Saku Vendôme, a Japanese jewel box just steps from the jewelers

On a quiet street in the 1st arrondissement, Saku Vendôme stands as a genuine contemporary Japanese house—an intimate, elegant address where the quality of the ingredients and the precision of the preparations justify the steep prices.

It's on a narrow street tucked behind the district’s grand restaurants and palaces, where the kitchen brigades still steal a quick five minutes to catch their breath before returning to the stoves, that Saku Vendôme has just opened — the latest from the Kobo group (Shin Izakaya, Nonno San). A few steps from the Place Vendôme, the Japanese spot proves to be far more expansive than its understated façade would suggest.

A counter greets guests on the ground floor, then a flight of stairs leads to the upper level, where a larger room with blue carpet speckled with red dots sits beside a lounge crowned by a bar. Natural light, hushed conversations—the whole scene cultivates an intimate and chic atmosphere and a touch of formality typical of this corner of Paris where the great jewelry houses cluster. Yet the service never feels cold: discreet but efficient and smiling.

Saku Vendôme brings together multiple facets of Japanese cuisine under one roof: the traditional sushiya, the welcoming izakaya, and the omakase, the ultimate experience that hands control to the maître sushi who, right before the diners' eyes, crafts a sequence of small plates according to his whim, the season, and what arrives that day.

At Saku Ventôme, the omakase unfolds at the counter in a truly intimate setting: just 8 seats per service (7:00 PM or 9:00 PM; €145). If you drop in for lunch, you’re more inclined to explore the house’s raw offerings. To get a read on this new address, there’s no better gauge than an assortment of sashimi (chinchard tataki, mackerel, salmon, cuttlefish, bluefin tuna, sea bream, wahoo; €44) and sushi (bluefin tuna, wahoo, cuttlefish, salmon, sea bream, chinchard, mackerel, shrimp, salmon roe, omelette, tuna maki; €49).

Poissons and seafood are showcased here in the artful craft of Edomae sushi: the cuts are precise, the seasonings discreet, and the freshness and finesse of the pieces are evident. Alongside, the sea bream carpaccio (19€), with Japanese chili and ponzu sauce, feels almost restrained at this early lunch.

The menu, of course, isn’t limited to raw offerings. Evidence lies in the miso-glazed eggplant (€15) with tender flesh, and the creamy spinach salad with sesame dressing (€11), which proves to be far more flavorful than one might expect. Tempura, robata grilling and sharing boards round out the selection, alongside a range of sake, cocktails and wines.

When it comes to the bill, the quality of the raw ingredients clearly drives the price, as Saku Vendôme sources exceptionally sought-after inputs (toro tuna, caviar, sea urchin, wagyu, to name a few). Add to that a location among the capital’s most prestigious addresses.

Ultimately, while the prices may seem steep, they don’t stand out from those charged at the genuine high-end Parisian Japanese restaurants where you pay for both the quality of the ingredients and the skill that goes into preparing them. The restaurant also makes an effort to offer a more affordable Bento menu at lunch. At 42€, it bundles five preparations and a dish of your choice.