No need to wonder where all the pretty girls and handsome boys of Paris are hiding these days: dressed to impress, they’re all sitting at Billie, the new spot causing quite the stir near Palais-Royal. With its killer playlist, sexy dishes that get straight to the point, and a polished, mood-lit interior, this fresh HQ for the city’s beautiful people has everything it takes to seduce…
A Little Name-Dropping
To attract the most beautiful crowd in Paris, you need an A-team that knows its audience by heart. Behind Billie stand three sharp minds: César Gourdou — founder of the private club Colonia adored by celebrities — and his partner Nicolas Saltiel, owner of the Chapitre Six hotel group (Bus Palladium, Monsieur George…). After co-founding two cult Italian eateries (Zapi and Pizi), the duo tapped into the visionary talents of culinary art director Cynthia Frebour, who crafted a bespoke, perfectly on-trend menu.
Add to that an audiophile dimension with a meticulous sound system, collector vinyls spun by a resident DJ — plus the occasional guest — all wrapped in a chic setting of linens, candles, leather, marble, and fine woodwork. The result? The winning formula behind the most talked-about address of the moment. At Billie, people-watchers thrive, lovers share plates, glamorous dresses shine, and overheard table gossip becomes a sport…
Hot, Hot, Hot Plates
For this project, Cynthia Frebour set herself a single rule: “Serve everything we love.” The result is a short, seasonal, chic, efficient, reasonably priced menu with delicious Mediterranean vibes: roasted squash with stracciatella (€15), citrusy sea bream crudo (€18), nduja croquettes with herb mayo (€13), vitello tonnato (€18), and silky al dente pasta — linguine limone e pepe (€19), or paccheri with gambas in a beautifully iodized sauce (€31).
Special mention to the adorable desserts (affogato €8, and the star citrus-lemon cake with mascarpone and basil €12), best enjoyed with a grapefruit Paloma or the essential Espresso Martini (€16). Our favorite pastime? Watching guests hop from table to table to greet their “targets”, who — what a coincidence — always seem to be there the same night…
Open Tuesday to Saturday, lunch and dinner, until 2 a.m.
Also discover Superfine, the hot new American-style dive bar, and Babi, the cosy evening canteen on rue Mandar.
