Inside Drouant: The Paris Restaurant Where Literature and Fine Dining Meet
Drouant is a historic restaurant in Paris, located 18 Place Gaillon in the 2nd arrondissement, near the Opéra Garnier. Founded in 1880 by Charles Drouant, it quickly became a popular spot for Parisian society, especially for enjoying oysters sourced weekly from his brother-in-law, a Breton oyster farmer.
The restaurant’s reputation grew over the years, with its role in the literary world cemented in 1914, when it became the regular meeting place for the jury of the prestigious Prix Goncourt.
Originally a modest bar-tabac, Drouant became a gathering spot for intellectuals and artists in the early 20th century, with notable figures like Colette and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Over the decades, Drouant has been home to many influential figures.
After Charles Drouant’s death, his son Jean took over in 1914, followed by his nephew who ran it until 1976. In the years that followed, Drouant changed ownership several times, but under the direction of renowned chef Louis Grondard, the restaurant earned Michelin stars in the 1980s and early 1990s.
In 2006, the Alsatian chef Antoine Westermann took ownership and transformed the restaurant into Drouant by Antoine Westermann. Westermann, a Michelin three-star chef, brought a new level of culinary expertise to the restaurant, further solidifying its place in Parisian fine dining.
After his time, in 2018, the Gardinier family acquired the establishment, marking a new chapter for this Parisian institution. The current chef, Romain Van Thienen, who has worked alongside some of the greatest chefs in France, took over in 2022 to bring a modern and fresh approach to classic French cuisine.
Drouant’s wine list features over 2,000 references, with nearly 1,000 selections from the Rhône Valley.
The restaurant’s decor reflects its rich history. Significant renovations were completed in 2020. The new design maintains Drouant’s classic features, including the iconic Ruhlmann staircase, an Art Deco masterpiece.
The staircase, a symbol of the restaurant, was designed by the famous artist Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann in 1924 and is a central architectural feature. Juries for the Goncourt and Renaudot awards descend this staircase when announcing their winnegoncrs.
The restaurant’s main dining room, the Cocteau Room, is named after the famous French artist Jean Cocteau whose created the grand ceiling design inspired by seashells and marine life.
Drouant is especially famous for its role in French literature. It has hosted the Goncourt and Renaudot literary prize juries for over a century. The Goncourt jury, established in 1903, meets here on the first Tuesday of every month to discuss the year’s best works of literature, leading to the selection of the Goncourt Prize winner.
The Renaudot Prize, established in 1926, also holds its meetings at Drouant. Both prize juries enjoy a lifetime “cover” at the restaurant, which makes it a true center of French literary culture.
For visitors, Drouant offers an intimate experience, with private rooms available for special events. The Goncourt Room, for example, features an elegant oval table where the jury members meet. The Renaudot Room honors the founder of the French press.
These rooms are beautifully designed with details such as exclusive Art Deco-style china from the Bernardaud archives.
The restaurant also features a strikingly beautiful library, where editions of every book awarded the Goncourt Prize since its inception are displayed – a fascinating space for book lovers.
