Ralph’s Paris: An American Dream in the Heart of Saint-Germain

PARIS

Tucked behind a set of discreet green doors at 173 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Ralph’s Paris is less a restaurant and more a portal—one that transports you, quite miraculously, from the cobbled elegance of the Left Bank to the genteel world of an East Coast country estate. It’s here, amid weathered teak benches and the quiet burble of a courtyard fountain (a relic of the city’s horse-drawn past), that Ralph Lauren’s vision of refined Americana unfolds with cinematic precision.

All images are courtesy of Ralph's Paris.

The courtyard, dappled in sunlight and shaded by striped parasols, feels impossibly removed from the Parisian bustle. Blue-and-white cushions echo the crockery on the tables; linens are crisp, yet never fussy. One might sip a pale-pink rosé or Ralph’s signature margarita while picking at Maryland crab cakes that taste like they’ve been airlifted from Nantucket. There is a deliberate effortlessness to it all — exactly the sort of cultivated charm that defines Lauren’s universe.

Inside, the atmosphere deepens. The main dining room — a snug, equestrian-themed retreat with weathered leather, dark wood beams and flickering hurricane lamps — seats just 48 guests. A pastoral fresco presides over the fireplace, while vintage saddles and heirloom throws lend warmth and quiet opulence. There’s something intimate and conspiratorial about dining here, as though you’ve been invited to an exclusive supper club where the dress code is understated elegance and the company is invariably well-heeled.

The menu reads like a love letter to American classics, reimagined for the most discerning of Parisian palates. Perfectly charred steaks, buttery Maine lobster, and thick-cut cheeseburgers are served with French fries so crisp they’d make a bistro blush. Even the cheesecake — pillowy and topped with jewel-like berries — feels elevated, its sweetness tempered by the sophistication of its setting.

As Ralph Lauren once put it, the goal was simple: to create the best American restaurant in Paris. And in many ways, Ralph’s is just that — an exercise in transatlantic hospitality where every detail, from the table linens to the vintage sconces, is curated with care. It’s a place where glamour meets ease, where the horses on the walls feel as alive as the stories unfolding around the tables.

For those seeking a quiet reprieve, a taste of American nostalgia dressed in Parisian tailoring, Ralph’s offers something rare: a restaurant that doesn’t just serve meals — it serves moments.