‘Layers of History’: Dersou in Paris, Distressed Surfaces Included

Designed by Tokyo firm Daikei Mills, Parisian restaurant Dersou is named after the title character in the 1975 Akira Kurosawa film. According to Daikei Mills, the project “began with an email from Amaury Guyot and chef Taku Sekine, who came to us with a potential location and an idea for a restaurant open to eclectic influences and bouts of inspiration, centered on a nightly tasting menu paired with cocktails.”

Located near the Bastille, the original restaurant space was centuries old and had “layers of history,” as the designers say. “We were inspired to adapt our ideas on site to achieve the kind of space we aspire to create—one that feels ‘undesigned,’ with no unnecessary frills.”

Here’s a look.

For more low-key, characterful Parisian restaurants, see:

• Expert Advice: 11 Under-the-Radar Parisian Dining Spots
• Fashion’s Favorite Restaurant in Paris: Clover on the Left Bank
• Scandi Meets Shaker in a Parisian Japanese Restaurant by LSL Architects

N.B.: This story has been updated with new photos and information; the original post ran on July 12, 2018.