Each month, Flora di Carlo reveals in Acumen new things or his favorites in Paris: gourmet addresses, places to relax, and cultural events.
TO DISCOVER
FAVORITE ADDRESSES
Rooftops and bars:
Hotel Lancaster, the barbecue terrace
Located just steps from the Champs-Élysées, in a discreet, leafy courtyard in the 8th arrondissement, this terrace offers a peaceful respite. In the shade of the foliage, chef Sébastien Giroud presents a Sunday Roast: perfectly smoked meats, grilled vegetables, creative vegetarian options, and elegant presentation. The atmosphere exudes unpretentious conviviality, soothed by the gentle murmur of a fountain.
As Somerset Maugham said: "All happiness begins with a peaceful breakfast." This rare tranquility is savored here as a luxury. Prices vary according to options, with no visible inflation.
7, rue de Berri, Paris 8e
The Charles – The Burgundy
In the Golden Triangle, just behind the Madeleine church, Le Burgundy hides a charming patio where pastel cushions, floral crates, and vintage posters evoke the feeling of summer. Beneath a Lillet-designed décor, head bartender Gabriele Tomasso's bespoke Spritzes perfectly complement Mylo Levin's cuisine and Léandre Vivier's desserts. Each sip immerses you in the atmosphere of an exceptional aperitif.
Charles Nodier wrote: "True happiness lies in the calm of the mind and heart." This address, a haven of tranquility and freshness, perfectly embodies these words. A place to be savored in peace and quiet, offering understated luxury at a well-considered price.
68, rue Duphot, Paris 1er
Kinugawa Left Bank
Overlooking the Avenue de Saxe, Kinugawa Rive Gauche showcases its Japanese refinement on its spectacular rooftop in Paris's 7th arrondissement. The decor combines natural wood, patinated bronze and grand vistas, offering a truly aesthetic and contemplative journey.
The menu expresses all the know-how of the brand: fresh starters such as the Truffle Spinach Shoots salad (with parmesan and yuzu vinaigrette), the Crispy Katsu Duck with pecan nut, or the Chicken and Vegetable Gyoza, hot dishes including Black Tiger Prawns with chimichurri sauce, a Black Cod marinated in miso, or a Wagyu Burger with yuzu kosho, not forgetting a Beef Fillet with shiso béarnaise sauce.
Japanese precision is also expressed in the perfectly balanced cocktails made with shiso, yuzu or sake.
As Theodore Zeldin reminds us, "Gastronomy is the art of using food to create happiness." Harmony reigns here, in every bite, every note.
55, avenue de Saxe, Paris 7e
Hotel de Sers – Restaurant & Bar
Just steps from the Champs-Élysées, the Hôtel de Sers is like a discreet jewel box where intimate elegance and hushed conviviality intertwine. Around a corner, the restaurant opens onto a charming secret patio, beneath a luminous glass roof where every detail evokes a sense of tranquility. Chef Benjamin Moutard offers generous and heartfelt cuisine: seasonal dishes, premium ingredients prepared with care, and refined presentation, perfect for sharing a special moment.
Conversations rise around the adjacent lounge bar as guests savor a perfectly balanced cocktail. Here, every moment exudes a subtle harmony, far removed from excess.
George Sand affirmed this in Lucrezia Floriani "Happiness is calm, it is friendship; love is the storm, it is the fight." These words perfectly capture the spirit of the house: a shared calm among friends in a bright setting, free from any superfluous displays. A special moment, where pleasure is measured, never quantified.
41, avenue Pierre-Ier-of-Serbia, Paris 8e
The Hoxton Paris – La Piscine and Rivié
In the heart of the 2nd arrondissement, in a cobbled courtyard hidden from the Parisian bustle, The Hoxton unfolds its summer terrace, La Piscine, around a shimmering pool. Deck chairs, soft lighting, chilled drinks, and hushed music create the setting for a suspended summer. The place invites you to let go, whether with friends or alone, sheltered from noise and prying eyes.
