La Verrière, the Hôtel Intercontinental Paris Le Grand restaurant a stone's throw from the Opéra

At the heart of the Hôtel Intercontinental Paris Le Grand lies a bright, lush address, whose surroundings invite us to relax. Here we are at La Verrière, a restaurant-bar that looks like a haven of peace in the Opéra district.

In the Opéra district, you'll find institutions that symbolize the Parisian art of living, contemplating the evolution of the capital while continuing to maintain the timeless charm of the City of Light. Opposite theOpéra Garnier, the Café de la Paix is just one of these iconic addresses with an international reputation. And at the heart of theIntercontinental Paris Le Grand is a restaurant-bar with an astonishing setting, both sumptuous and exotic: La Verrière.

The address lives up to its name. It always seems to be bathed in daylight, even after nightfall or when the weather outside is fickle. In this haven of peace, where time seems to stand still, we find ourselves in a lush, almost exotic setting of palm trees, surrounded by the beautiful architecture of this historic hotel. This strange summer winter garden invites us to experience a relaxed gourmet escapade, featuring finely-tuned French gastronomy and creative cocktails.

For mixology enthusiasts, this is where the first written mention of the Dry Martini can be found, according to the recipe of Frank P. Newman, the English-born head bartender who officiated at the Grand Hôtel in the 1900s. The recipe is said to have been created as a tribute to the iconic actress Sarah Bernhardt. More than a century later, the cocktail menu still features this classic recipe, accompanied by a number of inventive creations. We'll set our sights on the Oaxaca Picante, made with Mezcal, Saint-Germain liqueur, grapefruit, lime, jasmine and Espelette pepper. The result is a cocktail with a strong character, with a surprising floral and spicy accord.

A trio of amuse-bouches joins the cocktail awaiting the starters: egg brouillade with truffle, foie gras with fig chutney, or guacamole and salmon, these three little tarts playing on the péchés mignons ensure the transition to gourmet delights. At La Verrière, the menu showcases French savoir-faire, with must-tries such as onion soup au gratin, snails and Mont d'Or to share, as well as a range of snacks including club sandwiches, lobster rolls, burgers and croque-monsieur. Depending on the time of day, you can also sample the signature dishes of Café de la Paix.

As the festive season approaches, we'll be turning to the stars of the festive table, the melt-in-the-mouth duck foie gras confit accompanied by fig chutney, grapes and toasted farmhouse bread, as well as Gillardeau n°3 oysters with their soft, slightly sweet notes.

Staying with maritime flavors, our choice fell on one of Café de la Paix's signature dishes, the back of red label Corsican lean. The pearly flesh quickly yields to our fork stroke, testifying to masterful steaming that faithfully preserves its flavor. The fish is accompanied by a braised chicory fondue with rosemary, red amaranth and a beurre blanc with marine plankton, whose iodized accents accentuate those of the lean fish.

For dessert, what could be more appropriate than theOpéra? This French pastry is sure to become a favorite with chocolate and coffee lovers. How does it work? A succession of gourmet layers alternating between a Joconde cookie, chocolate ganache and coffee buttercream. The opera served here features powerful notes of cocoa and coffee, to the delight of purists. Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew, as the portion is quite generous.

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, please drink responsibly.

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please mention it in the comments.