L'Opéra restaurant
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Successor | CoCo |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Paris, France |
Key people | Christophe Aribert (chef), Yann Tanneau (head chef), Stéphane Bidi (head chef), Chihiro Yamazaki (head chef) |
| Products | French-Asian fusion cuisine |
L'Opéra restaurant was a dining establishment located on the eastern frontage of the Palais Garnier opera house at Place Jacques Rouché in Paris's 9th arrondissement. Established in 2011, it operated until 2019, when it was succeeded by CoCo.
History
Although the idea of incorporating a restaurant into the opera house was part of Charles Garnier's original architectural vision when the building opened in 1875, financial constraints prevented its realization for many years. Efforts to launch a restaurant on site were made in 1973 by composer Rolf Liebermann and again in 1992 by entrepreneur Pierre Bergé.
In 2007, Gérard Mortier, then director of the opera, invited proposals to enhance audience interaction. The submission from Pierre François Blanc was selected in 2008, leading to a 20-year lease granted by the National Commission of Historic Monuments. While the Ministry of Culture initially declined the proposed design, a revised concept developed by Odile Decq received approval in 2009.
The restaurant opened its doors in the summer of 2011, featuring culinary creations by chef Christophe Aribert alongside head chef Yann Tanneau. Stéphane Bidi assumed the head chef role in 2013, and in 2016 Chihiro Yamazaki took over, updating the menu. The cuisine offered a fusion of classic French dishes with Asian influences, emphasizing fresh ingredients.
L'Opéra ceased operations in 2019 and was replaced by CoCo, a venue managed by Paris Society and designed by Corinne Sachot.
Design
Positioned behind the opera house's east facade within a porte cochère at the base of the Rotonde du Glacier—originally intended for carriage arrivals—the restaurant occupies a historic monument site. The architect was required to ensure that all modifications were reversible and avoided direct contact with the original walls, pillars, and stonework while preserving the domed ceiling’s central keystone. The space accommodates 170 guests, including 90 seated on a mezzanine created from a moulded plaster shell supported by a steel framework. A glass facade is integrated behind existing pillars and connected to steel strips above them. Odile Decq described her design as a "phantom," with the white hull’s flowing edges reminiscent of a ghost’s "white veil," a form that subtly references the legendary phantom associated with The Phantom of the Opera, set at this very opera house.
Inside, contemporary furniture with vivid red upholstery contrasts with the white hull structure that elegantly curves into handrails along staircases and around the mezzanine level. Red carpeting adorns stairways and appears as scattered islands across the black flooring on the ground level dining area. A private bar encircles one column, finished in black. Decq noted that the predominant red tone is lighter than conventional "opera red," lying somewhere between orange and red hues. The outdoor terrace also features red seating arrangements with expansive benches.