Reviewing a SECRET ISLAND RESTAURANT in Paris

In this video we finally take Colleen to Le Chalet des Iles, a restaurant on an island in the Bois de Boulogne that you can only reach by a short boat ride. If you want a Paris restaurant with a unique setting and wonder whether the food lives up to it, our Le Chalet des Iles review covers the meal, the bill and our verdict.

The setting

The chalet was brought from Switzerland by the Empress, wife of Napoleon III, who had it taken apart and rebuilt here about 170 years ago. The boat ride, the green chairs by the water and the terrace with plenty of elbow room set the scene. Inside it is classic and elegant, and the diners around us were almost all French.

What we ate

• Shrimp tartare “pad thai style,” the signature dish, which reflects the chef’s years in Thailand.
• Crab and avocado with croutons, fresh but more basic.
• Slow-cooked pork pluma with arugula, roasted artichoke and a whipped hummus, the standout.
• A tartare with sesame, fries on the side, and a raspberry and almond cream tart to share.
• To drink: champagne, and a glass of Brouilly that paired well with the pork.

Our verdict

The food was very good rather than gastronomic, and we did not find it a tourist trap at all. Service was friendly to everyone around us, and the setting is something you cannot get anywhere else in Paris. Our bill was €185 when we filmed, including a €18 glass of champagne and a €10 glass of Brouilly, which felt fair. We would go back, especially in winter, when they serve fondue and raclette.

For more places to eat, see our guide to 125 Paris restaurants and our Paris Guide Bundle. Want to explore the city’s food with a local? Book a Devour food tour, or browse our top Paris guided tours.