Paris’s iconic Samaritaine department store has at long last reopened its doors to shoppers and diners after an extensive refurbishment.
President Emmanuel Macron and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo were there to celebrate the lovingly restored landmark building on the Right Bank, which was closed in 2005 because of safety concerns.
Some 800 artisans, including sculptors, painters and ironworkers, were involved in the restoration. A fabulous new glass façade designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese firm Sanaa looks on to the rue de Rivoli while an iron frame holds in place the restored glass roof, originally designed in 1907 by architect Frantz Jourdain. Not glitzy enough for you? How about Art Nouveau lava stone ceramics, a monumental oak staircase decorated with 16,000 gold leaves and a 115m-long peacock mural?
The Samaritaine Paris Pont-Neuf department store, to give it its full name, started life in 1870 under the ownership of Ernest Cognacq. Today, it plays host to 600 luxury brands epitomising French art de vivre and is home to the largest beauty space in continental Europe.
And of course it wouldn’t reflect true French art de vivre without a selection of fine eateries – here’s a quick rundown of the some of the restaurants you can visit at La Samaritaine.
VOYAGE
On the fifth floor beneath that famous glass roof, Voyage’s ambiance changes throughout the day, with a seasonal menu which takes classic dishes in a new direction and lighter tapas-style meals available. Meanwhile, mixologist Matthias Giroud presents a delicious selection of cocktails and mocktails.
DÎNETTE BY DALLOYAU
Dînette by Dalloyau brings fresh life to French gastronomic dishes as imagined by Pierre Koch and Jérémy Del Val. Salads, sandwiches and pastries are also offered. Watch out for La Fleur, an acanthus leaf-shaped cake created exclusively for La Samaritaine.
PARISIENNE BY PETIT PLISSON
Delphine Plisson, founder of Maison Plisson, celebrates healthy eating at Parisienne, with ingredients carefully selected for their quality and flavour. Catering to meat-eaters right through to vegans, it’s a slice of Parisian bistro atmosphere in the heart of La Samaritaine.
ZINC BY BRÛLERIE DES GOBELINS
With its genuine Parisian café atmosphere, Zinc is the place to go for authentic coffee lovers. You’ll find a lovingly curated range of speciality coffees, plus snacks, lunch and afternoon teas. The aim is to make coffee-lovers fall in love with coffee all over again through intriguing brewing rituals like the French press, V60 or cold extraction.
ERNEST, BY NAOËLLE D’HAINAUT & ERIC KAYSER
Created by Michelin-starred chef Naoëlle d’Hainaut, enjoy a breakfast of fresh bread and croissants baked on-site in the basement oven, or pop in for lunch or supper when the brasserie serves a menu of contemporary cuisine.
STREET CAVIAR BY LA MAISON PRUNIER
Street Caviar was developed exclusively for Samaritaine by the famous Prunier house in Paris – you won’t want to miss this high-end treat for the senses.
SWEET CORNER BY BOGATO
Head to Sweet Corner by Bogato for crisp little pastries, shortbreads with customised messages, Emoji macarons and an exclusive selection of funky sweets.
This all sounds absolutely wonderful. We will definitely visit whenever we are finally allowed to leave our home town of Melbourne, Australia.
Cannot wait!!