Paris, 1852. The capital was undergoing full urban transformation. Large building sites were taking shape, neighbourhoods were becoming lovelier, social and political life was reasserting itself. It was within this momentum that the Duke of Morny, half-brother of Napoleon III, had a private mansion built a stone’s throw from the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the beating heart of Parisian high society.

A leading political figure in the 19th century, Charles de Morny was also a businessman. His activities led him to imagine a welcoming, strategic residence, designed to provide hospitality as per the rules of the art: interconnecting salons, generous volumes, décor marked by Second Empire aesthetics. The mansion became an insider getaway where ministers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, artists and writers came together for dinners, enlivened by ideas and great projects. Over the decades, the hotel changed owners, and its story became more discreet. It was not until the post-war era that a new chapter commenced.

Founded in 1946 by André Vrinat, on Rue Saint-Georges, Le Taillevent moved into the Duke of Morny’s former private mansion on Rue Lamennais in 1950. Its name paid tribute to Guillaume Tirel, aka Taillevent, author of Le Viandier, the first collection of recipes in French. Very rapidly, the restaurant won the hearts of refined gourmets and the Michelin Guide; a first star in 1948, a second in 1956, then a third in 1973 consecrated cuisine anchored in French tradition. Over the years, Le Taillevent became renowned for its exceptional cellar hosting close to 4,000 references. Since 2011, the Gardinier Group has perpetuated this heritage and preserved its close ties with the world of wine, which became one of the signatures of the Maisons Taillevent.

Le Taillevent’s soul is also closely tied to its aesthetic identity. The building has retained much of its original stylishness: a freestone staircase of honour, pediments, pilasters, columns, private salons listed as historic monuments. In 2021, the Gardinier brothers entrusted renovation of the property to interior architect Yann Montfort. The aim was to reveal its heritage without tampering with it. His work fine-tunes lines, softens materials, offering a modern reading of spaces, lighter and more comfortable, without impairing their splendour.

Within this sublime décor, the salons on the restaurant’s upper floor reinterpret the art of hospitality. Available for hire in their entirety, they are perfect settings for private luncheons, business dinners, seminars, and private tasting sessions. The Salon Guimet, where the Duke of Morny once received Napoleon III, offers a velvety backcloth of Asian inspiration. Clad in rich tapestries and red lacquer, it accommodates up to 12 guests. More spacious, the Salon Saturne, the Duke’s former bedroom, then unfurls sumptuous Louis XVI wood panelling. Its warm atmosphere is ideal for events welcoming up to 32 guests. Intimate or convivial, these spaces uphold the same demand for excellence: classic French service, generous, heartwarming cuisine, and a special approach to wine. The Taillevent spirit thus perpetuates the momentum initiated by Charles de Morny: a place for encounters and sharing, where the only rule that remains is that of good taste.