The Fantaisie restaurant and its redesigned menu

Named Golden Poppy for a year with Dominique Crenn's short-lived residency, the Fantaisie restaurant is renewing itself and now offers a menu that skilfully blends French and international influences, to be enjoyed under a luminous glass roof or al fresco on the patio, weather permitting.

We're off to the capital's 9th arrondissement, and more precisely to the Hôtel de La Fantaisie, designed by Swede Martin Brudnizki, a Parisian establishment belonging to the Leimotiv group that opened last year. With its 73 rooms and suites and the Holidaymie spa, La Fantaisie offers " a concept centered around plants ".

We're off to discover this new menu, rich in seasonal flavors. The cuisine is a veritable melting pot of influences, where French and international dishes rub shoulders in a relaxed, festive atmosphere. From midday onwards, the restaurant comes alive with the conversations of local regulars, while in the evening, the atmosphere is stepped up a notch with an eclectic and elegant, but always unpretentious, clientele.

On the plate, the promise of this redesigned menu is fulfilled with dishes featuring fresh, surprising notes. The King crab salad with lovage mayonnaise and gambero rosso tartar is a delight, an explosion of freshness that's a pleasure to savor. Seafood lovers will delight in the red tuna carpaccio or the crudo variés served on ice, creations that revisit classics with a daring twist.

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The menu offered dishes to share, such as whole Mediterranean sea bass cooked on a bed of fennel, or Tonkatsu pork chop, generous dishes perfect for two people. We appreciate the attention paid to side dishes, with options such as spinach shoots with Parmesan, brocoletti a la flamme, or the classic, gourmet home fries. The steamed pollack with its cockles and pearl juice, on a bed of spinach, is a real winner.

Desserts round off the meal with freshness and indulgence. During our visit, we were tempted by the not-so-classic Rice pudding with lemon and caramel, and the beautiful strawberry with cream. This menu is an invitation to travel, while remaining rooted in seasonal, contemporary cuisine.

The new menu at La Fantaisie restaurant, with its French and international inspirations, is a wonderful discovery for those wishing to escape for a meal in a setting as elegant as it is relaxed.

La Fantaisie, hotel, rooftop bar, restaurant, terrace and SPA
La Fantaisie, the jewel nestled in the heart of Paris's 9th arrondissement, hides some wonderful surprises. The fruit of a partnership between the Leitmotiv group and talented chef Dominique Crenn, the hotel invites you to immerse yourself in a relaxing gourmet experience on Rue Cadet. A verdant patio and flower-filled rooftop terrace are just some of the discoveries to be made. [Read more]