Maxim's Paris – The Belle Époque Party Never Ends

Maxim's Paris. The very name conjures up images of Champagne-fueled revelry, swirling Belle Époque gowns, and whispered secrets exchanged over candlelit dinners. More than a restaurant, Maxim's is a living legend, a time capsule of Parisian excess and elegance. Perched on Rue Royale, just around the corner from Place de la Concorde, it has played host to royalty, artists, scandal-makers, and those who simply knew how to have a good time.

After a rather extended nap, Maxim's is back, dusting off the chandeliers and reopening under the watchful eye of the Parisian restaurant conglomerator, Paris Society. The promise? A revival that respects its raucous past while embracing the (slightly tamer) present. Let's take a walk through the gilded halls of Maxim's Paris, past and present, and see what's on the menu this time around.

Maxim's Paris Renovation & Reopening

The restored main dining room at Maxim's Paris, photo Maxim's Paris

A New Chapter for an Old Favorite

After drifting into nostalgia territory for a few decades, Maxim's has been revived, and Paris is watching. The Paris Society group has taken the reins, promising to preserve its over-the-top elegance while making it relevant for a new generation. The Art Nouveau interiors remain, but the menu has been refreshed.

The architect for the renovation was Cordelia de Castellane, the artistic director of Dior Maison. She was responsible for refreshing the historic Art Nouveau interiors while incorporating art deco pieces from Pierre Cardin's collection, blending heritage with modern elements. The kitchen is purportedly trying to blending traditional French gastronomy with innovative techniques, but word on the rue is that the results are nothing spectacular.

But, nobody comes to Maxim's Paris for haute cuisine. They come for the view. They come to see and be seen.

And because no revival is complete without a few extras, a cocktail bar and terrace have been added, ensuring that Maxim's is just as much a place for revelry as it is for dining for (as it should be). The mission? To bring back the energy of Maxim's heyday, minus the scandalous affairs and rampant absinthe consumption. (Or maybe just slightly less of both.)

Let's drift back in time and follow the fortunes of Maxim's Paris from its origins in the era known as the Belle Époque.

The History of Maxim's Paris Restaurant

Maxim's Paris menu cover from 1904 with caricatures of high society patrons

From Humble Bistro to High Society Playground

Back in 1893, Maxime Gaillard — an ambitious waiter with a dream — set up a little bistro on Rue Royale. He had no idea it would turn into the epicenter of Parisian nightlife. Enter Eugene Cornuché, the man who transformed Maxim's from a modest eatery into the place to be seen. His philosophy was simple: fill the dining room with beautiful women, and the rest would follow. And follow they did.

By that time the Belle Époque was in full swing, and Maxim's became a magnet for the elite. Politicians plotted, artists found inspiration, and the fabulously wealthy burned through fortunes over multi-course feasts. The secret? Beyond the impeccable service and decadent food, it was all about the atmosphere — an intoxicating blend of luxury, intrigue, and just enough mischief to keep things interesting.

Maxim's remained a beacon of extravagance through the roaring twenties and into the mid 20th century. It weathered the upheavals of two world wars, emerging each time with its mystique intact. The post-war years only added to its reputation, attracting the international jet set looking to experience Parisian glamour firsthand.

In fact, Maxims Paris became so famous that composer Franz Lehar set the third act of his 1905 operetta, The Merry Widow, at this hot spot.

Maxim's Paris Belle Époque History

Maxim's of Paris during the Belle Époque, 1907

The Art of Decadence

If Maxim's were a person, it would be that impossibly glamorous friend who always arrives fashionably late and knows exactly when to leave. At the height of the Belle Époque, the restaurant was a glittering showcase of Art Nouveau extravagance. Swirling woodwork, stained glass, murals of scandalously underdressed nymphs — every inch of the place screamed luxury.

The 1900 Universal Exposition propelled Maxim's onto the world stage. Paris was showing off, and Maxim's was more than happy to be part of the spectacle. As visiting dignitaries and celebrities flocked to the city, Maxim's became the unofficial headquarters of indulgence. It wasn't really about dinner; it was a performance, a spectacle, an event.

The restaurant's interior set the standard for Art Nouveau dining. The curved lines, nature-inspired motifs, and rich color palette created an atmosphere of refined excess. It was a place where the fashionably late made grand entrances, where secret rendezvous unfolded over elaborate feasts, and where Parisian society lived out its most extravagant fantasies.

Louis Marne, the architect behind the restaurant's transformation in 1899, collaborated with the finest artists and craftspeople of the École de Nancy. This influential Art Nouveau collective — including luminaries such as Louis Majorelle, Émile Gallé, and Jacques Grüber — infused the space with their signature organic motifs and exquisite craftsmanship.

