A stunning new restaurant born from the collaboration of Master Watchmaker François-Paul Journe and Michelin-starred chef Dominique Gauthier. The new restaurant is actually Mr Journe’s third foray into dining, amongst his previous endeavours was a steakhouse. But F.P. Journe Le Restaurant is undoubtedly conceived to be something else entirely.
Anyone who has been inside an F.P. Journe boutique might have noticed wine bottled especially for F.P. Journe from Chateau Seguin, whose owner is a friend of Mr Journe. Similarly, the new restaurant reflects Mr Journe’s personal relationships and passions. This new restaurant is inside a 19th-century building at 49 Rue du Rhône. More notably, the building once housed Bavaria, a renowned German restaurant popular in the early to mid decades of the 20th century.
In charge of decoration is François-Paul Journe, who wanted to give the establishment a strong horological identity. The walls are adorned with posters that represent technical drawings of movements, the tables are named after famous watchmakers such as Jost Bürgi or Christiaan Huygens, and the menus make reference to models of the brand. Even the cutlery is inspired by this universe. In pride of place in the centre of the restaurant, an 17th-century astronomical clock, signed “Giovanni Brugell Venetia”, completes the details of these carefully chosen embellishments.
Gauthier’s cuisine is defined as Mediterranean, with bursts of spice and citrus reminiscent of his travels in Thailand, bringing new nuances to the classic codes of culinary art. The menu incudes truffle-infused ravioli and locally-sourced kadaïf scampis, as well as an extensive wine list. “F.P.Journe Le Restaurant” is not merely a dining destination; it’s a theatre where the art of gastronomy is performed with passion, precision, and a playful embrace of extraordinary experiences.
For reservations at the new F.P. Journe Le Restaurant, contact www.fpjourne-le-restaurant.ch. And if you are in luck, you just might meet the Master Watchmaker yourself.