Polidor
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1845 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Traditional French cuisine, dairy products |
The Crémerie-Restaurant Polidor is a longstanding dining establishment located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, with continuous daily operation dating back to its beginnings as a cheese shop established in 1845. It evolved into a bistro by 1890 and took on its present name in the early 1900s, a title that reflects its initial specialization in dairy items such as cheese, eggs, and cream.
Situated at 41, rue Monsieur-le-Prince close to the Luxembourg Garden, Polidor's interior has been preserved with minimal alterations for more than a hundred years, maintaining its Belle Époque ambiance and the essence of late 19th-century French gastronomy. The venue offers communal tables and a menu that has stayed largely unchanged over many decades, reinforcing its reputation as an authentic traditional French dining spot.
The restaurant has historically drawn an esteemed clientele, including writers, artists, and scholars affiliated with nearby institutions like Sorbonne University and Collège de France. Among its famous visitors are Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Paul Verlaine, André Gide, Gertrude Stein, and Jack Kerouac, all of whom have contributed to Polidor’s cultural significance and enduring allure.
Polidor functions as a gathering place for intellectual circles such as the Collège de ’Pataphysique and the Les Amis de Verlaine society, highlighting its integral role within Parisian literary and artistic communities. Its sustained presence on the Left Bank continues to attract both students and local residents.
The restaurant has also been featured in various media productions, including Woody Allen’s 2011 film Midnight in Paris and the 2017 music video for "Desencuentro" by Puerto Rican artist Residente. Additionally, it appears in Lee Child’s novel The Enemy, where the main character Jack Reacher dines at Polidor.