Stained glass, intricate woodwork, and nature-inspired patterns brought the interior to life, making Maxim's Paris a masterpiece of Belle Époque design. Their work, inspired by the flora and fauna of the Lorraine region, turned the restaurant into a true temple of Art Nouveau, where every detail whispered luxury and sophistication.

The Pierre Cardin Era

Art Nouveau dining area at Maxim's Paris in 2023, photo Maxim's Paris by Ricard Romain

Maxim's Enters a New Chapter

In 1981, legendary fashion designer and longtime Maxim's devotee Pierre Cardin swooped in to save the restaurant from falling into foreign hands. Determined to preserve its French heritage, he embarked on an ambitious expansion, launching Maxim's outposts in Beijing, Moscow, and New York, along with a luxury gourmet line bearing the restaurant's famous name.

Under Cardin's ownership, Maxim's took on a new identity — part museum, part cabaret, part high-end brand. He transformed the upper floors into an Art Nouveau museum, celebrating the movement that defined the restaurant's aesthetic, and introduced cabaret performances to recapture the decadent spirit of the Belle Époque. Maxim's became more than a place to dine; it was an immersive experience steeped in nostalgia and theatricality.

But with this grand vision came a shift in focus. As Maxim's name became synonymous with branding and franchising, its culinary reputation took a backseat. The restaurant that had once been a beacon of French gastronomy (with three Michelin stars, no less) was now more of a luxury symbol than a fine-dining powerhouse. While the Cardin era ensured Maxim's remained a recognizable Parisian landmark, it also marked the beginning of its transition from an elite dining destination to a cultural artifact of a bygone era.

Famous Celebrities at Maxim's Paris

Aubrey Hepburn with Art Buchwald at Maxim's Paris Bar in 1959, photo Harper's Bazaar by Richard Avedon

The Guest List of a Century

A restaurant doesn't hold onto its reputation for over a hundred years without a parade of famous faces passing through. Marcel Proust, ever the keen observer of high society, found inspiration here. Jean Cocteau famously quipped that Maxim's was "the only place where one could find both talent and elegance at the same table."

The movies came calling, too. Brigitte Bardot, Marlene Dietrich, and Orson Welles all made appearances, while Salvador Dalí occasionally doodled on the table linens between courses. Andy Warhol, never one to miss a cultural hotspot, found himself drawn to Maxim's, where he mingled with aristocrats and eccentrics alike (sometimes the same people).

And then, of course, there were the power players: Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas, Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Maxim's didn't just host the famous; it helped create legends.

It also played a starring role in literature and film. From The Merry Widow to its appearance in Gigi, Maxim's became more than a restaurant — it was a cultural icon. (Although we don't believe there was ever a Breakfast at Maxim's.}

Fun Facts From the History of Maxim's Paris

The restored bar in 2023, photo Maxim's Paris

• The Original Influencer Move
  Maxim's Paris, now a symbol of opulence, began as a modest bistro in 1893. Despite its humble origins, the bistro quickly gained attention thanks to Irma de Montigny, a Parisian actress and influencer who brought her fashionable friends, transforming it into a hotspot for the city's elite.
• Lost Treasure Trove
  During the 2022 renovations, workers discovered coins and jewelry stashed under chair cushions — souvenirs from a century of extravagant evenings.
• Hollywood Glam
  The restaurant's role in the 1958 film Gigi solidified its image as the ultimate Parisian dining destination.
• 3 Michelin Stars
  Maxim's Paris was awarded three Michelin stars in 1933, a recognition it held for decades before being removed from the guide altogether in 1978.
• The Decline and Rebranding
  By the late 20th century, Maxim's, having lost its Michelin stars, shifted to a gourmet food brand, selling chocolates, champagne, and foie gras in airports and souvenir shops.
• The Streisand Cocktail
  The reopening menu features cocktails named after famous patrons, including the Streisand, a mix of gin, cherry and botanical liqueurs, and pomelo cordial, paying homage to Barbra Streisand's visits.
• Beyond Paris
  Maxim's name has been slapped on restaurants and boutiques worldwide (of various, even dubious, reputation), but none capture the magic of the original.

The Next Chapter for Maxim's Paris

Maxim's Paris isn't only trying to make a comeback — it seems as if it's trying to reclaim its place as the ultimate Parisian night out. Whether you're sipping a cocktail on the terrace or feasting under the glow of Art Nouveau chandeliers, one thing is certain: Maxim's is back. So grab a glass of champagne and toast to over a century of decadence — because if any place deserves a celebration, it's this one.

Maxim's of Paris Resources

Photo Maxim's Paris

• 3 rue Royale
• 8th Arrondissement
• Closed Sundays; lunch of weekends only
• Website…