Maison dorée (Paris)

You are standing before what was once the most opulent restaurant in nineteenth-century Paris, the Maison Dorée at twenty Boulevard des Italiens. Opened in eighteen-forty, its name, the Gilded House, originated from the lavish gold-plated carvings and ornate decor that adorned its exterior and interiors. While the street-facing side welcomed the wealthy public, the discreet entrance on Rue Laffitte led to private cabinets where aristocrats and elites hosted secret gatherings.