Paris Michelin-star restaurant that inspired Disney’s Ratatouille, Tour d’Argent, is reborn in time for 2024 Olympics and Notre Dame reopening

Dating back to 1582, The Tour d’Argent claims to be Paris’ oldest restaurant, and has served French kings, and celebrities from Marilyn Monroe to Salvador Dali

Reopened in 2023 after an 18-month renovation, it looks forward to offering its famous fare with views across the Seine of two of 2024’s biggest cultural events

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Customers at Paris Michelin-star restaurant the Tour d’Argent enjoy a meal with views of Notre Dame Cathedral. The restaurant, recently reopened after 18 months of renovations, will offer prime views of the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in July. Photo: AP

Published: 4:15am, 3 Jan 2024Updated: 5:10am, 3 Jan 2024

The Tour d’Argent already boasts a 320,000-bottle wine cellar, a world-famous duck recipe and a storied 441-year history.

Now the legendary restaurant in Paris is about to serve up its plat de résistance: a front-row view of two of the biggest events of 2024 – the renaissance of Notre Dame Cathedral and the 2024 Summer Olympics.

A city landmark unto itself – and an inspiration for the restaurant in the movie Ratatouille – the Tour d’Argent reopened in August 2023 after its own renovation, which preserved revered traditions while adapting to the 21st century.

“It’s very reassuring for many customers to see that such establishments are still present in our history, and in French gastronomic history,” says owner and chief executive Andre Terrail.

The Tour d’Argent’s owner and chief executive, Andre Terrail. Photo: AP

The restaurant claims to be the oldest in Paris, its 1582 opening date embossed on the doors. It says King Henry IV ate heron pâté here; “Sun King” Louis XIV hosted a meal here involving an entire cow; and presidents, artists such as Salvador Dali, and celebrities including actress Marilyn Monroe have graced its tables in the generations since.