Review: Les Bains Douches Restaurant
Les Bains Douches, the once-glittering Parisian nightclub in the third arrondissement, has made yet another comeback. Its legendary past stretches back to the 1880s when, owned by the Guerbois family, it was the French capital's first and most exquisite bathhouse. Les Bains is best remembered as the ultra-chic 1980s nightclub where you would bump into Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, Yves Saint-Laurant, David Bowie, Naomi Campbell and Madonna.
Closed in 2010 after of legal battles about the safety of the building, the nightclub rose once again from its ashes one year ago. Today, "Les Bains", as it's called, is a hybrid or "interdisciplinary" establishment — part hotel (with 39 suites), part club, part restaurant. The restaurant is a neo-brasserie offering a delightful dinner ambiance in an enchanting space that features a ceiling undulating above the mahogany tables.
It's impossible to step into this "temple" without being aware of its stories past. In its early days as a public bathhouse, 19th century visitors came for massages and rituals originating from exotic cultures including Russia and Japan. Marcel Proust went there to enjoy an occasional steam bath. A century later, in 1978, the place was transformed into the legendary nightclub with its own pool. Sparkling like a diamond in the Parisian nights of the 1980s, Les Bains was world-famous thanks to the many stars and trend-setters spotted there. Those heady days were documented by photographer Foc Kan who's photos bring the 80s decadence back to life.
Les Bains, restaurant and bar. Image Credit: Les Bains.
The evening I went there, my friend and I were lead through the dimmed restaurant to our table by a wall that offered a great view of the whole room. The first thing I noticed were the plates with their signature design from the hotel (you can also buy them in the hotel). When the waiter handed us the menus, our first thought in the dimmed room was to switch on the flash on our phones to read, but our waiter quickly turned on a small lamp. For the entrée I selected the lobster bun with chips, then a risotto with artichokes and truffles as a main course to share with my friend. We ordered a red Bordeaux wine and a selection of ice creams and sorbets for dessert. Prices for starters vary from €16 to €25. Main courses vary from €28 to €40.
Les Bains Douches Paris
7 Rue du Bourg-l'Abbé
75003 Paris
Tel: +33 1 42 77 07 07
Email: res@lesbains-paris.com
