Le Train Bleu
Restaurant · Quinze-Vingts ·
Classic French dishes in a lavish space with frescoes & chandeliers
Classic French dishes in a lavish space with frescoes & chandeliers
"If lunch in a train station conjures images of sad, stale sandwiches, Le Train Bleu will change your mind. This dining room’s cathedral ceilings, exquisite wainscotting, and gilded chandeliers make it easy to forget you’re inside Gare de Lyon. Your only hints are the large, Impressionist-era paintings of Riviera destinations like Monaco or Cannes. It’s a step back in time to when train travel meant coats and ties rather than leggings and sneakers, and tableside theater was a matter of course. You’ll experience steak tartare prepared before your eyes, and succulent roasted lamb leg rolled over on a cart and sliced straight onto your plate. Spoon out your serving of one of the most decadent gratins dauphinois you’ll ever taste. The professionalism of the waiters is showcased in their efficient bustling, but you’ll never feel rushed, since this spot is for luxuriating." - emily monaco
"Verdict: A beautiful time capsule of a brasserie with good French classics, worth experiencing at least once—ideally before or after a high-speed train journey across the country. Train stations aren’t typically destinations for quality dining, but this Belle Epoque brasserie, located inside Gare de Lyon since 1900, works hard to deliver a memorable experience, which starts the moment you spot the 26-foot tall frescoed ceilings, ornate gilding and moldings, and spectacular crystal chandeliers in the entrance. This 250-seater has always been a move at breakfast and lunch, especially if you’re catching a train to the south, but it’s an even more special backdrop for a milestone occasion. With dishes like tender leg of lamb with rich gratin dauphinois, grilled fish, and pâté en croûte stuffed with chicken and duck foie gras, the menu doesn’t veer much from French staples but they have gotten a glow-up in recent years, both in flavor and presentation. Request a seat by the windows to people watch, and order the Grand Marnier crêpes, flambéed tableside, for dessert." - lindsey tramuta
"Train stations aren’t typically destinations for quality dining, but this Belle Epoque brasserie, located inside Gare de Lyon since 1900, works hard to deliver a memorable experience, which starts the moment you spot the 26-foot tall frescoed ceilings, ornate gilding and moldings, and spectacular crystal chandeliers in the entrance. This 250-seater has always been a move at breakfast and lunch, especially if you’re catching a train to the south, but it’s an even more special backdrop for a milestone occasion. With dishes like tender leg of lamb with rich gratin dauphinois, grilled fish, and pâté en croûte stuffed with chicken and duck foie gras, the menu doesn’t veer much from French staples but they have gotten a glow-up in recent years, both in flavor and presentation. Request a seat by the windows to people watch, and order the Grand Marnier crêpes, flambéed tableside, for dessert." - Lindsey Tramuta
"It's hard to believe one of Paris' most serene, picturesque and dignified restaurants is also located within one of its busiest train stations, but Le Train Bleu, an icon of Parisian dining, is a far cry from the Gare de Lyon's hustle and bustle. Every inch of this place drips with Parisian opulence in the best possible way. It won't be your cheapest meal in Paris, but it might be your most memorable—or at least your most photographed." - Melissa Liebling-Goldberg, Julia Eskins
"Housed in a former 1901 station buffet that once attracted artists and designers like Coco Chanel and Salvador Dalí, this opulent dining room features sparkling chandeliers, intricately painted ceilings, and large windows overlooking the bustling platforms; à la carte and set menus are available for all three meals, making it an elegant way to upgrade a travel day." - Vicki Denig