Beaupassage Paris – An open-air food court

The Beaupassage in Paris is just as much a space dedicated to food, as it is to nature and art. A relatively recent addition to the capital’s many secret “galeries” (arcades), the project was completed in 2018 after three years and cost a whopping 40 million euros. The space forms a 10 000 square metre courtyard with trees, which is overlooked by a fully renovated housing complex with 59 apartments. It was designed both by architects and landscape artists, which explains the innovative features and architecture.

The Beaupassage is nestled between the rue de Grenelle, rue du Bac and boulevard Raspail. It brings together restaurants (including 3 Michelin-star chef Yannick Alléno’s “Allénothèque”), a Pierre Hermé tea room, art galleries, a coffee bar, a butcher’, a cheese shop etc. The most impressive feature is, in my mind, the passageway (when you come from the boulevard), which is lined with what seems to be a mystical forest. The work of art, appropriately named La Traversée(the crossing) is, in fact, made entirely out of cardboard and is entirely on the right-hand side but is reflected by stainless steel mirrors, thereby creating the optical illusion of a tunnel.

During the summer, the Beaupassage becomes a green, peaceful and shady terrace (i.e. the perfect place to grab a drink to escape the heat) and whether in summer or winter you will find something to satisfy your taste buds “sur le pouce” (a quick-bite) or by sitting down to a real meal.