It’s the flair, opulence, and je ne sais quoi that makes Paris pull millions of visitors to its doorstep. But then again, it has been a global capital of luxury for centuries, and a continuous stream of new upscale establishments open their doors and easily uphold this reputation. As of late, a new diner has wowed discerning carnivores across town. Called Beefbar, it’s part of hospitality entrepreneur Riccardo Giraudi‘s global restaurant chain, and for the latest outpost he has pulled out all the stops to woo the French capital’s extremely savvy, but also, notoriously picky crowds. Mind you, Giraudi doesn’t only dabble in hospitality, but also runs another business on the side, importing rare meats into the European market. The merchandise includes the prized Kobe beef from Japan, and the Monaco-based entrepreneur has the exclusive rights, and as such, he delivers to a large number of top restaurants across the Old Continent, including his own of course.
But let’s go back to the newest Beefbar outpost, shall we? The very location formed part of the former Langham Hotel, built in 1898 by architect Emile Hurtré and painted by artist Jules Wielhorski in lavish Art Nouveau style. Interestingly, the ornately decorated venue was walled off during World War II to protect it from ransacking Nazis, only to be rediscovered in the early 1980s when it promptly became a listed building. Giraudi tapped Humbert & Poyet, a Monegasque design practice he has worked with before, to revive the venue’s former splendour, and we dare say, they pulled it off. The space has been meticulously restored, allowing its walls, sectioned arches, pilasters, friezes, ceramic panels, and last but not least, the atrium, to regain their lustre.
However, new decorative elements, such as patterned carpeting, contemporary furniture pieces and a vibrant colour palette have been subtly blended in, lending the setting a distinct contemporary edge. The aesthetic of the adjacent bar is slightly less ornamental, featuring mirrors cut into slats, marble panelling, and leather stools, but similar carpeting ties it to the the rest of the premises. As said, Beefbar is carnivore heaven, and its menu reflects this in an abundant way, featuring an array of beef-infused dishes and bites prepared with beef from Japan, Spain, Netherlands, U.S.A. and Australia. Obviously, the menu also lists non-beef dishes and comes with a long list of carefully sourced wines, bubbly and other beverages. The glitzy Beefbar empire is gaining steam, and new establishments are scheduled to open next year in Rome, Tulum and Riyadh.
Beefbar
5 rue Marbeuf (Champs-Elysées)
75008 Paris
Telephone: +33 1 44314000
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
