, a romantic dinner or an extended aperitif with a platter of oysters.

• To be read
• A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Grand Colbert, a brasserie in a spectacular setting
• A brief history of Paris's great restaurants: Le Grand Véfour, a jewel of neo-classical art
• The history of Paris's great restaurants: Au Pied de Cochon, brasserie canaille since 1947

Exceptional seafood cuisine

La Lorraine's pride and joy is its daily marée. Under the direction of chef Ludovic Olmeta, the brasserie works daily with ultra-fresh fish, shellfish and crustaceans, delivered by small-scale producers. Hollow or flat oysters, langoustines, whelks, shrimps, crab or lobster... the fishmonger's offer is one of the most renowned in Paris. But La Lorraine doesn't limit itself to seafood. It also offers traditional brasserie cuisine, with prime rib, veal fillet, free-range poultry and classic desserts.

A lively address combining tradition and modernity

La Lorraine is one of those rare Parisian establishments that has never ceased to be frequented, decade after decade. Politicians, actors and writers have passed through here, alongside locals and loyal tourists. Its chic yet relaxed atmosphere, round-the-clock service and ability to blend quality produce from the land and sea make it an ever-popular brasserie on the Parisian scene.