One late afternoon in Saint-Germain, we chanced upon this restaurant — like a dream come true. The Ralph’s Restaurant — an all-American sanctuary set within a classical Parisian home. It’s an intimate space, tucked away in the courtyard of Ralph Lauren’s Left Bank shop.
We walked through a short, grand passage and were greeted by a petite French receptionist, who remained impressively calm despite the endless stream of incoming calls. Everyone wanted a piece of Ralph’s, and she was clearly very well trained to handle it.
Picture this: large umbrellas, white tablecloths, wrought-iron chairs, and linen cushions set amongst lush greenery and fresh flowers — an upscale Hamptons aesthetic, right in the heart of Paris.
Dressy diners lounged as though they owned the place, clinking glasses and idly tossing lettuce leaves on their plates. A woman in her fifties wore a crisp, tailored white shirt, dark jeans, and a brass-buckle belt, while her younger companion looked effortlessly suave in a cotton-blend windbreaker and matching cream shorts.
Straightforward. Simple. Immaculately casual.
The influence of Ralph Lauren permeated every inch of their style.
We were led to a corner table — perfect for people-watching. We ordered our drinks and quickly sank into a pile of soft pillows.
This place was once an old Parisian family home, carefully — almost painstakingly — restored by Ralph Lauren to house his business. And indeed, when we stepped inside, it felt as though we had been granted special permission to wander through a private residence.
The four-storey limestone building is filled with glamorous designs and beautifully curated furniture. The air is subtly perfumed by quality garments, hung neatly on their racks. Cerulean blue vases, fresh flowers, framed paintings, and evocative photographs come together effortlessly, lending the space a sense of luxury that still feels deeply personal.
Unlike his café in Chicago, the restaurant in St Germain retains a strong sense of French heritage to reflect Ralph’s long-established attachment to France.
Many years ago Ralph Lauren was awarded Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur by President Nicolas Sarkozy. He told the press that the first time he stepped foot in Paris was more than 30 years ago and he was only a poor man with big dreams. 30 years later he’s at the Elysée Palace to receive one of France’s most prestigious distinctions.
Film stills from the website of Ralph’s.
A cliché, perhaps — but a true success story. He is the American in Paris.
We only had a few drinks, and the waiter was kind enough to bring us this monstrous bowl of caramelised popcorn, generously studded with raw peanuts.
A glance at the menu revealed a list of quintessential American comfort fare — burgers, steak, club sandwiches and Cobb salad.
Safe to say, the influence of the Ralph Lauren empire has not only reached the F&B industry, but has travelled far and wide. Even the notoriously hard-to-please Parisians adore it.
How could you possibly say no to this?
With love x