Café Lapérouse, the explorers' brasserie at the Hôtel de la Marine

If the Hôtel de la Marine is a must-see cultural jewel in Paris, the Café Lapérouse it houses is also a not-to-be-missed stopover. The restaurant's menu proudly pays homage to navigators, including explorer Jean-François de La Pérouse. A magnificent setting and fresh, gourmet cuisine worthy of the monument!

The opening of theHôtel de la Marine was eagerly awaited in the capital, and the monument is proving to live up to its greatest promise: that of being both a cultural venue and a place to live. Sincesummer 2021, Parisians of all ages have been able to discover this jewel of the capital's heritage for the first time. The least we can say is that it's hard not to fall under its spell.

The Hôtel de la Marine in Paris, the sublime monument on Place de la Concorde
Do you know the Hôtel de la Marine? Let's discover this restored treasure of Parisian heritage, enthroned on the Place de la Concorde! [Read more]

And good news for gourmets: theHôtel de la Marine's magnificent setting is now complemented by a gourmet stopover at Café Lapérouse, a new address for the iconic Parisian restaurant. There are two terraces sheltered beneath the monument's arcades, one overlooking Place de la Concorde, the other an inner courtyard. Inside, sumptuous lounges are the perfect extension to a visit to theHôtel de la Marine.

All you want to do is make yourself comfortable. Here you are in a restaurant that pays direct homage to navigators, including of course the explorer Jean-Françoisde La Pérouse. What could be more appropriate, given themonument's history?

Like a lighthouse illuminating the horizon for Parisian gourmets, culinary explorers come here to drop anchor. Operating continuously from 8am to 7pm, this spot is open at all hours and caters for all tastes. A typical Parisian breakfast? A gourmet lunch? A 4pm brunch? A refined aperitif? Café Lapérouse ticks all these boxes, and more!

Here, you'll find the stars of Parisian bistronomy, includingegg and shell with a choice of toppings (chives & salted butter, furikake, polenta fries with Parmesan, smoked salmon, truffle, bottarga or caviar), croque-monsieur in a variety of recipes, as well as dishes never before served at theHôtel de la Marine and the classics that have made the Lapérouse restaurant such a success.

We were tempted by the very gourmet Croque-Winston, with smoked pastrami, old cheddar, gherkins and coleslaw, which exceeded our expectations, as well as an egg and shell with shredded bottarga, a delicious marriage between land and sea that's well worth trying! The elegant capital L that serves as Lapérouse 's logo stamped on the shell reminds us that the eggs come from the restaurant's own free-range hens.

With summer in Paris prompting us to turn to flavors full of freshness, we also fall for the Carpaccio Royal du Finistère with thin slices of sea bass and scallops accompanied by fresh herbs and pistachio oil. A dish that convinces us of the quality of the products offered on the Café Lapérousse menu. We also love the balance of textures, with the sprinkling of pistachios adding a touch of crunch that this delicious carpaccio might otherwise lack.

But our biggest favorite, if we had to name just one, is the New England Lobster-Roll. This famous sandwich, which has conquered the taste buds of the capital's gourmets, is here revisited in a sweet and savory version with a mango and passion fruit sauce: the marriage is just divine. The combination of the lobster's melt-in-your-mouth texture, the crunch of the passion fruit and the extremely soft brioche bun is utterly conquering. Once again, the right balance has been found, so as not to distort the different products that make up this new version of the Lobster Roll.

The indulgence continues through to dessert, with a delicious, low-acid lemon tart that might even suit those who aren't usually citrus fans. We also fell in love withthe Pain à la Duchesse au praliné, a revisited version of the éclair featuring a fine chocolate bar and crunchy hazelnuts: a pastry that takes us back to childhood!

Whether you want to extend your visit to theHôtel de la Marine or take a gourmet break overlooking one of Paris's most beautiful squares, Café Lapérouse is an unmissable stopover and a true HQ for the capital's gourmets!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please mention it in the comments.