The Verdict
Le Grand Vefour has occupied the same painted dining room under the Palais-Royal arcades since 1784, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris and a listed historic monument. After 34 years, chef and owner Guy Martin stepped away at the end of 2025, and the Paris Society group, led by Laurent de Gourcuff, took over.
The house reopened on 12 May 2026 with chef Bruno Doucet at the stove and a new garden-side terrace planned for the season. It no longer holds Michelin stars; the menu now reads as generous French classics rather than a three-star tasting, with a fixed-price lunch from 68 euros.
The Kitchen
Bruno Doucet, known from La Regalade Saint-Honore and the bistronomie movement, became chef when Paris Society reopened the house in May 2026. He cooks refined classics: duck foie gras with smoked eel, a large skate wing with beurre blanc, roasted veal sweetbreads with salted butter, and milk-fed lamb leg carved in the dining room. The Grand Marnier frozen souffle and the Vefour profiterole close the meal. In the Guy Martin era the room was known for ravioli of foie gras in truffle cream and the Pigeon Prince Rainier III.
The Room
The restaurant sits at 17 rue de Beaujolais, along the northern arcade of the Palais-Royal gardens in the 1st arrondissement. The dining room is the draw: 18th-century painted panels, mirrors and gilt, with brass plaques marking where Colette and other regulars once sat. A new exterior terrace under the arcades is planned for 2026.
Best for an Anniversary
For an anniversary, a proposal, or a milestone lunch in a room that feels like a museum, Le Grand Vefour is hard to match in Paris. Take the 68-euro lunch to keep the cost down, or the carte for the full register. See our anniversary and proposal guides.
Not For
Not for diners chasing a current Michelin star or the lowest bill in the quarter. The stars were lost in 2021 and the 2026 reopening is a new chapter, not a return to three-star cooking. A la carte runs near 125 euros before wine, so budget accordingly or choose the set lunch.
Reservations
Le Grand Vefour serves lunch and dinner daily under the new ownership, with lunch from noon and dinner in the evening. Book ahead, especially for a weekend or the new terrace. The fixed-price lunch is 68 euros; dining a la carte runs around 125 euros before wine, closer to 150 euros per person with a glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Le Grand Vefour worth visiting in 2026?
Le Grand Vefour is worth visiting for its setting alone, a 1784 dining room under the Palais-Royal arcades classed as a historic monument. It reopened on 12 May 2026 under the Paris Society group with chef Bruno Doucet cooking refined French classics. It no longer holds Michelin stars, and a fixed-price lunch starts at 68 euros.
Who is the chef at Le Grand Vefour now?
Bruno Doucet became chef when Paris Society reopened Le Grand Vefour on 12 May 2026, after Guy Martin left at the end of 2025 following 34 years. Doucet, known from La Regalade Saint-Honore, cooks duck foie gras with smoked eel, roasted veal sweetbreads, and lamb leg carved table-side.
How much does Le Grand Vefour cost?
Le Grand Vefour offers a fixed-price lunch from 68 euros, while dining a la carte runs around 125 euros before wine, closer to 150 euros per person with a glass. The address is 17 rue de Beaujolais in the Palais-Royal gardens, and both lunch and dinner are served daily under the new ownership.
Does Le Grand Vefour still have Michelin stars?
No. Le Grand Vefour held three Michelin stars from 2000 to 2008, dropped to two, and lost its remaining stars in the 2021 guide. The 2026 reopening under Paris Society and chef Bruno Doucet is a fresh chapter rather than a star-chasing one. See our Paris dining guide for starred alternatives.
Also in Paris
Explore the full Paris dining guide, or compare Le Grand Vefour with Epicure, Guy Savoy and L'Ambroisie. For more grand rooms, see our best French restaurants guide.