Savoring Surrealism at Le Meurice

One of the highlights of my trip to Paris was an elegant lunch at Le Meurice, one of the city’s palace hotels that is just across from Jardin des Tuileries, between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre.

This historic hotel dates back to the early 1800’s and was the favorite of many creative visitors, from Rudyard Kipling to Salvador Dali. The lobby restaurant just reopened after an extensive renovation by revered designer, Philippe Starck. While Starck didn’t touch the ornate walls and paintings, he did choose the new furnishings in an homage to Dali, after whom the new restaurant is named.

Contemporary chairs with silver and gold finishes, some in the shapes of tree branches or covered with animal skins, are purposely mismatched and used with more traditional furniture. Quirky lamps and a ceiling mural painted by Starck’s daughter, Ara, complete the new “old meets new” look, which will please both modernists and traditionalists.

The menu at Le Dali also combines the best of the old and the new with contemporary dishes like the scallop and beetroot appetizer I had as a starter and the rustic chicken with mushrooms that I devoured for my entrée. The edible gilt on my dessert matched the ornate finishes on the walls.

The casually elegant ambience is perfect for this people-watching spot, as Le Dali is located in the center of the hotel just off the lobby and lounge.

www.lemeurice.com