There are the places everyone in Paris knows, the ones whispered about from friend to friend, and then there are those, like this one, that you almost stumble upon by chance. Just steps from Place des Vosges, behind the historic façades of a private street, four-star hotel Les Jardins du Marais conceals a setting you would never suspect from the pavement: a 1,500-sq.-m. garden and terrace sheltered from the city’s hustle and bustle. Come here for lunch, drinks or dinner in a charming, intimate setting and discover the generous cooking of chef Assia Ikene. And when the sun isn’t shining, the newly renovated dining room is every bit as tempting as the outdoors, making it our favorite autumn hideaway.
Step into a Secret Garden
This is the kind of place that suddenly makes you want to lower your voice, linger a little longer and leave your phone at the bottom of your bag. Once through the door, the buzz of the Marais seems to fade away. The place offers that rare Parisian feeling of being somewhere else without actually leaving the capital: a private lane, historic buildings, a vast garden terrace and spaces that open generously onto the outdoors.
The lobby and restaurant have just been given a completely new look, redesigned this summer by Studio Laura Bodokh Interior Design, with wood, stone, terracotta and shades of green, organic lines and plenty of natural light. Beneath the glass roof, ceramic and linen pendant lights add a soft touch, while the bronze-tiled counter gives the new reception its signature look. This is not simply a hotel to sleep in: come for lunch, drinks, dinner, a rendezvous or simply to enjoy a much more discreet side of Paris.
A New Chef to Tempt Your Appetite
In the kitchen, Assia Ikene now takes the lead with a seasonal menu designed for sharing… and ordering one more round! Start with the roasted and fresh tomato gazpacho with siphoned burrata (€12), the zucchini carpaccio with fresh goat cheese and preserved lemon (€14), or salmon gravlax with pea mousse, lemon, sesame and chili (€15). For a more autumnal note, go for the open chanterelle ravioli with parsley emulsion and red Lillet gel (€16).
For the main event, the catch of the day with langoustine croquettes and emulsion, served with fennel in two textures (€32), brings an elegant taste of the sea, while the stuffed yellow chicken supreme with mashed potatoes (€26) delivers pure comfort. Vegetarians can opt for creamy burrata, roasted spiced potatoes and zucchini-basil pistou (€22). And for serious food lovers, the herb-crusted rack of lamb with smoked sesame eggplant caviar (€36) should do the trick.
Save room for dessert: there’s lemon verbena crème brûlée with lime zest (€12), saffron-roasted apricot with orange blossom cream and toasted almonds (€13), or the ever-reliable chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream (€12). And since this is a garden, a cocktail is practically mandatory: order the Jardin Secret (€16), a mix of Lillet Blanc, gin, basil and prosecco. A proper little escape in the heart of the Marais, with no rooftop or packed terrace in sight: just the right amount of chic, greenery and discretion. An address to keep safely in your little black book… and only share with those who deserve it!
Restaurant open Tuesday to Saturday, from 12pm to 10pm, with continuous service.
Also discover Gratin, the new XXL terrace at the Palais-Royal and Utopic, Anne-Sophie Pic’s new arty cocktail bar in Paris.
