You have to go to Paris’s 16th arrondissement to discover the most beautiful restaurant in the world, according to the Prix Versailles. A prestigious table led by one of the greatest French chefs in the world…
The Prix Versailles is a prestigious global award in architecture and design that, every year since 2015, highlights the most remarkable achievements around the world in several categories, including restaurants, hotels, museums, and emporiums. It is awarded by an international jury under the aegis of the World Organization of the Prix Versailles, with jurors from diverse fields such as art, architecture, and culture.
For the 2025 edition, the winners in the restaurant category include 16 establishments selected for the beauty of their architecture, interior design, and the harmony between gastronomy and space. Among them are addresses from around the world, such as Blackswan in Beijing (China), Japón in Miami Beach (United States), Ladurée Rue Royale in Paris (France), Smoked Room in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), and Julie’s in London (United Kingdom). This annual selection not only celebrates architectural creativity but also the overall experience offered to visitors, where aesthetics, cultural identity, and innovation interact with culinary art. And, proudly, a French establishment has won the highest distinction this year.
Ducasse Baccarat: a crystal setting…
The Ducasse Baccarat restaurant, located in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, stood out by winning the Grand Prix of the Prix Versailles 2025. This exceptional project is located on the first floor of the Maison de Cristal and Baccarat boutique at 11 Place des États-Unis, formerly the private mansion of famous writer and art patron Marie-Laure de Noailles (1902–1970). At the helm of this table, the multi-Michelin-starred chef and iconic figure of French gastronomy, Alain Ducasse, is joined by Christophe Saintagne and Robin Schroeder, two talents who bring freshness and creativity to this spectacular venue.
The dining room, designed by Aliénor Béchu and the studio Volume ABC, is a cabinet of curiosities as aesthetic as it is sensory, where a “rain sky” of Baccarat crystal drops blends with raw oak sculptures and sophisticated lighting effects.
…with Michelin-starred flavors
At the table, the experience is meant to be unpredictable, joyful, and profoundly inventive. Rather than linear tasting menus, the dishes interact, clash, or intertwine, like a symphony of flavors and textures from the Southwest to the French Riviera: fig-stuffed eggplant; red mullet, pig’s ear, rich jus; duck, turnip, quince; pulled lobster in a rose-infused tapioca bath; chocolate dessert enhanced with coriander… Each plate is conceived as a small culinary scene. “This table reflects where I come from, what I know, and who I am,” Alain Ducasse said at the opening.
Enhanced by crystal rocks arranged like jewels and illuminated by a Sun King chandelier, the Midi‑Minuit bar, led by mixologist Margot Lecarpentier, extends this ambiance with cocktails as elegant as they are creative, served in iconic Baccarat glasses. In good weather, guests can enjoy Le Jardin, the lush outdoor space away from the Parisian bustle, where light, seasonal dishes are served. Nestled behind a fully glazed façade, the Orangerie remains open year-round on request for private events of up to twelve guests. Finally, the ballroom, magnificent with its 18th-century gilded décor, hosts evenings in a royal and lavish atmosphere.
Ducasse and his team’s approach draws on tradition while reinventing it, combining technical precision with playful spontaneity; a cuisine that tells stories of memories, terroirs, and sharing, without ever taking itself too seriously. The restaurant also hosts themed evenings, such as readings.
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Featured photo : © Mickaël Bandassak/Ducasse Baccarat
