The Louvre is a bit like a second home to me. I’m there every day (or almost), and I never tire of marveling at Leoh Ming Pei’s pyramid, the tourists who always strike the same pose in front of it as if they were touching its peak, the incessant flow of passersby, and that pleasant feeling of knowing this magnificent place is my workplace…
In short, I rarely eat at the restaurants inside the Louvre, but I was obviously curious to discover Bistrot Benoît by chef Alain Ducasse, which has been open since last March.
As a reminder, the great Monegasque chef is already present with his Ducasse Culture offering at the Palace of Versailles, with his table “Ore”, and at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar.
In terms of decor, you enter under the pyramid into a traditional Parisian bistro of 200 m2 with wooden tables, servers elegantly wearing bow ties, and a design featuring oak paneling, brass, and alcoves adorned with red velvet.
On the menu, you’ll find classic French cuisine with a modern twist. Now, to reassure you, we didn’t eat every single dish photographed below, but since we were a table of journalists and influencers, we tasted a bit of several dishes…
To taste:
- The starters: the Parisian salad with green beans, button mushrooms, white ham, Emmental, and croutons (€13), the snails from Bistrot Benoît with parsley butter (€8 for 6 snails), a specialty you absolutely must try, the hard-boiled eggs with mayonnaise and sucrine lettuce (€7), the classic leek vinaigrette (€9) revisited, the poultry pâté en croûte with thyme and celeriac remoulade (€13), and the duck foie gras with an onion/sour cherry compote and toasted bread (€16).
- The mains: the confit pork belly, snacked with Puy green lentils (€21), and the salmon béarnaise with mashed potatoes (€22).
- The desserts: the Rum Baba (€9), the vanilla-tonka crème brûlée with an almond tuile (€8), the smooth pot of chocolate with whipped cream (€9), the Tatin-style apple tartlet with vanilla cream (€9), and the Pineapple Melba (€9).
Prices: set menu starter + main + glass of wine or 50 cl of water OR main + dessert + glass of wine or 50 cl of water at €29.50
Price of wine by the glass: between €5 and €9 (which remains very reasonable!)
In conclusion, I found this address very decent in terms of quality/price ratio compared to the other options available in the Louvre Museum. It is therefore a good option for a relaxed lunch during a visit to the Louvre.
My tip for getting to the restaurant without queuing: Since the restaurant is located underneath the Louvre pyramid, you don’t need a museum ticket to go there, but you still have to pass security to get there. So, rather than going through the pyramid (and risking a long wait with the tourists), it’s better to go through the entrance located in the Carrousel du Louvre, where there are always far fewer people. Plus, this tip also works if you want to visit the museum!
Thanks to Bistrot Benoit for this invitation.
Bistrot Benoit Louvre Museum Napoléon Hall, Louvre Pyramid, 75001 Paris open every day except Tuesday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM The tip: museum staff benefit from a 10% discount upon presentation of their badge
Find all my restaurant reviews in Paris below:
⇒ All my restaurant reviews in Paris
MAP OF MY FAVORITE FOOD SPOTS IN PARIS AND THE ILE-DE-FRANCE REGION
Restaurant 
Bar 
Pastry Shop / Bakery 
Tea Room / Coffee Shop
Brunch 
Ice Cream Parlor
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization required before any use
