Le Potager, Roch Hotel & Spa's bucolic terrace for a timeless lunch

For an enchanted, timeless interlude away from the hustle and bustle of Paris, the Potager, the lush green patio at Le Roch Hôtel & Spa, is the safest option. Every year, as soon as the fine weather arrives in the capital and until the end of September, the hotel nestled between the Tuileries Gardens and Place Vendôme offers a confidential, bucolic terrace where life is simply good.

Step outside the door, wander through the restaurant, push open the glass door and climb a flight of steps to find yourself in an island of greenery right in the heart of the capital. Sometimes sunny, sometimes shady - and protected from the elements if the weather turns nasty thanks to the large parasols, Le Potager is the ideal place to recharge your batteries.

Open for lunch and dinner, the suspended terrace of Le Roch Hôtel & Spa is thegreen setting of Frédérick Lyard, who has worked at Le Pré Catelan, Le Céladon, Plaza Athénée and L'Agapé bis. In keeping with the décor and the aromatic herbs, summer flowers and seasonal vegetables arranged in wicker baskets on either side of the patio, the chef unveils a fresh, responsible and colorful cuisine with Mediterranean accents.

If the location (and the charm of the place) could justify prohibitive prices, this is not the case. For lunch, expect to pay €35 for a starter/main course or main course/dessert, and €41 for a starter/main course/dessert. A fair price for generous plates prepared from carefully sourced produce. Right now, asparagus and strawberries are on the menu!

Enjoy marinated peppers and artichokes topped with tapenade (14€), a crispy organic egg with crunchy vegetables and a particularly sapid black sesame emulsified sauce (14€), poultry supreme with eggplant, panisses and piquillo jus to liven things up (32€), or grilled octopus with sunny vegetables and cold herb cream (32€). From the plate to the atmosphere, we're well and truly on the seaside.

Recommended by the chef, filled with bonhomie, theroasted apricot with verbena, crumble and pistachio ice cream rounds off this auspicious lunch.

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A discreet, bucolic terrace to keep in mind to impress your other half.