Le Grand Salon, the historic bar of the Hilton Opéra Paris hotel

A coffered ceiling, 19th-century frescoes, a blue-green bar and… a Lillet cocktail? Welcome to the Grand Salon, the Hilton Paris Opéra’s hidden treasure.

Breathtaking Belle Époque decor

Built for the1889 Universal Exhibition, this exceptional restaurant-bar combines the architectural elegance of the Second Empire with a perfectly mastered contemporary touch. Listed as a historical monument, it boasts gilded moldings, monumental chandeliers, a majestic glass roof, sculpted columns and bronze balustrades.

The frescoes are by Charles-Joseph Lameire, a painter renowned for his work at the Pantheon and the Sorbonne. The velvet upholstered armchairs evoke the style of the 50s and 60s. Today’s furniture converses with an immobile yet vibrant heritage. The result? A timeless setting, between heritage and modernity.

Gourmet dining with a traveller’s spirit

Long known as the “Snack Spot” in the ’50s – where a certain Johnny Hallyday liked to linger – Le Grand Salon is now seductive thanks to the cuisine of its chef Éric Lenorman. On the menu: salmon tartar with mango, lime and coriander, or rum baba with mascarpone cream, verbena and passion fruit.

French cuisine is revisited with delicacy and exoticism, in an approach that is as sensory as it is visual.

A cocktail bar as historic as it is inventive

The place is ideal for a drink at the end of the day. The Grand Salon also offers signature cocktails, including the famous Titi Parisien, made with champagne, Lillet and raspberries. Mocktails are also on offer, with creations such as the Zinger Collins (non-alcoholic rum, ginger, strawberry and energy drink).

Mixology workshops are regularly held under the guidance of mixologist Pierre Galéa.

Also read: Summer 2025 will be icy (and stylish) thanks to Café Kitsuné and Folderol