Laurent

A Paris landmark and former royal hunting lodge off of the Champs Elysée, Laurent has received a jolt of new life thanks to the team behind Paris Société, who have built an empire of Parisian hot spots with restaurants like Girafe and Gigi. To reboot this grande dame, they enlisted Cordelia de Castellane, the design wizard behind Christian Dior’s housewares line. She played up the greenhouse atmosphere with potted palms and cane furniture in the ground floor dining rooms, while the second floor comprises a series of private dining rooms of various sizes and styles, ideal for intimate celebrations. While the longtime loyalists may not appreciate the evening music, they will be glad that the menu harkens back to more traditional French dining, with dishes like terrines and foie gras. Paris Société has kept Laurent classics like lobster salad and spider crab with fennel jelly as well the sole meuniere and roast Bresse chicken for two. Desserts, like tartes or flambes, are displayed in the good old “chariot” or cart and wheeled table to table.