Holy, the Passage Verdeau restaurant-bar - Permanently closed

If you're in the Grands Boulevards area, be sure to check out the new face of Holy, in the Passage Verdeau. Open non-stop, cosy and delicious, this shockingly accessible cantine-bar is sure to win you over. With its terrace, bartender's counter and bohemian décor on the first floor, there's plenty of room to relax, sip house cocktails and enjoy fresh seasonal cuisine.

If you love the Parisian charm of the city's passageways, why not stop for lunch, a drink or even dinner? Head for Passage Verdeau in the 9th arrondissement. Holy is the name of this cosy new cantine-restaurant, which replaces the former Holy Bol. New owner, new decor and a new menu with Parisian and Thai accents (yes, some of the cooks have stayed on, to the delight of regulars).

As for the decor, we'd like to thank Ateliers Marigny, who offer us a Bohemian Chic spirit of water green, rattan and wood. The place is warm and welcoming, and we've hit the bull's-eye.

Holy is the place to be all day long. For lunch and dinner, we serve seasonal local cuisine. The menu is designed by Chef Gregory Gbiorczyk (L'Interallié, George, le Bristol, Christian Constant, etc.) and set to music by Chef Mehdi Said and his second Rayan Vengatasamy, both from the 5-star Hôtel Raphaël in Paris. And now you're thinking, this must be really expensive! Tired of being taken for pigeons with his better half, the owner decided to offer a menu that was affordable and faithful to the products on offer, no more, no less.

The menu features local products, mainly from the Ile-de-France region, and French meats and fish. When we stopped by for lunch, we discovered the excellent veggie spring rolls made from homemade rice paste. We also fell in love with the Burrata on a fresh cucumber and mint gazpacho.

On the main course, we were tempted by the Chicken Crisp with crispy vegetables and rice, and the Fish Crisp with cod, curry sauce and spinach salad.

As for desserts, what could be more Parisian than Flan? With a hint of salted butter caramel for gourmandise, and we're good to go. If you're in the mood for something fresher, opt for thered fruit platter with green tea ice cream.

Ataperitif time, let yourself be seduced by Emilie and Andrew's cocktails. At Holy, everything is homemade, from tonics to syrups. So we're carried away by the lovely creations of this complementary duo.

We love the ambience of this passageway that has retained its charm through the ages. Note, however, that it's located in the Galerie Verdeau and closes at 9pm. Don't worry, though, if you're leaving or arriving after this time, a secret code will be given to you.