The acclaimed chef swaps the dining room for the courtyard at the Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris, bringing Provencal flair, cocktail pairings and a new energy to the Paris hotel scene. “The Mediterranean,” Florent Pietravalle says without hesitation, when asked about his favorite ingredient. This summer, the chef behind MICHELIN-Starred La Mirande in Avignon (which also has a Green Star) brings that sun-drenched sensibility — bold, ingredient-driven, rooted in Provence — to Paris with a seasonal pop-up at the Lutetia.
Instead of taking over the hotel’s formal Saint-Germain dining room, Pietravalle chose to serve al fresco in the courtyard beside Bar Aristide, the Lutetia’s speakeasy-style cocktail bar. The setting inspired a cocktail pairing to accompany his dishes. “When you have a good bar like this, it’s interesting to mix gastronomy and mixology,” he says.
Though he’s led the kitchen at La Mirande for nearly a decade, Pietravalle knows Paris well. He trained under acclaimed French chefs Joël Robuchon and Pierre Gagnaire and spent six years in the capital before decamping south. “I love this city and its energy,” he says. “So when I had the opportunity to come to the Lutetia and do a summer pop-up, I said yes.” The menu stays close to his culinary identity.
“I want guests to eat the same food as from my kitchen at La Mirande,” he says. His dishes here include langoustines with green peas and tripe, red mullet and beef marrow — familiar ingredients reimagined with lightness and Mediterranean clarity. “I like to use ingredients that you don’t always find in restaurants,” he adds. He’s even brought his own fishmonger from Avignon. “The cuisine is global,” Pietravalle says, “but the produce is Provencal.”
While he is back in the French capital, a city that shaped him, he shares a few of his favorite Paris spots with The MICHELIN Guide.
1. Do you find that Paris is an inspiring place to visit for food?
Absolutely. But more than just food — it’s the whole energy of the city: the museums, the architecture, the pace of life. It feeds your mind and your senses. I always leave with ideas, sometimes without even realizing it.
2. What food trends do you see in Paris that you don’t see back home in Avignon?
In Paris, I feel there’s more space for concept-driven dining — where the story, the mood, and the design are as thought-through as the food itself. You also see trends or concepts emerge much faster here. In Avignon, the scene is more rooted in the land and in tradition, and that has its own strength.
3. Which Paris chefs do you think are doing something interesting right now?
Adrien Cachot at Vaisseau (Paris 11) is someone I really like. His cooking has something instinctive and offbeat. It’s different, it’s bold and it stays with you.
4. When you’re back in the city, where do you love to go for dinner to catch up with friends?
Oxte (Paris 17), by Enrique Casarrubias and Monserrat Estrada, is always a great idea. Enrique’s cuisine has heart and precision, and there’s a warm atmosphere that makes it perfect for dinner with friends. It’s generous, alive, and full of flavor. And Estrada and Enrique are just two incredible people.
5. What are your favorite fine dining restaurants in the city?
Plénitude (Paris 1) by Arnaud Donckele. It’s a masterclass. Every dish is a story, and the technique is just… beyond. He’s taken sauce work to a poetic level.
6. And if you want somewhere more casual, what are your favorite laid-back bistros or brasseries?
Parcelles (Paris 3). It’s a real gem. The food is spot-on, and their sommelier, Sarah, is impressive, with a great instinct for pairings. It’s the kind of place where you feel instantly at home.
7. Any other favorite restaurants that you have recently discovered in Paris?
I recently tried Geoelia (Paris 16), by Camille Saint-M’Ieux, and I think it’s one of those spots that’s going to become essential very soon. There’s a freshness to it — a clear point of view. I was impressed.
8. Paris is full of fantastic bakeries and patisseries. Which one do you always go to when you’re in the city?
Every time I’m in Paris, I try to stop by Boulangerie Montgolfière (Paris 17). Thomas Paris is doing incredible work there. His breads are sharp, deep in flavor, and really personal — there’s a kind of quiet mastery to his baking that I love.
9. If you manage to get a night off from the kitchen, where’s your favorite place for a glass of wine or a cocktail?
I’m a big fan of Le Syndicat (Paris 10). The team is super creative and committed to French spirits. It’s got that perfect mix of energy and know-how — great cocktails, no fuss.
10. Are there any foodie shops you like to visit while you’re here, perhaps for picking up ingredients or cookware, or hard-to-find products?
Every cook needs to visit E. Dehillerin at least once. It’s one of the oldest kitchenware shops in Paris, and you can still find rare tools and beautiful old-school pieces. You feel like a kid in a candy store.
11. You’re currently spending a lot of time in Saint-Germain-des-Prés — what are your favorite addresses in the neighborhood?
I love Marché Saint-Germain in the morning. For a quiet coffee, I stop at Coutume, and when I want to unwind, Prescription Cocktail Club never disappoints. Galerie Kamel Mennour always has something that catches my eye. But there’s something special about dining at Bar Aristide — a hidden gem in the heart of the Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris. You can catch your breath from the pace of daily life and enjoy great food and cocktails.
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