Food & Drinks

This will be Paris' hippest restaurant anyway

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If you, like me, devour every New York series and also know the restaurants where the main characters hang out by heart, then you know that Sant Ambroeus is a concept. There you see Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl on a Sunday afternoon beautifully playing a game of backgammon, and you see Sarah Jessica Parker having a bite with her friends. And now Sant Ambroeus is coming to Paris.

Hip New York is coming to Paris

Usually, it's the other way around and New York sucks European opportunities towards itself. And actually, that's the case here too. Because Sant Ambroeus is a concept among hip New Yorkers (you can find a branch in West Village, on Madison, in SoHo, but also in East Hampton, Aspen and Palm Beach – where cool America likes to vacation). But the flagship branch comes from Milan. And from now on, Sant Ambroeus can also be found in Paris, on the left bank.

Typical Sant Ambroeus

Sant Ambroeus is retro-chic (it was founded in 1936 and you can feel that). You drink cappuccinos like you are used to in Milan (and the French, whose coffee they describe as ‘sock water’, will be quite happy with that), eat typical Italian dishes, and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. (Where you can just hang out for an afternoon of beautiful backgammon, then.)

The name is the Milanese form of Saint Ambrose, the patron saint of Milan. Each location honors its neighborhood, offering a mix of traditional Italian dishes and a refined atmosphere. Also nice: each branch has its own character, making it a huge attraction for local residents and quickly turning it into a super trendy neighborhood café.

This is how it started

Two pastry chefs started a little place near La Scala, the famous opera in Milan. Their idea was to welcome the hip and elegant Milanese crowd, and they succeeded. What binds the chain – because Sant Ambroeus has now grown into an international group – is that they all share the same DNA of classy elegance. At the same time, each location has a personal twist, preventing it from becoming a cookie-cutter operation with a standard rollout pattern.

Sant Ambroeus in Paris

And now: Sant Ambroeus is finally in Paris. A city where this restaurant belongs, if you ask me. And the location is perfectly chosen. On a corner – always extra cozy and inviting – on the left bank, which stands for elegance, classic style, and a bit of tranquility. Where should you be? 11, Rue Saint-Benoît, close to Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore. And with a bit of luck, you won't have any hysterical Emily in Paris-like pilgrims stealing your view.

I happen to be going to Paris tomorrow, so I could easily drop by here for a breather after a huge stop at Le Bon Marché.