Le Dauphine

131 Avenue Parmentier, Paris

Maria Ivanova

Quality bistronomy. Le Dauphine, located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, is an exposed, rather than a hidden gem of the city. Thanks to the architects Rem Koolhaas and Clément Blanchet, who worked on the restoration of the dining space, the entrance of the shiny and tiny restaurant features a massive white frame, embracing the glass facade and providing an open view of the magnificent interior.

The duo of star chefs – Fred Péneau and Inaki Aizpitarte – commissioned the OMA bureau and Clément Blanchet to transform less than 60 square meters into a quality bistro-gastronomy space. In 2010, Le Dauphine opened its doors, immediately gaining the attention and love of the public, both for its design and cuisine.

Surprisingly, the architects saw the place through the lens of an ancient temple – characterized by strong hierarchy and functions, which were borrowed and delicately implemented. The Naos is typified by the central bar counter – the heart of the space, covered in oak wood. Four encircled pillars amplify its relation to the ancient temple. The central counter is the heart, whose warmth contrasts with the total marble covering of the walls. The material usually associated with bathrooms defies the conventions of dining interiors and accomplishes it with great success. The whole space – from ceiling to floor – is laid in large-scale stone slabs with restrained graphic veins. Simplistic but chic – that’s a perfect background for a tasteful lunch on the rush, or an unhurried dinner, when the Parisian street lights transmute the exterior into an homage to one of Edouard Leon Cortes’s paintings.

The exterior frame, described in the beginning, continues the storyline of the Hellenistic Sanctuary with due honor. Serving as the transition between the exalted interior and the street, it contains the magic of an immersive experience. To stop from the mundane to the sanctuary of tastes – where every deliberate choice elevates your experience of quality – is to reinterpret the classical pronaos, separating the external world from the sacral.

Despite the modest area, the restaurant doesn’t feel compressed – the walls are not perceived restrictively by virtue of mirror panels reflecting the bright marble, tables, and happy guests who share the delight of being in a modern urban sanctuary.

The most distinctive element adopted from the Hellenistic Temple is the feeling of monumentality – the interior exudes a solid confidence in its own independence of time and trends.

It has proven to be true – 16 years after its opening in 2010, you can still visit Le Dauphine and join the joy at the center counter on a bar stool, or reserve a table for a cozy, modern bohemian dinner with your closest one.