One of the most creative ways to take a tour of Paris is to step aboard a boat on the Seine. Riding on the Seine offers a unique view of the City of Light and also provides the perfect occasion to sit back and relax. A spot called Ô Restaurant is taking the boat tour concept even further as it invites diners aboard a barge that is 600 square meters large so that they can enjoy either lunch or dinner while cruising down the mythical river.
The name ‘Ô Restaurant’ is a play on words that works because the French exclamation ‘oh’ sounds exactly like the word for water: ‘eau.’ Therefore, the name conveys a sense of wonder while also describing the establishment, very accurately, as a water restaurant.
Semantics aside, this restaurant offers diners a splashy decor, with highlights including a 180-degree view of the Seine and a marine theme conceived by the designer François Lamazerolles. Very chic yet ultimately lighthearted, the boat’s decor encourages visitors to relax under thatched roofs while surrounded by both vintage nautical equipment and ultra-trendy design elements.
The decor itself makes the restaurant worth a visit, but patrons will also be glad to discover a lunch and dinner menu that lives up to the restaurant’s fantastic interior design. Menus are kept short and change often in order to ensure that the dishes include only the freshest, in-season ingredients.
Examples of starters that could be found on the menu are organic poached egg, foie gras served with cherry gelee and smoked salmon with ginger whipped cream. Main courses such as sea bream carpaccio, roasted cod and chorizo, scallops with coconut rice, steak served ‘tiger tears’ style, beef tartar, and the classic cheeseburger will leave diners satisfied. A cheesecake, bourbon-vanilla creme brulee or pina colada macaron will finish off the meal with style as patrons lounge about, waiting for the final docking at the end of the cruise.
Guests staying at the Hôtel Louvre Marsollier can make reservations for lunch or dinner at Ô Restaurant by visiting the establishment’s website (in French).