Founded in 1986 by a French entrepreneur Eric Woog, Matsuri introduced kaiten sushi, or conveyor belt sushi, to Paris with an initial restaurant on rue de Richelieu, a veritable hub of Japanese cuisine. Since its inception, Matsuri has become a chain with multiple branches across the French capital’s metropolitan area, eight to be precise, in addition to Lyon, Bordeaux, and a faraway outpost in the Moroccan capital Rabat. As of last year, the Matsuri restaurant chain has been taken over by Adrien de Schompré, co-founder of Sushi Shop restaurants, ex-PWC honcho Sébastien Blanchet, and Céleste Velarde, former creative director at Big Mamma hospitality group, who’ve started to rebrand Matsuri and update the entire dining experience. The trio’s recent take-over has also led to a full revamp of the company’s branch in the leafy St.-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood, with a little help of Jessica Mille.
The Paris-based architect whipped up an interior resembling a Shinkansen train carriage which perfectly adapts to the venue’s elongated shape. The setting is a tad more futuristic than the high-speed trains, and sees a curved rib-cage construction with a glossy finish and matching rounded corners and mirrors lit by LED strips. Up front, guests come across a full-fledged service counter, crafted from stainless steel, while seating, comprising low upholstered stools and booths, arranged on either side of the conveyor belt. Pops of colour, captured by seating or decorations, such as the Japanese retro pop posters, are a nod to Tokyo‘s buzzing Harajuku district. Mirrors right above the conveyor belt not only reflect the sushi, but also replicate the futuristic aesthetic. The menu at Matsuri features a wide variety of sushi options, onigiri, handrolls, newly introduced sushi tacos, and various matcha and coffee concoctions. © superfuture
Matsuri
74 Rue du Bac (St.-Germain)
75007 Paris
Telephone +33 1 80270442
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm and 6.30pm-10.30.pm
Click here for reservations
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