Philippe Starck–Designed L’Avenue Restaurant Opens at Saks
Saks Fifth Avenue has long been a New York destination for luxury goods. To kick off the store's latest push into what it's calling "The New Luxury," the retail giant is opening L'Avenue, a Philippe Starck–designed restaurant that presents vintage Parisian glamour with a contemporary edge.
The restaurant, which is accessible from the store's ninth floor or via a street-level entrance at 8 East 50th Street, offers two unique settings for diners—The Salon and The Chalet. Separating the space into two aesthetic zones feels on-brand for Starck, who has been known to explore a range of different styles for projects that come together in an almost dreamlike cornucopia of ideas.
“Philippe Starck’s aesthetic is iconic—the Brach hotel in Paris that he recently completed is one of my favorites,” says Marc Metrick, president of Saks Fifth Avenue. “His work with Jean-Louis Costes is actually what brought him to L’Avenue at Saks, and we truly couldn’t have asked for a designer with a better vision.”
For a retailer like Saks, which is looking to redefine luxury after a long legacy in that space, Starck is a fitting choice. The esteemed designer is known for high-profile hospitality projects, and he brings a unique sense of whimsy and humor to each one. Though L'Avenue is new to New York, its Paris outpost is already a beloved classic for locals and celebrities. Stateside, Starck references old French glamour—with a twist.
“At L’Avenue at Saks, there are two completely different and complementary spaces, a bit like yin and yang,” Starck tells AD PRO. "The Salon is all ivory and powdered pink tones, a place of sun and heat," he says. "The atmosphere comes right from American Vogue magazines, films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and stars like Audrey Hepburn. This type of elegance comes from the Americans who discovered French haute couture, like Dior, and brought it back to New York and managed to keep it elegant. The Salon is an exercise in the permanence of elegance.”
On the other side of the restaurant, visitors are transported to the French Alps, where Starck sees diners coming together in a cozy chalet setting. “The Chalet is a place I dreamt of one day in New York when it was freezing cold,” says Starck. “I dreamt of a warm place, a place where everything is welcoming and has the scent of a malted Scottish whisky. Where you can warm up and meet your friends to tell the tale of your last sled ride down from the peak on Christmas evening.”
Starting on Monday, February 4, the restaurant will be available for dinner from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Between Metrick’s diligent work for the flagship’s new luxury branding and Starck’s vision for L’Avenue, the longtime department store may just be the hottest new design landmark to check out in the city.
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