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Origin and history

The brothers Frédéric and Camille Chartier opened in 1896 their first Bouillon Chartier at 7 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre, in a lively area close to the Grands Boulevards, the Drouot Hotel and the Grévin Museum. Their revolutionary concept aims to democratize access to quality food at moderate prices, in a room inspired by the train station halls and the Paris Halls. The establishment, installed in a former cartridge factory (active from 1845 to the 1880s), quickly seduces with its warm atmosphere and efficient service, attracting a varied clientele, from workers to artists.

The room, typical of the Belle Époque and the Universal Exhibition of 1900, is distinguished by its high ceiling supported by Corinthian columns, its walls and ceilings covered with mirrors and glass windows, and its Art Nouveau chandeliers. Two trompe-l'oeil frescoes, painted in 1929 by Nicolae Vermont to swallow up a debt, adorn the walls, while a Brilled electric clock and wooden napkin lockers complete the decor. Ranked a historic monument in 1989 for its interior decorations, the site perpetuates a culinary tradition and an unchanged service: boys in log, tablecloths for orders, and shared tables.

The success of the Bouillon Chartier inspired the creation of some fifteen similar establishments in Paris, some of which remained like the Bouillon Racine (1906) or the 59 boulevard du Montparnasse (1903, registered in 1984). The restaurant, open 365 days a year, remains a symbol of Parisian life, frequented by cultural figures such as Lautréamont, Louis Aragon or Fernandel, and appears in films (A long Sunday engagement, La Passante du Sans-Souci). In 2022, a new site opened in front of the East Station, extending the legacy of the Chartier brothers.

The spirit of Bouillon Chartier rests on three pillars: traditional French cuisine (pied of pig, gibelotte, sauce dishes), a preserved setting (furnishing, mirrors, frescoes) and uncompromising accessibility. Despite the constant crowd — sometimes waiting in the courtyard or on the sidewalk — the restaurant maintains affordable prices and fast service (until 10pm, closing at midnight). Its social model, where only four owners have succeeded each other in more than a century, reflects a management that is faithful to the ideal founder: combining quality, friendliness and heritage.

The place is also part of Parisian cultural history. A plaque commemorates the disappearance in 1870 of the poet Lautréamont in the building. In 1936, Louis Aragon mentioned him in Les Beaux Quartiers, and in 1939, Fernandel immortalized in his song Félicie as well. In the cinema, scenes of Cours after me that I catch (1976) or A long engagement Sunday (2004) are shot there. Today, the three Chartier Bouillons in activity (Faubourg-Montmartre, Montparnasse, Gare de l'Est) perpetuate this unique blend of gastronomic, architectural and popular heritage.

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