Le Balzar

Le Balzar is a historic brasserie located at 49, rue des Écoles in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Founded around 1894 by Amédée Balzar, a native of Picardy, it began as an estaminet (a small café or tavern) situated between the Sorbonne, the Collège de France, and the faculties of medicine and law. The establishment quickly became a fixture of intellectual and literary Paris. After its founding, Le Balzar was sold to Marcelin Cazes, the owner of the famous Brasserie Lipp. Cazes engaged Art Deco architect Joseph Madeline to renovate the space, adding tiling, opaline globes, raw wood tables, dark woodwork, moleskin banquettes, and large mirrors. The result was a distinctive interior that remains largely intact today. In 1931, the brasserie was nicknamed "Le Petit Lipp" in reference to its more famous counterpart on Boulevard Saint-Germain. Over the decades, Le Balzar attracted a remarkable clientele of writers, philosophers, and politicians. Regulars after 1945 included Albert Camus, Simone de Beauvoir, and André Malraux. Later, historian Jean Tulard, politicians Jacques Toubon, Václav Havel, and Mário Soares, as well as filmmakers Louis Malle and actor Johnny Depp, were seen there. Nobel laureate Walter Kohn frequented the brasserie during his visits to Paris, and it was where Hélène Cixous and Jacques Derrida met. The brasserie's reputation is not solely based on its cuisine but also on its waitstaff, who maintain "a very particular relationship with customers, made of a precious mix of nonchalance, irony, and kindness" that gives the place its soul. The menu features classic brasserie dishes served in an Art Nouveau décor adorned with mirrors, plants, and woodwork. Ownership changed several times. In 1961, the Cazes family sold the establishment to Charles and Geneviève Marolleau from Bordeaux. Their son Jean-Claude took over in 1968, assisted by his wife Colette. In 1987, the Basque Jean-Pierre Egurreguy acquired it. In 1998, Le Balzar was integrated into Groupe Flo, a move that sparked conflict with staff and regulars. Groupe Flo sold it in 2018 to Alain Grandière, the current owner. Recent chefs include Christian René, Brice Lefort, and in 2012, Aurélien Bonin. Today, Le Balzar continues to operate as a traditional Parisian brasserie, open seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 11:45 PM, serving classic French dishes in its historic Art Nouveau setting.

Le Balzar was founded in 1894 by Amédée Balzar, a native of Picardy, who opened an estaminet (a small café or tavern) at 49, rue des Écoles in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. The location, between the Sorbonne, the Collège de France, and the faculties of medicine and law, placed it at the center of the Latin Quarter's academic and intellectual life. A few years after its founding, Amédée Balzar sold the establishment to Marcelin Cazes, the owner of the famous Brasserie Lipp. Cazes entrusted the Art Deco architect Joseph Madeline with renovating the space. Madeline introduced tiling, opaline globes, raw wood tables, dark woodwork, moleskin banquettes, and large mirrors, creating an interior that remains largely unchanged. In 1931, the brasserie was nicknamed "Le Petit Lipp" in comparison to the original Lipp at 151, boulevard Saint-Germain. After 1945, Le Balzar became a haunt for prominent writers and intellectuals, including Albert Camus, Simone de Beauvoir, and André Malraux. In later years, historian Jean Tulard, politicians Jacques Toubon, Václav Havel, and Mário Soares, filmmaker Louis Malle, and actor Johnny Depp were among those seen there. Nobel laureate Walter Kohn was a regular during his visits to Paris, where he met with his disciples. It was also where Hélène Cixous and Jacques Derrida first met. The brasserie's fame is tied not only to its cuisine but also to its waitstaff, who maintain "a very particular relationship with customers, made of a precious mix of nonchalance, irony, and kindness" that gives the place its soul. In 1961, the Cazes family sold the establishment to Charles and Geneviève Marolleau, who came from Bordeaux. Their son Jean-Claude took over in 1968, assisted by his wife Colette Marolleau. In 1987, the Basque Jean-Pierre Egurreguy acquired the brasserie. In 1998, Le Balzar was integrated into Groupe Flo, a corporate restaurant group, a move that provoked conflict with the staff and regular customers. Groupe Flo sold the brasserie in 2018 to Alain Grandière, the current owner. Recent chefs have included Christian René, then Brice Lefort. In 2012, the chef was Aurélien Bonin. The brasserie continues to operate seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 11:45 PM, serving classic brasserie dishes in its historic Art Nouveau décor.

• 2018

  Groupe Flo sells the brasserie to Alain Grandière.

• 2012

  Aurélien Bonin is the chef.

• 1998

  Le Balzar is integrated into Groupe Flo, causing conflict with staff and regulars.

• 1987

  Jean-Pierre Egurreguy acquires the brasserie.

• 1968

  Jean-Claude Marolleau takes over, assisted by his wife Colette.

• 1961

  The Cazes family sells the establishment to Charles and Geneviève Marolleau.

• 1931

  The brasserie is nicknamed "Le Petit Lipp" after being acquired by Marcelin Cazes and renovated by Joseph Madeline.

• 1894

  Amédée Balzar opens an estaminet at 49, rue des Écoles in Paris.

Historic Parisian brasserie offering classic French cuisine in an authentic Art Nouveau setting, renowned for its literary and intellectual clientele and its distinctive waitstaff culture.

• Classic brasserie dishes

  Traditional French brasserie cuisine served in an Art Nouveau setting.

1. 1BALZAR | Brasseriebrasseriebalzar.com
2. 2Le Balzar - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Le Balzar - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org