Le Doyenné: The Fashion Set’s Favorite Countryside Escape Just Got Even More Grounded
May 28, 2025- Le Doyenné Restaurant & Guest House, A Parisian Weekend Escape
Just an hour from Paris, past the suburbs, past the traffic, past the last croissant at your local boulangerie—awaits. Le Doyenné, a countryside hideaway that’s quietly become the Parisian fashion set’s most stylish secret. Think of it as the runway to rural retreat: part gastronomic pilgrimage, part pastoral fantasy, all executed with the kind of cool, quiet luxury that whispers instead of shouts.
From Feudal Fortress to Farmhouse Chic
Set on an estate that once served as the rural escape of Madame du Barry (yes, that Madame du Barry), Le Doyenné wears its history well. The site dates back to feudal times and has passed through noble hands and artistic revolutions. In the 1970s, the barn-turned-restaurant housed the studios of legendary artists Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, who filled it with their monumental sculptures. Now, it serves a different kind of artistry: cuisine built from the estate’s own soil.
A New Kind of Table Setting
Chefs James Henry and Shaun Kelly, both veterans of the Parisian bistronomic scene, decamped here in 2017 with a plan to grow everything—from seed to star. And in 2023, Michelin rewarded that slow-burn vision with a star of its own. The secret? Regenerative agriculture. No tilling, no shortcuts—just centuries-old soil brought back to life, and vegetables that taste like someone finally turned the volume up on flavor.
The potager—Le Doyenné’s expansive kitchen garden—is both visual poetry and culinary powerhouse. From the dining room, floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of heirloom greens, young fruit trees, and the kind of richly layered planting you’d expect from a place where the soil gets more care than a celebrity’s skincare routine.
The Ten-Seat Room of Your Dreams
Already a coveted lunch spot for those who measure time in fashion seasons rather than weeks. Le Doyenné now offers an even more exclusive angle: a ten-seat private dining room designed by Project 213A—the design firm co-founded by Jude footwear designer Jurgita Dileviciute alongside Theresa Marx and Clement Deboeuf. It’s the kind of space where ceramic side tables mingle with oak paneling and brutalist textures. Think rustic retreat meets quiet avant-garde—a setting as thoughtfully composed as the tasting menu itself.
The trio behind Project 213A has already left its imprint throughout the estate. Sculptural headboards to custom furniture in the guest rooms. Their latest contribution elevates the experience into something fully immersive, like stepping into an art installation where the tasting menu happens to be edible.
Stay Awhile
Yes, you could just come for lunch. But that would be like ordering just the amuse-bouche and skipping the wine. The farmhouse-chic guest rooms, complete with linen-draped beds, handmade ceramics, and the occasional antique, make a compelling case for an overnight stay. It’s the kind of place where silence becomes a luxury, and the sunrise feels like something curated just for you.
The Verdict
Le Doyenné is a philosophy with a front gate! For those craving a weekend that trades city rush for orchard hush, this is the place. With a Michelin star, a fashion-world fanbase, and a newly minted private dining room. It’s clear: the future of luxury dining is rooted in the past—and quite literally, in the dirt.
Le Doyenné Restaurant & Guest House
📍 5 Rue Saint-Antoine, 91770 Saint-Vrain
📞 +33 6 58 80 25 18
🌱 Michelin-starred restaurant with on-site accommodations and a regenerative potager
🪑 Private 10-seat dining room designed by Project 213A
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