Yet while this is an avant-garde place, it is
equally content in its traditional retro-chic
feel. Eclectic décor combines with the
quirky bohemian vibe. One is struck
immediately by the 1950s light fixtures.
Not only do the copious number of lamps
enliven the atmosphere, they take a leading
role in lending a stunning feel to the
decoration with their variety of colours and
shapes. Besides the Sputnik lamp, there are
carbon filament light bulbs and opaline
balloon lights.
Diverse ornamentation includes mouldings
and a stunning behind-the-bar mirror onto
which the daily offerings are written. And the
food is every bit as impressive as the decoration. The meat and fish tartare, some of the
most popular dishes on offer, are both cut
right on premises.
The café, named for the early 20th-century
existential novelist, oozes with a creative
and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Among the
elements that pay tribute to the renowned
writer are oversized antique glass frames and
a school coat stand. One might best describe
the place as halfway between a literary
hangout and a Saint-Germain bistro.
Set looking out onto the modernist iron
building that used to be the market Mercat
del Born, this unique café is a definite highlight of anyone visiting Barcelona.
www.cafekafka.es
MONSIEUR BLEU
Paris, France
Set in the new wing of the Palais de Tokyo,
Paris’s cutting-edge contemporary art venue,
the fashionable designer eatery was created
by Joseph Dirand, the darling architect of
French luxury.
Monsieur Bleu masterfully combines Art
Deco and Modernism with the contemporary, incorporating Dirand’s signature
aesthetic of understated, elegant beauty. The
sober colour scheme offers a tone of sophisticated timelessness. Glamorously rooted in
black and white, it is exquisitely punctuated
by noble shades of green, pale blue and
greys, with gold detailing.
The dining room is stunning with its grand
scale and style that includes 10-metre ceilings, massive windows, marble floors and
walls clad with vintage Lalique bas reliefs. A
show-stopper par excellence.
Elements of emerald green velvet upholstery
are fused with Eero Saarinen chairs, black
glass tables with brass edging, Connemara
green marble-encrusted banquettes and
brass ocean liner lanterns. The voluminous,
boxy chandeliers add a modern edge to the
space while the grand bar is made of solid
polished gilt brass.
Tucked into Europe’s largest centre for
modern art, Monsieur Bleu is perfectly
perched right on the quays of the Seine and
blessed with eye-popping views of the Eiffel
Tower.
The ultra-stylish restaurant is conceptualised
as a place to unwind and meet at any time
of the day, with its kitchens open around
the clock to offer an international chic
French brasserie menu. It has something for
everyone, from American comfort foods such
as hamburgers, to French brasserie classics
like steak tartare or frog legs, to a full caviar
and raw bar selection.
The immensely good-looking restaurant
boasts one of the most impressive terraces in
Paris with its Eiffel Tower backdrop. Evenings
feature a lively crowd with weekend DJs and
cocktails by a mixologist.
www.theaddressmagazine.com
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