Bottom photo of Big Ben Bar from Le Train Bleu.
All others by Styleaspirations
Greetings! This is
Styleaspirations filling in as your guest writer. I
recently traveled to Paris and was asked by Traveler to write a post
about my travels for The Gray Suit, quite an honor! Since Traveler is
particularly enamored with train travel, I knew that I must highlight
one of my favorite spots in Paris,
Le Train Bleu.
Le Train Bleu is a destination that delights all ages. When I first
read about this restaurant overlooking the Gare de Lyon train station, I
thought it would be the perfect destination for my toddler son, who
adores trains. So I made a reservation "for my son," but the experience
turned out to be one of My favorites.
Le Train Bleu has an illustrious history as a dining favorite of
Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Jean Cocteau, and Salvador Dali. It was
inaugurated in 1901 by Emile Loubet, the President of the French
Republic. The experience of a meal at Le Train Bleu certainly embodies
the sort of grandeur that one would associate with these icons.
Walking into Le Train Bleu felt like being transported to a more
gracious time. The splendor of the space was replete with ornate gold
architecture and a literal red carpet running down the restaurant
aisle. Waiters were dressed for the occasion in black tuxedos. The
ceilings were covered with 41 beautiful paintings depicting
landscapes traversed by European trains. We were comfortably seated in
cranberry leather tufted chairs and banquettes. The atmosphere
would be entertaining enough with just these features, but we had the
added bonus of a window seat overlooking the Gare de Lyon train
station. We excitedly watched the "fast trains" that transport
passengers to destinations all over Europe arrive and depart and the
passengers scurrying to and fro.
The cuisine was as exquisite as the space, with offerings ranging
from escargot to beef steak tartare. My son tried foie gras for the
first time, served with a delectable red onion marmalade accompanied by
black currants; he saw fit to pronounce it as "peanut butter and
jelly!" The mashed potatoes with fresh Tomme cheese were heavenly. I
had perhaps the best dessert of my entire trip in Paris at Le Train
Bleu, a bourbon vanilla layer cake, also known in France as a
Mille-feuille or Napoleon. Creamy bourbon flavored vanilla cream was
layered in between sheets of puff pastry dough. The excellence of this
dessert, however, was easily matched by the tangy lemon and lime tart with
a most buttery crust. The dessert section of Le Train Bleu's menu is
titled "Indulgences." Indeed!
One of the highlights of my trip to Le Train Bleu was the discovery
of a hallway and lounge area for weary travelers, which I later learned is called "The Big Ben Bar." Again, it seemed like
this space appeared from another time. A hallway with sumptuous leather chairs led to a room outfitted with more comfortable leather
chairs and people quietly sipping coffee and cocktails, reading and
presumably waiting for their departing trains to arrive at the station.
It was the sort of place where I could imagine Cary Grant and his
confidantes passing time before boarding their trains. If I hadn't
wandered back through the hall of Le Train Bleu in search of the ladies'
room, I may have never learned of this special room.
If you're in Paris, I highly recommend a trip to Le Train Bleu.
Dining there isn't just a meal, but truly a treasured experience! In the restaurant's own words, it is "A Veritable Initiation to Travel." I'll
be sharing more of my Paris travel discoveries on
Styleaspirations.com,
so please join me there!
What are some of your favorite discoveries made while traveling?
