Neuilly-sur-Seine, famous for its 18th Century former Castle turned monument of France, sits in the neighbourhood where Nouvelle Garde’s latest brasserie calls home, Brasserie Charlie. Inspired by the Group’s Founder, Charles Perez, the brief was to create a pride of place in the Parisian neighbourhood, to be a classic French brasserie with the reputation, spirit and signature of Nouvelle Garde’s mission while having its own character instilled in the Romanticism literary and art movement inspire the design throughout.
The area attracts Politicians, Creatives, Executives alike but this restaurant’s motive is to attract the young, creative and free spirited. The location of the site is on the corner of the Place Parmentier, a recently renovated square in Neuilly-sur-Seine; there’s new landscaped gardens and seating areas.
Brasserie Charlie is in a prominent location; the outdoor terrace, bi-folding doors and buzzing atmosphere are very luring. As guests walk close by the restaurant, they are drawn to the bold blue fascia adorned with planting, bright yellow awnings and neon “Brasserie Charlie” signage on the arched terrace glazing. There is uncovered terrace seating and covered seating for up to 90 guests in the front before guests enter the main restaurant, where another 90 covers are available. The open kitchen with bar seating tempts customers from the start; the bustling atmosphere and layered design is totally encapsulating. The patterned flooring and marble bar panels both terracotta in colour and shade give a richness and durability, with the elegant details of the brass and ethereal cloud-patterned ceiling wallpaper feel feminine and light. The booth seating is an ocean blue velvet paired with dark green marble table tops; these feature at both sides of the restaurant to sit small groups. The interiors throughout feel very modern France but with great attention to detail. The vintage floral patterns on the upholstered seating, open shelving for bric-a-brac display and table lighting feel warm and welcoming yet chic. The bar glows with its beaming brass and light pink marble; the glasses hung from a branded mottled glass surround, the subtle lighting brings a spotlight to this area of the restaurant.
Brasserie Charlie is different to their other locations, this site is passionate about seafood; there is fresh fish and crustaceans on ice in the entrance, displayed at one end of the wrap around bar. “We also wanted to deliberately accentuate, particularly at the front. We have also modernised with codes of romanticism, a trend from the beginning of the 19th Century which is realised in the off-white enhanced by brighter colours, floral patterns and retro-inspired furniture,” said Roisin Reilly, Lead Designer at B3 Designers.
Partners involved in the design of Brasserie Charlie include Ton and Maison Drucker who the team specified loose chairs with and for the bespoke banquettes, B3 used a Pierre Frey upholstery. Where possible, materials, finishes and furniture were specified in France with lighting being chosen from vintage websites; where possible sustainable choices were made throughout the design process.
Charles Perez said “Brasserie Charlie takes the Nouvelle Garde brand beyond our Brasserie des Pres and Brasserie Martin sites into a much more romantic chapter for us, with this restaurant too specialising in seafood more than our other restaurants, we can’t wait to see guests enjoying this beautiful restaurant in this very famous neighbourhood.”
