Galeries Lafayette partners with Air France for ephemeral restaurant
What: Galeries Lafayette transforms its rooftop into an Air France-themed dining destination, featuring Business Class menus created by three-star chef Régis Marcon and award-winning pastry chef Nina Métayer.
Why it is important: This innovative partnership demonstrates how department stores can leverage unique brand collaborations and prime locations to create distinctive experiences that attract both local and tourist customers.
Air France is bringing its premium dining experience to the heart of Paris through an innovative partnership with Galeries Lafayette. From June 25 to August 20, 2025, the department store's rooftop will host an exclusive restaurant offering Air France's Business Class menu. The culinary experience has been crafted by three-star Michelin chef Régis Marcon and "World's Best Pastry Chef 2023" Nina Métayer, featuring sophisticated French cuisine served in specially designed tableware by Jean-Marie Massaud. The restaurant, accommodating twenty covers with two lunch services daily, will recreate the intimate atmosphere of Air France's airport lounges while offering panoramic views of Paris. Located on the 8th floor, the venue includes both indoor dining space and an outdoor terrace, providing guests with spectacular views from the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre, with the Opéra Garnier as its immediate neighbour.
IADS Notes: The Air France rooftop restaurant initiative at Galeries Lafayette builds upon a series of successful experiential retail developments in Paris. In September 2024, the department store demonstrated its expertise in culinary experiences with an exclusive dining event under its iconic dome, setting a precedent for innovative food partnerships. This approach aligns with the store's EUR 400 million investment plan announced in February 2025, which emphasizes customer experience enhancement and flagship modernization. The strategy has already shown results, with November 2024 reporting a 15% sales increase driven by experiential retail initiatives. The trend extends beyond Paris, as evidenced by Printemps NYC's March 2025 focus on customer dwell time and dining experiences, confirming how department stores are increasingly using gastronomy to create unique retail destinations.
