A Paris icon owned by an icon

Saturday I opted for a different kind of museum - Art Nouveau at Maxim's. It's at 3 rue Royale in between Place de la Concorde and Place de la Madeleine (which will make up a future post as it's one of my fav places!)

Maxim's is one of the oldest restaurants in Paris - it first opened in 1893 as a bistro. Its popularity grew during la Belle Époque thanks to a courtesan, Irma de Montigny, who drew in all the right people. In 1898 under new ownership, it was decorated in the Art Nouveau style and has remain unchanged. The exterior was completed in 1900 for the World Expo held in Paris that year and Maxim's became the city's most fashionable restaurant. The restaurant is still open today but is a lot less busy than it once was.

The upper rooms are open for private parties and functions and are classic French, particularly the mirrors to elongate the space. These are some of the ones I saw:

Beyond these spaces lies the Art Nouveau museum. In 1981 Pierre Cardin bought Maxim's and at 93 he still owns it and has dinner there weekly. He also created the museum which is a collection of pieces he has purchased over the years - not necessarily because they had value but because he thought they were beautiful. It is an impressive collection.

Tiffany lamp with chair by Gaudi

Designed for at the 1900 World Expo

Original Toulouse Lautrec

The tour lasts about an hour but it does come at a steep 20 euro price tag - I guess they have to compensate for the lack of customers! Though there were only two of us on the day I went so it was like a private tour!