Germain by India Mahdavi

photo © Derek Hudson // Image Courtesy of Germain, Paris

Perpendicular to the Boulevard St Germain, located at 25/27 of the charming rue de Buci, there is now an additional dining option for the selective Parisians, and not only, under the name Germain. Opened by Thierry Costes, a connoisseur of resto-business activities and run successfully since May 2009 alongside other restaurants and cafes owned by the Costes brothers, the Café Germain offers an alternative to the traditional Parisian brasserie.

photo © Derek Hudson // Image Courtesy of Germain, Paris

LOGO design by French graphic designers, Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak, founders of M/M studio in Paris

Previously being the well-known restaurant of the 80’s L’Arbuci, the café Germain offers today to its customers a mix of different elements and influences both in terms of its atmosphere and cuisine. The restaurant is spread into two floors whereas each of them serves a different function.

photo © Derek Hudson // Image Courtesy of Germain, Paris

One of the strong points of the venue is its distinctive decoration which reminisces to the visitor the times of the past. What India Mahdavi aimed, the Iranian-born and Paris-based architect in charge of the interior design of Germain, was to create a different style in each of the restaurant’s rooms. The result is two different rooms, largely different from each other in their moods yet very consistent. Principal elements of its decoration include check board patterns, leopard prints, big leather sofas, stool bishops and various crystal details.