Right next door, the Rivié restaurant extends this feeling of escape. The cuisine is modern, generous, and unpretentious. The attentive service and relaxed atmosphere complete the experience, making you forget the surrounding city.
And in the words of André Gide: "There are many things that only seem impossible until they are attempted." At The Hoxton, redefining summer in the heart of Paris is no longer part of it.
3032, rue du Sentier, Paris 2e
Schnock – Stone, season and silence: a hidden gem of a restaurant.
On a quiet residential street in the 17th arrondissement, Schnock hides behind an unassuming storefront. As soon as you step inside, you enter a warm space where exposed stone, soft lighting, and raw materials create a hushed and unpretentious atmosphere. Here, there are no cellars or vaulted ceilings, but rather a quiet distinction, firmly rooted in its time.
The à la carte menu features inventive seasonal cuisine. The meal begins with white asparagus from the Loire Valley, glazed peas, a parmesan foam, and sumac crumble. This is followed by sea bass sashimi with black lemon, accompanied by kimchi of young Swiss chard with wild garlic oil. The main course, roasted free-range chicken supreme with tarragon, served with shiitake mushrooms and crisp green asparagus, showcases the chef's masterful technique. For dessert, the creamy vanilla with almond milk, Piedmont hazelnut praline, and a coffee tuile rivals a pavlova with Cléry strawberries, candied rhubarb, and lime.
Every two months, the restaurant transforms into a pop-up gallery: the walls host photographic exhibitions that subtly echo the serenity of the place and the precision of the dishes. Here, happiness is savored in silence, and the bill reflects the quality of the establishment.
31, rue Guillaume-Tell, Paris 17e
At Margaux's: the art of entertaining, without airs and graces.
Facing the Seine, in a secluded corner of the 16th arrondissement, Chez Margaux cultivates the warm, welcoming atmosphere of a family home. Just the right amount: soft lighting, understated decor, and a welcome like no other. You can linger there without ever getting bored.
On the plate, simplicity becomes flavor: tuna tartare with avocado, a generous Niçoise salad, then chocolate mousse served by the spoonful, or strawberries and raspberries with Chantilly cream, all unlimited – just like at home, but better. A selection of cheeses completes the picture perfectly.
And as Brillat-Savarin said: "The pleasure of food is for all ages, all backgrounds, and all countries." The prices remain reasonable – reflecting the place, which prefers generosity to ostentation.
10, Avenue de New York, Paris 16e
Tio: a well-organized party and tacos in all their glory
Just steps from the Champs-Élysées, Tio has the feel of a well-kept corner of Latin America. The place is lively, but never noisy. Dark wood, warm colors, smiling servers – everything is perfectly balanced.
Tequeños The guacamole kicks things off, followed by signature tacos: tempura prawns and homemade mayonnaise, arrachera grilled beef, or lamb confit al suaderoEach bite is carefully considered, balanced, and served in an atmosphere where the celebration never overshadows the taste.
Jean Giraudoux wrote: "Happiness is a little thing you nibble on, sitting on the ground in the sun." At Tio, this happiness is shared standing up, at a table, or between two drinks – at a price that remains light.
1, rue Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, Paris 8e
The Foundation: Instinctive cuisine and enlightened wine
On a quiet street in the 17th arrondissement, La Fondation combines inspired cuisine, a distinctive wine cellar, and delicate design. Natural light, raw materials, and a contemporary dining room that avoids coldness: the place cultivates tranquility.
The menu, crafted with controlled audacity, features a passion fruit-marinated sea bream gravlax with stracciatella and roasted peaches, followed by eggplant prepared like a pepper steak, accompanied by roasted potatoes. For dessert, a strawberry sundae blends sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and strawberry in a refreshing harmony. The wine pairings are impeccable: a Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru or a 2019 Côtes-du-Rhône, depending on the meal.
And as Jean Cocteau reminded us: "The tact of audacity is knowing how far you can go too far."
A house of balance, whose prices match the level of expectation – without exceeding it.
