A Taste Of France On The Upper East Side

The May 2024 opening of Maison Barnes was a welcome addition to the already vibrant French cultural and culinary scene on New York City’s Upper East Side.

Located at 100 East 63rd Street at Park Avenue, Maison Barnes is one of Chef Daniel Boulud’s fine dining restaurants. The renowned chef and innovative restaurateur created this unique venue in partnership with the hospitality division of BARNES, a luxury international real estate firm based in Paris.

Together, the restaurant and the surrounding neighborhood offer Francophiles, foodies, and other guests a taste of France in Manhattan.

The Rise Of The Boulud French Empire In NYC

Chef Boulud, through his management company The Dinex Group, oversees an international collection of restaurants and dining concepts, with over a dozen located in New York City.

When his flagship restaurant, DANIEL, opened more than thirty years ago, it cemented the Upper East Side’s reputation as a global destination for exquisite French cuisine.

Now, Maison Barnes and its sister property, Cafe Boulud, have added two more jewels to the chef’s Upper East Side culinary crown.

Maison Barnes: The Concept

Maison Barnes was realized through a collaboration with the luxury real estate team founded by Heidi Barnes and helmed by BARNES President Thibault de Saint Vincent.

Simply put: Maison Barnes is intended as a celebration of the French “Art de vivre,” which is reflected in the decor, menu and service.

This philosophy is clear from the moment of arrival. Upon entering a gracious room through velvet curtains, guests are transported to an opulent, garden-like space reminiscent of an exclusive dining room in a Parisian apartment—or, perhaps, an intimate restaurant near Chef Boulud’s hometown in Lyon, France.

Plush green velvet banquettes line the exterior walls, while red velvet chairs surround the tables in the room’s center. All tables are well-spaced, facilitating easy conversation.

One’s eyes are immediately drawn to the hand-painted trellis-lined wall murals and painted ceilings inspired by Paris’ Grand Palais. It’s no coincidence that they look that way; the interior designer, Stephanie de Ricou, is known for her work on some of France’s most famous monuments, including Versailles. Working with her co-designer, Kevin Ouvre, she has created a room that feels like a Belle Époque theater.

This refinement extends to every detail of the dining experience. Elegant table settings, dinnerware, serving pieces, and other objets d’art in the room represent the work of some of France’s most iconic artists and designers, including Christofle, Bernardaud, Hermes and others.

Warm woods, fresh flowers, Tiffany lighting, and tasteful sconces enhance the relaxed ambience.

Le Menu: A Three-Act Performance

The menu itself is a testament to Chef Boulud, a master of French classical cooking with a contemporary flair. Each dish reflects his passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients and the culinary expertise of Lyon, France native, Executive Chef Romain Paumier.

Although diners can order à la carte, the fixed-priced menu is divided into three “acts” (aptly named). Act I offers first-course appetizers; Act II, main courses; and Act III, desserts. All the dishes are creative, cooked to perfection and plated so artistically that diners can’t help but pause to photograph their plates before they indulge.

Starting with the amuse-bouche, every dish is not only beautiful but also palate-pleasing. Some standouts include the Gazpacho De Conocombre (chilled cucumber soup, with marcona almonds, green grapes and seed crumble), Bar En Paupiette Sauce Meurette (black sea bass wrapped in crispy potato in a red wine sauce), and Duo De Boeuf (braised black angus short rib and NY strip with pommes anna).

To finish, Pastry Chef Katalina Diaz’ Tarte Tropezienne (orange blossom creme légère with Grand Marnier brioche) tastes like it was prepared in a patisserie in St. Tropez. Its sheer beauty excellence rivals that of her Gateau au Chocolate.

Although a few selections are priced with supplements, the $135 per-person three-course prix-fixe menu is an excellent value for the quality of the meal and the spectacular dining experience.

Maison Barnes: Hospitality, Service and Final Impression

Complementing the French food, atmosphere, hospitality and conviviality at Maison Barnes is flawless attention to detail.

A year into its lifespan, if there were any new opening kinks, they are now nonexistent. Overseen by Dinex Group Operations Manager Karim Guedouar, the service is thoroughly professional yet warm and personable, and the entire staff is well-trained and knowledgeable.

Ultimately, Maison Barnes is a perfect choice for friends, families or couples to immerse themselves in Paris’ Gilded Age and make any occasion a memorable celebration.

Explore The UES: An Epicenter of French Culture and Cuisine

Before or after your meal, take a leisurely walk through this neighborhood laden with French culture and cuisine. A visit to this upscale residential neighborhood transports visitors to France.

Fifth Avenue is home to the Consulate General of France and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. Lycée Francaise de New York, on 75th Street, is a private French School.

L’Alliance New York (formerly the French Institute Alliance Francaise) on East 60th Street offers art exhibitions, theatrical performances, lectures, and more. It sponsors New York’s largest public celebration of Bastille Day each year on Madison Avenue between 59th and 63rd Street.

The essence of French cooking wafts through the air as one passes the doors of other iconic eateries like Le Bilboquet, La Goulue, Le Veau d’Or, and Match 65 Brasserie, all located in the East 60s.

The grandeur of Park and Fifth Avenues is the city’s closest rival to the beauty of the fashionable Champs-Élysées in Paris. Out-of-towners can stay overnight or longer at nearby European-style boutique hotels like The Lowell and The Mark, visit Central Park and Museum Mile, and never run out of things to see and do.

Note: Maison Barnes and its sister restaurant, Cafe Boulud, share the same kitchen and adjacent space but provide two distinct dining experiences. Cafe Boulud offers refined French comfort food in a lively, windowed dining room at the corner of Park Avenue that is modern, stylish and sophisticated but less formal than Maison Barnes. Linking the two spaces is the intimate but opulent Maison Barnes Bar & Lounge that encourages sipping on aperitifs or cocktails, chatting, cuddling and lingering.

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