Ten years ago Le Palais de Tokyo opened its doors in Paris to an entirely new cultural concept, that of exhibiting unknown artists in a museum like setting that also served as a laboratory of contemporary culture encompassing a certain lifestyle. As one of the largest and most formidable sites devoted to artistic experimentation in Europe, this beautiful space is perched on the quays of the Seine across from the sparkling Eiffel Tower. The French architect, Joseph Dirand, recently designed the city’s must-see and be-seen restaurant of the moment, Monsieur Bleu which is housed in the new wing of the Palais de Tokyo.
Dirand envisioned and shaped the space around a fictional character- Monsieur Bleu- whom he felt was the epitome of Paris Bourgeois. Timeless, international, and just a touch offbeat, the lively and intimate ambiance befits the understated, minimal and uber-cool decor. Marble accents and velvet chairs read as warm sophistication, where young chef Benjamin Masson serves up brasserie-chic fare synonymous with France- which include variants of American comfort food, westernized Asian dishes, and a Parisian slant on Italian cooking. Sociable suppers, business lunches and lively late-night rendezvous are where beautifully groomed crowds- architects, designers, fashionable PR women dining with their luxury-brand manager husbands, film-makers, and even those hipster social media CEO’s- come to indulge in quite the scene on the seine, where Parisian luxury and gastronome dine well together. www.monsieurbleu.com
Great post!