A culinary heritage that seduces all of Paris
Once havens for Parisian workers, "bouillons" have transformed into true gastronomic phenomena. Today, these iconic addresses attract a cosmopolitan clientele—from bohos to businessmen—ready to wait twenty minutes to savor authentic cuisine at outdated prices.
This revival echoes the golden age of the Halles Baltard, when workers, merchants and elegant people shared the counter, a glass of red wine in hand.
Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse: thelifestyle Here française
The story begins between 1860 and 1870, when Pierre-Louis Duval, a butcher by trade, came up with an idea as simple as it was brilliant: to offer hot, nutritious, and inexpensive meals to Parisian workers. The name "bouillon" comes from this single dish—beef broth served with bread—which at the time constituted a complete lunch.
But it was in 1896 that the concept really took off, thanks to brothers Camille and Édouard Chartier. They transformed the idea into a true model of popular catering, both fast and friendly. restaurants Chartier broths became iconic places with their Belle Époque style, their large, lively rooms, their waiters in black and white aprons, and the bills scribbled on the paper tablecloth.
The most spectacular of these establishments is undoubtedly the Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse. Founded in 1903, the place has had several lives: Bouillon Rougeot in 1924, Bistrot de la Gare in 1977, then Montparnasse 1900 in 2007. It is the Joulie family – already owners of the Chartier on the Grands Boulevards – who are bringing it back to its roots, restoring its original name and spirit.
A winning bet for this restaurant, listed as a Historic Monument since 1984. Its sumptuous and intact dining room proudly displays its 1900 decor: ceramics by Louis Trézel, mirrors set in sinuous woodwork in the purest Art Nouveau style.
A la carte? Dedicated classics at affordable prices: egg mayonnaise for €2, pike quenelle for €10, duck confit for €13, and chocolate profiterole for €4,80. An authentic feast for a bill of around €25, a quality-price ratio that explains the craze for these Parisian institutions, which now attract both nostalgics and trendsetters.
Jean-Claude Mariani
Chartier broths in Paris:
Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse
59 boulevard du Montparnasse 75006 Paris
Metro: Montparnasse-Bienvenue
Bouillon Chartier Grands Boulevard
7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre 75009 Paris
Metro: Grands Boulevards
Bouillon Chartier
5 rue du 8 mai 1945 75010 Paris
Metro: Gare de l'Est
Open daily from 11:30 p.m. to midnight
Internet: https://www.bouillon-chartier.com/
