In Paris, certain addresses do not close, they bow out. Le Chateaubriand, the legendary neo-bistro at 129 avenue Parmentier, is experiencing its last months of service but refuses the simple iron curtain lowered on a winter evening. Iñaki Aizpitarte chose another path, faithful to his taste for the opposite. And this path passes through a series of residences where other cooks come to take over behind the pass.
The definitive closure is announced for December 2026, after almost twenty years of a restaurant that has shaken up Parisian bistronomy. The Basque chef orchestrates this last act as a succession of tribute dinners, returns of elders and invitations to a new generation. The “Château” is transformed into an open stage for a few months, with a final quarter which promises to be dense, almost festive, before handing over the keys.
Le Chateaubriand by Iñaki Aizpitarte, twenty years of free bistronomy
The story begins in April 2006 when Iñaki Aizpitarte and Frédéric Peneau took over a neighborhood bistro. Original tiling, tightly packed tables, wooden counter: the decor remains raw, almost banal. Everything is played out on the plate, with a unique menu that changes according to arrivals, the chef’s desires and the seasons. Marked acidity, assumed bitterness, often very raw products, confusing associations, Chateaubriand very quickly breaks the codes of classic gastronomy.
The bet works. The restaurant climbed into the top 10 of the ranking, became a bistronomy institution and won a Michelin star retained from 2018 to 2021. The wine list, led by sommelier Hanne Grunewald, supports the rise of natural wines in Paris, far from the expected references. At the same time, Aizpitarte opened Le Dauphin right next door, but it is Le Chateaubriand which remains his freest laboratory.
Closure of the restaurant Le Chateaubriand: timetable and final turn
The announcement of a closure began to circulate at the end of 2025 before being clarified: the restaurant will not “finish in 2026” and the handover of the keys must take place in December. In the meantime, the chef has already taken over the Petit Grill Basque in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, now dividing his time between Paris and the Basque Country. Rather than a long solemn farewell, he prefers a series of intensive meetings, almost like a farewell tour.
On a practical level, Le Chateaubriand continues to offer its tasting menu, around $95 for dinner, to which have been added four-handed dinners, sometimes priced around $120 for eight courses. For the last quarter, the address is also changing into a real blackboard bistro, more accessible, served at the counter or in the dining room. Announcements of special evenings and specific formats are made over time, especially via Instagram.
The chefs in residence at Chateaubriand to write the last page
At the heart of this final chapter are the chef residences. Some figures seem obvious, like Raquel Carena of Baratin in Belleville, whose highly produced bistro cuisine embodies part of the scene that grew alongside Chateaubriand. Another key face, Valentin Raffali, passed by and today at Bus Palladium, symbol of a generation which has integrated the codes shaken up by Aizpitarte.
The house also recalls Hanne Grunewald, historic sommelier, to reaffirm the importance of wine in the identity of the place. And then the “Château” keeps its openness to the outside with Kris Yenbamroong, