Le Chalet des Îles in Paris’ picturesque Bois de Boulogne feels like a little corner of the countryside in the middle of the city and is a real hidden gem. The postcard pretty Swiss chalet is perched on the edge of an idyllic boating lake and is accessed by taking a quick cruise across the water on a retro river boat.
Back in 1880, Napoleon bought the chalet, designed by a Swiss architect, as a gift for Empress Eugenie. It was then dismantled and rebuilt in the Bois de Boulogne. Today, Le Chalet des Îles is a contemporary-rustic restaurant and bar with cosy interiors and three terraces overlooking the lake.
While staying at the luxurious Shangri-La Paris, the Concierge arranged for our group to enjoy a leisurely lunch at Le Chalet des Îles. After a Champagne vintage boat tour of the Seine, we were ready for delicious three-course meal overlooking the lake.
The chalet has an urban country look with leather sofas, open fireplaces and tartan furnishings, but in the summer, it’s all about the terrace scene.
Given the nostalgic design of Le Chalet des Îles, you might expect the menu to be full of traditional French comfort food, but in fact the food is contemporary and light with international influences.
To start, I was tempted by the Crispy shrimps (€9), which were deliciously light, tasty and easy to share. The plentiful, succulent shrimps were covered in crisp panko breadcrumbs and served with pickled ginger and a soy, garlic and ginger dipping sauce.
My Veal fillet mignon (€28) was tender, succulent and nicely seared on the outside. It was served with a light accompaniment of roasted carrots and cherry tomatoes, braised gem lettuce and crispy sage.
For a light end to the meal, I chose three scoops of refreshing sorbet (€12). The raspberry, green apple and mango sorbets tasted home-made and were really juicy and luscious. They were served with a coconut-covered stick of meringue, a fresh blackberry and a packet of Gavottes French wafers.
After lunch, you can enjoy a peaceful stroll by the lake or even hire a rowing boat in the warmer months. Le Chalet des Îles is a great spot to slow down the pace of your Paris day and enjoy a bit of idyllic country life in the city.
Chérie City was invited by Shangri-La Paris
All photos by Chérie City
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