Paris 8 · Modern cuisine · Outdoor Seating
Chef Frédéric Vardon's contemporary French cuisine meets panoramic Parisian views on a sixth-floor rooftop terrace in the prestigious Avenue George V.
The full story
Chef Frédéric Vardon's contemporary French cuisine honors classical foundations while embracing modern techniques, creating haute couture plates that balance tradition with innovation.
At Le 39V, Chef Frédéric Vardon leads a kitchen that respects French culinary tradition while expressing a contemporary sensibility. His approach centers on classical technique applied to quality ingredients, resulting in dishes that feel both familiar and fresh. The cuisine is described as "d'auteur"—chef-driven cooking that bears a personal stamp while remaining rooted in French gastronomic heritage.
The menu structure offers flexibility to suit different occasions and appetites. Lunch service begins with a formula at €50, providing an accessible entry point to Vardon's cuisine. For those seeking a comprehensive experience, the six-course signature menu at €145 showcases the kitchen's full range, taking diners on a journey through the chef's vision. Prices range from €49.50 to €145 per person, excluding beverages, positioning Le 39V in the upper tier of Parisian dining while remaining more accessible than many Michelin-starred establishments.
Vardon's signature dish, macaroni gratinés aux morilles et comté, exemplifies his philosophy. Taking a humble preparation—baked macaroni—and elevating it through premium ingredients (morel mushrooms and aged Comté cheese) and precise execution, the dish demonstrates how classical French cooking can feel both comforting and refined. This approach extends throughout the menu: familiar foundations transformed through quality ingredients and meticulous technique.
The presentation reflects haute couture sensibility, with each plate composed with visual artistry. Yet the plating never overshadows the food itself—the aesthetic serves the flavors rather than competing with them. This balance between beauty and substance defines Vardon's cooking: dishes that delight the eye while delivering on taste and texture.
The kitchen accommodates vegetarian diners, demonstrating flexibility within its French framework. This attention to diverse dietary needs, combined with the technical excellence and creative vision, makes Le 39V's cuisine both accomplished and accessible—refined cooking that welcomes rather than intimidates.
Sophisticated yet welcoming, Le 39V creates an elegant atmosphere where natural light, comfortable seating, and panoramic views combine to make refined dining feel effortlessly enjoyable.
Le 39V strikes a careful balance between formal elegance and approachable warmth. The sixth-floor location immediately sets a tone of elevation—both literal and figurative—removing you from the bustle of Avenue George V below and placing you in a serene dining environment above the city.
The atmosphere is decidedly chic, with an aesthetic that speaks to the restaurant's Golden Triangle address, yet the space avoids intimidating formality. Comfortable armchairs invite you to settle in for a leisurely meal, while abundant natural light creates an airy, open feeling that contrasts with the darker, more enclosed spaces typical of traditional fine dining. This brightness extends to the mood: the restaurant welcomes an international clientele with a hospitality that feels genuine rather than rehearsed.
The suspended garden introduces an unexpected element of nature into this urban setting, softening the sophisticated interior with organic textures and greenery. When weather permits, the terrace becomes the restaurant's crown jewel, offering not just outdoor dining but a genuine rooftop experience with views that sweep across Paris's iconic skyline.
The overall vibe is one of modern French elegance—polished and refined, certainly, but also relaxed enough that you can focus on the food and company rather than worrying about excessive formality. It's a space where business lunches, romantic dinners, and celebratory meals all feel equally at home, united by the common thread of quality and attention to detail.
Contemporary elegance defines Le 39V's interior, where natural light, comfortable furnishings, and a suspended garden create a refined yet welcoming sixth-floor sanctuary.
The decoration at Le 39V reflects a contemporary approach to French elegance, prioritizing comfort and natural beauty over ornate embellishment. The design takes full advantage of the sixth-floor location, with large windows that flood the space with natural light and frame views of Parisian rooftops. This emphasis on transparency and openness creates an airy atmosphere that feels refreshing in the context of fine dining.
Seating consists of plush, comfortable armchairs that encourage guests to linger over their meals. The furniture strikes a balance between sophistication and ease, avoiding the stiff formality that can make upscale dining feel uncomfortable. Table settings are elegant without being fussy, allowing the food to take center stage while maintaining the refined aesthetic expected at this level.
The suspended garden represents the restaurant's most distinctive decorative element. This integration of greenery and natural elements into the dining space adds texture and life to the interior, creating visual interest while reinforcing the connection to the outdoor terrace. The garden serves as both decoration and philosophy—a reminder that even in the heart of Paris's most prestigious neighborhood, nature and refinement can coexist.
The color palette and materials lean toward understated elegance: neutral tones that allow the natural light to play across surfaces, quality fabrics and finishes that speak to luxury through tactile experience rather than visual excess. The overall effect is a space that feels current and sophisticated, designed for the way people actually want to dine today—comfortably, with attention to quality and experience rather than rigid formality.
Le 39V distinguishes itself through its sixth-floor rooftop location with panoramic views, suspended garden, and Chef Frédéric Vardon's haute couture approach to contemporary French cuisine.
