Inspired by the iconic Marie Antoinette, Café Antonia is just one of many ways to enjoy the gastronomy at Le Bristol Paris, one of the city’s most luxurious hotels.
Designed to offer casual but elegant refreshments any time of day, Café Antonia is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea, and offers guests the chance to sample some of the delicious creations from Michelin-starred Head Chef Eric Frechon as they dine in the café’s opulent surroundings.
Walking through the beautiful entrance to Le Bristol definitely set the scene for what to expect from Café Antonia. The décor of the restaurant is ornate, elegant, and chic, and it’s easy to see the influence of Marie Antoinette, who was a lover of Parisian life and all its finery.
The menu itself was equally French, offering a variety of classic dishes including rich meats and seafood delicacies. However, with a selection of salads, sandwiches and tartines, it also catered for guests who wanted to enjoy a quick and light lunch as well as those who wanted to sit down for a more formal affair.
We had come to indulge in the latter, and so what better way to start a leisurely lunch on a Saturday afternoon than champagne. After we toasted to our Parisian weekend our starters of Blue Lobster and Beechwood smoked salmon and blinis arrived, with the lobster looking particularly pretty and inviting with a scattering of edible flowers. Both were soft, tender and delicious, and so we were particularly happy with our surprisingly large portions.
Next we opted for classic steak tartar and “Black Angus” carpaccio. The steak tartar was seasoned perfectly and the carpaccio just melted in the mouth, and both were paired perfectly with wine thanks to our lovely waitress Fanny.
Dessert was of course a must, but deciding which one to have was more difficult, we wanted it all! After such a perfect meal the chocolate mousse, with even more chocolate in the form of a sorbet, seemed appropriately indulgent, and we balanced out with the (slightly) lighter millefeuille with vanilla and berries. We were left with just enough room for coffee and petit fours but plenty of time to relax and people-watch as chic Parisians arrived to enjoy the hotel’s afternoon tea and the delicate cakes and patisserie. We would’ve been reluctant to leave our own afternoon of Parisian life if we hadn’t already made plans to return to the hotel’s bar later that evening, but we will still be back another time at Café Antonia. We’re sure Marie Antoinette wouldn’t be able to resist either.
Café Antonia, 112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, Tel: +33 (0)1 53 43 43 42