Why should you visit Maxim's?

Located in the heart of Paris, just a few steps from Place de la Concorde and Madeleine, Maxim's is a symbol of the art nouveau movement. The glacier turned restaurant was transformed in 1899, atthe height of the Belle Époque. It turned into a renowned destination thanks to its stained glass ceilings, intricate wall paintings, velvet accents, and intimate atmosphere. Featuring a turn-of-the-century bar, Maxim's was once the preferred venue of the Parisian elite, welcoming creative minds such as Édith Piaf or Jean Cocteau, and later American stars like John Travolta or Andy Warhol. After surviving the war, the restaurant reemerged in the 1950s under the management of the Vaudable family, a renowned group of restaurateurs, and once again hosted the elite, but with a more global reach. At its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, the restaurant became one of the most famous in the world, with celebrities and artists from around the world coming just to sit at a table in what some describe as the most beautiful restaurant in the world. In fact, it's more than just a restaurant. Maxim's has always managed to navigate in harmony between the two worlds of gastronomy and nightlife, offering its customers a unique experience anchored in time. As if untouched for decades, Maxim's remains a must-visit in Parisian nightlife. After being a private club, the doors are once again open to the public, provided, of course, that you adhere to the dress code.

 A reputation for luxury, style, and changing of the guard

Building on the success of the pre-war period, the restaurant was renovated and reopened in the 1950s while retaining its Art Nouveau decor and classic French touch. However, in the late 1970s, a change was needed. After the scandal caused by the entrance of Brigitte Bardot, barefoot and with her golden bracelets, or the rejection of fashion icon Pierre Cardin due to his attire, it was the latter who eventually took over the establishment. The former owners opted for franchising and opened establishments in Houston, Hong Kong, alongside their airport activities, with the international launch of Air Maxim to support all the restaurants opening in the corridors of Charles de Gaulle Airport, including establishments in Lyon and in Marseille. In 1978, the Cardin companies took over. From there, the restaurant embarked. Collections of linens, dishes, furniture, and clothing multiplied in France, turning the restaurant into a familiar name rather than just a prestigious meeting place thanks to licensing rights. In 1981, Maxim's passed into the hands of the Cardin family, eager to ensure that the restaurant retained its French brand DNA and heritage.

 The contemporary rebirth of a historic place

After Pierre Cardin's passing in 2020, his businesses were reconsidered. Now under the leadership of Paris Society, the group behind Raspoutine, Girafe, and Perouche, as well as other renowned French establishments, Maxim's underwent a new renovation. But with renovation comes the reconstruction of its most famous Art Nouveau aspects, never straying far from the history that made it the celebrated place it is. Paris Society aims to reinstall the place in the vein that was originally its own, primarily a restaurant. Far from its reputation as a party venue and the myths of nightlife, Maxim's returns in all its gourmet splendor, with a young brigade of French chefs eager to reintroduce the place for its cuisine, as well as its nighttime ambiance. The entire interior has, of course, not changed, except for a few booths and floral accents, but the prestige remains. This is not a place for jeans and T-shirts looking to chat over a plate of buttered snails or foie gras. The restaurant has regained its prestigious location, but it is advisable to make a reservation. Live music and jazz singers are still present, thanks to the timeless concept it has maintained.

But for those who have had the chance to celebrate at Maxim's, respect is due to the dining capabilities of this place. It is no longer a haven for the fashion elite smoking cigarettes and drinking heavily; it has opened to those simply looking for a good meal and a strong drink. That said, romantics should not be discouraged; on the contrary, they cannot be. The romance and buzz of the 1920s emanating from the walls have never disappeared. Once inside Maxim's, you will never remember coming or going. It's a place that erases time from the mind and leaves imagination to the masses. Expect French classics. Linguine with caviar, frog legs with parsley, sole Albert, everything that is good. This is not to disrespect the prestige and heritage of Maxim's, which remains largely known but not avoided by visitors. Maxim's was once for the people from the opening of its doors, and perhaps this is the rightful return in time for winter.