40, rue Legendre, Paris 17e
Bonne Heure: signature tapas and cocktails made to order
Pigalle, 19:47 p.m., and the feeling that time can stand still. At Bonne Heure, you nibble, you toast, you linger. High tables, warm lighting, a varied soundtrack: relaxation has found its home.
For nibbling: hummus, fried eggs, beef tataki, guacamole, grilled chorizo, served casually. For sipping: the Pigalle Sunset (vodka, passion fruit, vanilla liqueur, prosecco) or the Baiser de Pigalle (gin, Italicus, strawberry, lemon, Perrier). The menu, conceived like a playlist, gradually builds in intensity.
Bertrand Russell wrote: "It is better to aim for perfection and miss it than to aim for imperfection and achieve it." Here, we aim for the right goal – without extra cost.
25, rue de Douai, Paris 9e
Brass: a Left Bank neo-brasserie with spontaneous elegance
At 131 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Brass stands out with quiet confidence. Neither pastiche nor nostalgia, this neo-brasserie in the 6th arrondissement blends Saint-Germain-des-Prés chic with modernity without excess. From the moment you enter, the blond stone, caramel woodwork, brown leather banquettes, and central bar create a hushed atmosphere, conceived by Dorothée Meilichzon as a living homage to Parisian tradition.
The à la carte menu features generous and straightforward cuisine: sea bass tartare with lobster, leeks vinaigrette, bone marrow on toast, or a refined croque-monsieur compose a precisely executed bistro symphony. During the day, opt for the dish of the day, accompanied by a cream puff and an espresso for 25 euros all-inclusive – a straightforward formula, served with precision. In the evening, a quick chocolate soufflé, a Mac And Cheese French-style or a fillet of beef with béarnaise sauce extend the dinner in a subdued atmosphere.
The wine cellar, unpretentious yet well-curated, houses nearly 80 selections: fine bottles, a few surprises, and a constant focus on quality. The team – Mathieu Bucher, Franck Saliba, François Dulsan, and Thomas Fougerol – knows their neighborhood and its rhythms, and it shows at every table. As it is written in the Bible: "The spirit blows where it wills." At Brass, he breathes just right, without raising his voice.
131, boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6e
CULTURAL ESCAPE: FILMS & EXHIBITIONS
Movie - The Coming of the Future
The past as a secret compass for the present
Presented out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, The Coming of the Future This story, told in two voices and spanning two centuries, explores the strange link between heritage and reinvention. In 2025, some thirty members of the same family inherit an abandoned house. Four of them—Seb, Abdel, Céline, and Guy—are tasked with assessing its condition. In the sleepy rooms, behind the wood paneling and sealed attics, the shadow of Adèle watches over them: a forgotten ancestor who came to Paris in 1895, at the dawn of photography, Impressionism, and the idea of a world in motion.
Between fictional archives, pictorial impressions, and choral narration, the film delicately weaves a thread between memory and becoming; 1895 resonates with 2025 like a tilted mirror, blurring reference points and awakening consciences. What do we truly transmit, if not fractures, impulses, absences, and unfinished utopias? The investigation becomes a quest. Time becomes living matter. And we recall this exact phrase from Marcel Proust: "The only true paradises are the paradises we have lost." The Coming of the Future It whispers to us that these paradises, sometimes, still await us.
Exhibition – Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely, through the lens of Pontus Hulten
Art as joyful insurrection
At the Grand Palais, the incandescent duo of Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely is brought back to life through the eyes of their accomplice and supporter, Pontus Hulten. The exhibition retraces this artistic and romantic alliance, driven by a shared vision: that of an art liberated from constraints, vibrant, participatory, and exhilarating.
We encounter the street, childhood, provocation, faith, play and destruction – all ways of unlearning the world.
As you move through the rooms, you understand how much Pontus Hulten was the third pillar of this mythical duo, sharing with them the desire for an open, dehierarchical art, offered to all.
And we think back to that line from Prévert: " We should try to be happy, if only to set an example. Here, art sets the example. In the turmoil, it opens a path.
