The Restaurant at One of Paris’ Most Famous TV Filming Locations Has Been Completely Reimagined
The Restaurant at One of Paris’ Most Famous TV Filming Locations Has Been Completely Reimagined
Devorah Lev-TovThu, July 23, 2026 at 5:19 PM UTC
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Dine al fresco on the Le Gratin terrace.Credit: Marie Desprez Studio
A new restaurant, Le Gratin, opened on June 18 in the historic Place de Valois in Paris’ 1st arrondissement. If the square looks familiar, it’s because it’s home to Savoir, the fictional public relations agency from Netflix’s hit show Emily in Paris, which currently has five seasons (the sixth and final season started production in May). The historic square recently got a major upgrade, with a 250-seat terrace and Le Gratin taking over the space of the former Bistrot Valois.
Behind the project is restaurateur Michel Puech (also behind beloved neighborhood spots Biche, Margaux, and Bistro Blandine) and longtime friend Adrien Villalba, both originally from Nîmes in the South of France. Together, they’re reviving this cinematic location with the vibrant, vintage-inspired French bistro—the only restaurant on the arcade-lined pedestrian square, just steps away from the Palais-Royal and the Louvre Museum.
“Taking over a restaurant that had been part of Place de Valois for so many years comes with a real sense of responsibility,” Puech told Travel + Leisure in an exclusive interview. “What excites me most is the challenge of honoring its history while bringing a fresh perspective and embracing the codes of contemporary French dining. Le Gratin is designed to become an institution—as though it had always been part of Place de Valois.”
The modern bistro menu features a celebration of French terroirs. Modern dishes include sardines in green herb oil with garlic toast, herb-infused prawns with mayonnaise, tagliatelle with morels, and a scene-stealing lobster gratin—Puech’s favorite dish.
“It brings together everything I love about French cuisine: outstanding craftsmanship, exceptional ingredients, simplicity, and above all, a real sense of generosity and indulgence,” he said.
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Also on the menu is the same popular cordon bleu served at its sibling restaurant Biche. Bistro classics like leeks vinaigrette, garlic-parsley frog legs, sea bream carpaccio, chicken supreme with morels, and chateaubriand round out the comforting menu. Finish with the house chocolate mousse, served tableside by the spoonful out of a terrine.
The wine list pays tribute to France’s most celebrated appellations, with bottles by renowned names like Alain Graillot and Domaine Gramenon, alongside rising talents like Yann Chave and Caroline Frey. Cocktails go beyond the classics with creations like the Amaretto Disaronno Sour, made with amaretto, lime, and egg white; the Diplomático Pasión, made with rum, passion fruit purée, and lime juice; and the Leslie Gracie, made with gin, elderflower syrup, and sparkling water.
Inside, you’ll find a meticulously curated retro aesthetic, with a classic zinc counter, velvet chairs, a sprawling terrace, and an expansive glass veranda. A quintessentially French-bistro shade of red dominates throughout—in the armchairs, tableware, menus, and outdoor umbrellas.
“We wanted to create a place that feels familiar and reassuring—somewhere guests naturally return to,” said Puech. “At the same time, together with my team and partners, we wanted to reinterpret the experience through a contemporary French lens. That means a neo-bistro-inspired interior, service that’s attentive and elegant, yet relaxed, and dishes that appear simple but are crafted with exceptional ingredients, meticulous technique, and a modern approach to presentation.”
Le Gratin is open seven days a week, from noon until midnight.
on Travel & Leisure
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
