I’ve never been inside of Maxim’s.
Passing it so many times since I moved here, I’ve conjured up elaborate stories about the fabled restaurant, perhaps the most famous in the world. I imagined at the turn of the century the best-dressed women in Paris wearing extravagant ball gowns topped with decadent hats sitting on the red velvet banquets, discreetly taking out ivory fans from their jeweled evening purses, to fan themselves from the heat. Men would be wearing dapper evening suits and top hats, escorting their wives or have their latest mistress on their arm.
I finally had the chance last Wednesday night to enter into the world of Maxim’s, receiving an invitation to a press conference for my friend Diane Pernet’s film festival A Shaded View on Fashion.
The press conference took place in a large room on the second floor, decorated with Art Nouveau style chairs with carved wood backs and red velvet seats, red glass wall sconces, Tiffany lamps, flower patterned carpet and gorgeous etched glass screens. The room was the very essence of the decadent Belle Epoque era of the late 1800s and the figures of my made up story began to fill the room.
After the press conference, there was a cocktail reception on the next floor, with full access to all the rooms. The fading daylight filtered through the tall windows, highlighting the handsome dark wood floors, gold leaf moldings and the sumptuous aqua blue and pistachio green colored walls.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to photograph the dining room on the main floor. Perhaps I will be invited back to Maxim’s another time to dine.
In the 1970s sex siren, Brigitte Bardot caused a scandal when she entered Maxim’s barefooted.
Maxim’s
3 rue Royale, 75008
Metro: Concorde
https://maxims-de-paris.com/fr/
For episode 9 of A Bite of Paris, I went to Comme a Lisbonne, where they serve pastel de nata, an amazing custard tart from Portugal.
Click here or below to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g-07qy-Wc0&feature=youtu.be
Please remember to hit the LIKE button if you like it and SUBSCRIBE button to subscribe to my channel.
Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more. In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.
Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you, my insiders, Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Comments