Relais de Paris Soft Opens in Beverly Hills With Bastille Day Party Tonight

As of a couple of weeks ago, Relais de Paris in Beverly Hills seems to be soft-open. The beguiling all-day bistro concept first came to light last October, but really got moving in late March, when photos showed a (mostly finished) interior.

Since then, ownership has encountered a few delays, only opting to soft-open recently after all the behind-the-scenes kinks were worked out. Now that those are out of the way, there's a small party planned for tonight, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., to officially celebrate. It doesn't hurt, of course, that it's also Bastille Day.

So what’s going on inside? Long hours and lots of French food, mostly. Currently, the restaurant is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., meaning coffee and pastries for the morning, while lighter lunch options come into play midday. Come nighttime, Relais transitions into a more upscale casual bistro, complete with attached bar.

The Relais de Paris name is quite popular internationally, playing off of the classic French steak frites dish. While it’s not exactly a one-meal wonder sort of restaurant, the eatery does lean heavily on their steak skills, and a proprietary house sauce they work into just about everything.

Inside, there are finished wood touches and plenty of exposed brick, while white tablecloths and candles set the mood in the evening. The future of Relais will be interesting to watch, as the location has in the past struggled to find enough cache with the locals to stay in business. Still, the restaurant is banking on success in Beverly Hills, by opening up some of their other rooms for business meetings and private dinners as well.

As for the other Relais de Paris in Santa Barbara (owned by the same franchisee as the Beverly Hills location), it appears to still be down for the count. Staff says they’re simply expanding the patio out front, which should hopefully be finalized soon.

Relais de Paris
8635 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA