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My Best Paris Restaurants:
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Café Costes
239, Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
Metro: Concorde or Tuileries
Phone: 01 42 44 50 25
Hours: 12:00pm to 1:00am daily
Music and décor, then the food, romantically…
Beside the posh design and the tantalizing setting of this swank hotel restaurant near Place Vendôme, I selected Café Costes because of the primordial place it occupies in the recent international music trends coming out of Paris.
And what does that have to do with gastronomy, you ask. Well, not too much. It just so happens that music is very central to who I am and this place has been responsible for releasing some exquisite “French Lounge” music under the Hotel Costes name.
If you’re not familiar with French Lounge, don’t worry. Of late, music trends have been coming and going at neck-breaking speed. This particular style has been very tastefully compiled by world-renowned dj Stéphane Pompougnac. His collaboration with hotel co-owner Jean-Louis Costes (the Costes brothers) has produced a big splash for both the music and this establishment.
The dining experience at Café Costes definitely integrates the romantic, plush décor and the unique musical ambiance, creating the vibe that has made this place such a big draw. At press time 8-volume strong and counting, Hotel Costes (this is the name of the CD series) music will be spun for you by a live dj. (Stéphane Pompougnac makes monthly appearances).
The Café Costes menu is deliberately designed to be modern and light. The owners believe that the crowd they appeal to is figure-conscious and the ladies especially, tend to carefully examine their dinner selections.
Be prepared to mix a fashionable menu, frequent celebrity sightings and trendy beautiful people. Have dinner and stay to enjoy the bar as well. My best tip is to keep unimpressed with the rich bratty element that stays at the opulent hotel and not concern yourself with the side-show. Prices are not totally unreasonable but it helps to pay attention.
This romance inspired hangout works best for cool, laid-back types. Don’t bother with asking for a reservation unless you’re “hooked-up”. Crash the party instead. It will be less chance of head games by the staff and you can judge for yourself if they’re fully booked or not. That’s what I do anyway.
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