Several elements combine to make Le 39V stand out in Paris's competitive dining landscape. The location itself is exceptional: a sixth-floor perch on Avenue George V that removes diners from street level and places them among the rooftops of Paris. This elevation provides not just views but a sense of escape, creating a dining environment that feels removed from the urban energy below while remaining in the heart of the Golden Triangle.
The suspended garden represents an unusual feature for a restaurant at this level. Rather than relying solely on traditional interior design, Le 39V incorporates living greenery into its space, creating a connection between the indoor dining room and the outdoor terrace. This integration of natural elements into a sophisticated urban setting adds dimension to the experience, making the restaurant feel less like a typical fine dining establishment and more like a unique destination.
Chef Frédéric Vardon's approach to cuisine—described as haute couture plating combined with classical French foundations—creates a distinctive culinary identity. While many contemporary French restaurants either lean heavily traditional or push aggressively modern, Vardon finds a middle path that honors technique while embracing current sensibilities. His signature macaroni dish exemplifies this: taking a comfort food preparation and elevating it through premium ingredients and precise execution.
The restaurant's versatility also sets it apart. With capacity ranging from 35 to 110 guests and the ability to host everything from intimate dinners to corporate events, cocktail receptions to conferences, Le 39V functions as both a gastronomic restaurant and an event space. This flexibility, combined with amenities like valet service, wheelchair accessibility, and vegetarian options, makes refined dining more accessible to a broader audience.
The combination of these elements—location, design, cuisine, and service—creates an experience that feels distinctly Le 39V. It's not just another French restaurant in a city full of them, but a destination that offers something specific: elevated contemporary French cuisine in a bright, elegant space with genuine rooftop views and thoughtful hospitality.
Reserve ahead through the website, request terrace seating for the best views, and consider the lunch formula for a more accessible introduction to Chef Vardon's cuisine.
Reservations at Le 39V are strongly advised and can be made through the restaurant's website at le39v.com or by calling +33 (0) 1 56 62 39 05. The online booking system through Zenchef offers a straightforward way to secure your table, particularly important given the restaurant's popularity and limited capacity.
If weather permits, request terrace seating when making your reservation. The outdoor space offers the full rooftop experience with panoramic views across Paris—this is where Le 39V's location truly shines. However, the interior dining room also benefits from natural light and views through large windows, so don't be disappointed if the terrace isn't available.
For those new to Le 39V or working within a tighter budget, the lunch formula starting at €50 provides an excellent introduction to Chef Vardon's cuisine at a more accessible price point than dinner service. The lunch menu maintains the same quality and attention to detail while offering better value, making it ideal for a first visit or business lunch.
The restaurant is open daily for both lunch and dinner, providing flexibility in scheduling. Given its location in the Golden Triangle, Le 39V is easily accessible via public transportation—the George V and Charles de Gaulle-Étoile metro stations are both nearby. If driving, take advantage of the valet service or use the Marceau Etoile or Champs-Elysées Pierre Charron parking facilities.
The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, with an elevator providing direct access to the sixth floor. If you have specific dietary requirements, particularly vegetarian preferences, mention this when booking—the kitchen can accommodate various needs with advance notice.
For special occasions or larger groups, Le 39V offers privatization options and can host events ranging from 35 to 110 people. The main dining room can be configured for different types of gatherings, from seated dinners to cocktail receptions. Contact the restaurant directly to discuss event possibilities and customized menus.
Gift certificates are available for those looking to share the Le 39V experience, making them an elegant option for special occasions or corporate gifts.
Macaroni gratinés aux morilles et comté, Six-course signature menu
A taste of what awaits
Find your way there
Local medias & International press
You might also like
Chef David Toutain's two-Michelin-starred restaurant delivers inventive, seasonally-driven French gastronomy in an intimate, contemporary setting near Les Invalides.
Chef Matthias Marc's Michelin-recommended table delivers seasonal French gastronomy with Jura influences and modern low-sugar desserts in the heart of Paris's 16th arrondissement.
Chef Charly Cohen's inventive modern French cuisine meets New York loft aesthetics in this acclaimed bistrot near Bastille, where creative tasting menus showcase local terroir with South American and Asian influences.
Stéphanie Le Quellec's two-Michelin-star restaurant delivers generous, modern French gastronomy in an elegant yet relaxed setting on Avenue Matignon.
Three-Michelin-starred temple of French haute cuisine where Chef Pierre Gagnaire orchestrates bold, artistic compositions that have redefined gastronomic excellence since 1996.
A storied two-Michelin-starred institution in Paris's Golden Triangle, where refined French gastronomy meets an extraordinary 4,000-bottle wine cellar in an elegant 19th-century hôtel particulier.
A legendary bistronomic destination where Chef Leonardo Righini crafts an innovative 11-course tasting menu that celebrates seasonal French cuisine with bold, unexpected flavor combinations.
A Michelin-starred gastronomic haven in Versailles where Chef Jean-Baptiste Lavergne-Morazzani crafts refined seasonal menus from organic, locally-sourced ingredients.