Is Paris’ Most Expensive Restaurant Actually Worth It? (We Found Out)

In this video we treat ourselves to lunch at Guy Savoy, at the Monnaie de Paris, a restaurant named the best in the world six years in a row. If you are wondering whether Guy Savoy is worth it, or what to expect at a top Michelin restaurant for the first time, this page walks you through the meal and the bill.

The setting and the menu

The restaurant sits inside the old Paris mint, now a museum. Gentlemen should wear a jacket. The rooms are darker and more modern than we expected, and the tables face the windows, so it feels like a private experience. We chose the “Keep it simple” menu at €260 per person without drinks when we filmed. The full 13-course “Colors, Textures and Flavors” menu with wine was €740.

What we ate

• Amuse-bouches of watermelon and ginger, zucchini soup and radish with caviar.
• Green tomato carpaccio, and red tuna with oyster tartare and caviar.
• Blue lobster from Brittany with peas and mushrooms.
• The signature artichoke and black truffle soup, with brioche for dipping.
• Veal with peach, then red fruit and vanilla dessert, and a dessert cart with clafoutis, ice creams and sorbets.

Our verdict

We rated the food six stars out of five: simple, precise flavors with nothing bizarre for bizarre’s sake. The service was warm and attentive, though not the silent style some expect, so arrive a little later if you prefer less attention. The setting was five stars. We paid €622 for two when we filmed, including a glass of champagne each, one glass of wine, water and coffee. It is not an everyday meal, but for a bucket-list experience we would go back.

For more memorable meals at every budget, see our guide to 125 Paris restaurants and our Paris Guide Bundle. For a more relaxed taste of the city, try a Devour food tour.