There are people who just have a natural instinct for what’s about to be cool. That’s exactly the case with Charlotte Bereaud (food consultant, formerly at Prunier and Baccarat), who ended up with a dream space to take over just steps from the Louvre. The result is called Lotta: a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with a mind-blowing interior, already ranking among our favourite openings of the year. Seriously impressive.
A stunning three-floor design
You can already sense how special the place is from the doorstep, where three distinct levels unfold through staircases and landings, creating a truly unique sense of perspective. The mezzanine reveals an open kitchen alongside a large communal table, while the ground floor feels almost like a terrace thanks to its wide open glass windows. Finally, a spectacular upper floor hosts a bar and a large dining room suited for groups of all sizes – including a hidden open lounge at the back, perfect for a birthday dinner. Best seat? Upstairs by the balcony, for people-watching in this stylish neighbourhood.
This 70s-tinged décor, designed by Charlotte Bereaud and brought to life by architect Juliette Rubel, draws inspiration from the stunning Milanese apartment building lobbies – you’ll fully get the creative direction if you’ve ever browsed Taschen’s coffee table book Ingressi di Milano: endless travertine, mirrored ceilings, wood and metal contrasts, Marcel Breuer chairs… In short, we want to steal every design idea from this seriously stylish Lotta.
Dishes that truly deliver
Together with chef Zoumana Meité, Charlotte has created a very contemporary dining experience rooted in Mediterranean flavours. To go with cocktails, guests share aperitivo-style bites like fried olives and scamorza served with an herby dipping sauce (€8), or a flatbread inspired by pissaladière (€14). For starters, the escabèche mussels are a standout, served with an oversized toasted slice to soak up every drop of sauce (€16), or you can opt for a more unexpected take on leek vinaigrette, upgraded with seaweed, bottarga and marinated herbs for extra salinity (€15).
Pasta dishes are the real stars of the menu, with seasonal cavatelli featuring green asparagus, mint and preserved lemon (€24), or trofie with beef cheek and olives topped with crunchy breadcrumbs (€28). Nearby, a couple carefully savours every last bite of half a roast chicken for two with confit garlic, herbs and peas with bacon (€56), while meat lovers head straight for the sirloin or rib steak with pepper sauce, wilted spinach and shoestring fries (€81).
Rare enough to be mentioned: the desserts also absolutely deliver, with a modern twist that makes them real standouts. The classic affogato is inverted, featuring coffee ice cream and cocoa nibs, topped with a hay-infused cream that adds a completely new dimension (€8). The madeleines, served with coconut caramel and a divine vanilla cream, are baked to order to keep their perfect softness (€15). A flawless finish.
Finally, worth noting: lunch menus from €28 and DJ sets from Thursday to Saturday night.
Open Tuesday to Saturday, lunch and dinner.
© Romain Moriceau - Pierre Lucet-Penato
Also discover Billie, the new evening spot to know, and Test, our latest favourite in the 9th arrondissement.
