Boozy Brunch

Sunday, May 22

Today we had our favorite bruch reserved for 2pm at Le Salon des Manufacturers Alain Ducasse, on rue des Petits Champs. So we started with a walk about Passy then the Metro to Concorde for our tour of Hotel de la Marine. It had not been open to the public for a couple of hundred years until now. 

It was pretty busy but everyone was given an iPad sort of audio guide that was supposed to automatically sync when you entered a room. Mine didn't work very well and unfortunately the room guards?staff? had no more English than I did French so I struggled a bit. 

The place is spectacular! Wiki: The Hôtel de la Marine (built between 1757 and 1774) was originally the home of the royal Garde-Meuble, the office managing the furnishing of all royal properties. Following the French Revolution it became the Ministry of the Navy, which occupied it until 2015 (as part of the Ministry of Defence). The building was entirely renovated between 2015 and 2021, for it to now display the restored 18th century apartments of Marc-Antoine Thierry de Ville-d'Avray, the King's Intendant of the Garde-Meuble, as well the salons and chambers later used by the French Navy.

We went through each room and were amazed. It really looked, in places, like Versailles or other grand palaces. Just spectacular! And the terrace had that amazing view over the Place de la Concorde, the obelisk, and the Eiffel Tower. I'm so glad we got to see it!

We were done about an hour before our reservation so made our way through the pretty streets of the 1st, taking our time. 

Brunch at Le Salon: What a treat! We started with champagne and continued with champagne! The room was full with mostly French speakers, it seemed. Very festive athmosphere. The tableware was so cool--old pieces that weren't matching but worked well together. There was tooo much food, all of it delicious. The server was very professional but engaging. One of our favorite treats, for sure. We were there 2 hours.

We walked around the area a bit after brunch (we had been right there the day before at Le Grand Vefour, funnily enough). We passed through Place des Victories. We paused at Place du Lieutenant Henri Karcher who was an important figure in the Liberation of Paris. 

As we had an early flight, we headed back to Passy via Metro. 

Packing didn't take as long as expected so we took to the streets for a nice long wander. Stopped at the ever popular Avenue de Camoens and got our picture taken by a random woman who was an actual working photographer. Did a spot of grocery shopping. Admired cars. It was a lovely end to our trip.

The next morning, Monday, 5/23, we were at the departure gate by 8am and home that night. 

Cannot wait until next time!