"Majorelle's 1905 Art Nouveau panelling and chef Hugo Bourny's one star on place de la Madeleine — book a salon to impress clients."
About Lucas Carton
The carved maple panelling was installed in 1905 by Louis Majorelle, and it is listed as a historic monument, which means the dining room cannot be altered. Lucas Carton has stood opposite the Madeleine since 1839. Chef Hugo Bourny, who took the kitchen in 2023, holds one MICHELIN star with a vegetable-forward, theme-driven menu where each course is built around an aromatic, a spice or an acid. The house signature remains the canard Apicius, the honey-and-spice duck Alain Senderens created here. Lunch starts near €95; the dinner tasting climbs past €200.
The Kitchen
Hugo Bourny took over Lucas Carton in 2023, following Julien Dumas, who had run it since 2013. Bourny trained in classical French kitchens before building a personal style here that leans hard on vegetables and on a single organising idea per plate: a course defined by an aromatic, another by a spice, another by acidity. The MICHELIN Guide kept the restaurant a star in its 2026 edition.
The dish the address is known for predates him. The canard Apicius, a duck lacquered with honey and sixteen spices, was created in this room by Alain Senderens and is the house signature visitors still ask for by name. Bourny's own cooking is lighter and more botanical, plating Breton vegetables and herbs with the precision the dining room demands. Lunch menus open around €95 and the dinner tasting runs past €200 before wine, at 9 place de la Madeleine in the 8th. The pairing, drawn from a deep cellar including the house's storied old collection, is worth the supplement.
The Room
The ground-floor room is the draw: golden maple panelling carved with leaves and lilies, glass partitions and sconces, all from Majorelle's 1905 design and protected as a monument. Lighting is low and amber, flattering and quiet. Tables are generously spaced for central Paris, the sound level stays conversation-easy, and the main room seats around sixty. Upstairs sit a set of Belle Époque private salons used for clients and celebrations. Dress is smart and a jacket suits the setting, though it is not strictly enforced. Service is formal without being stiff.
Best for Impressing Clients
Book Lucas Carton to impress a client because the room itself is the argument: a listed Art Nouveau interior signals permanence, the upstairs salons give you a private table, and a one-star kitchen keeps the food serious without theatrics. Reserve a salon in advance and let the sommelier lead the cellar. The address by the Madeleine reads as established Paris, not the latest opening. For a grander hotel option nearby, see Le Cinq, and compare the city's tables in the best French restaurants guide.
Not for
Not for a budget dinner or a quick bite. Lucas Carton is a formal, slow-paced room where the tasting runs past €200 before wine, and casual dress feels out of place.
Frequently Asked
Is Lucas Carton worth it?
Yes, especially for the room. The 1905 Majorelle Art Nouveau interior is a listed monument and one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Paris, and chef Hugo Bourny holds a 2026 MICHELIN star with a vegetable-forward menu. Value is tighter than the kitchen's peers, so go for the setting and the occasion. See more in the best French restaurants guide.
How do I book a private salon at Lucas Carton?
Request one of the upstairs Belle Époque salons when you reserve online or by phone, and do it well ahead for dinner service. The salons suit client dinners and celebrations of roughly six to twelve. Confirm the menu format and any minimum spend with the restaurant directly, as private rooms often run on a set tasting menu rather than a la carte.
What is the dress code at Lucas Carton?
Smart. A jacket suits the formal Art Nouveau dining room, though the restaurant does not strictly require one. Avoid shorts, athletic wear or beachwear. Given the historic setting and the price point, most guests dress up, particularly in the evening and in the private salons upstairs.
How much does Lucas Carton cost?
Lunch menus start around €95 per person, while the dinner tasting menu runs past €200 before wine, water and service. A wine pairing from the deep cellar adds a meaningful supplement. It sits firmly in Paris's fine-dining tier. Lunch is the most affordable way to see the room and try chef Hugo Bourny's cooking.
What is Lucas Carton known for?
Two things: the protected 1905 Majorelle Art Nouveau dining room, and the canard Apicius, a honey-and-spice duck created here by Alain Senderens that guests still order by name. Under chef Hugo Bourny the current menu is lighter and vegetable-forward, themed by aromatics, spice and acidity, and it earned a MICHELIN star in 2026.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Lucas Carton
Lucas Carton books online and by phone. Request one of the upstairs Belle Époque salons in advance for a private table.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address9 place de la Madeleine, 75008
NeighbourhoodMadeleine (8th)
CuisineContemporary French
Price€95 lunch menu to €230 dinner tasting
Dress CodeSmart · jacket suggested
Seating~60, plus Belle Époque salons
ReservationOnline or phone · days ahead
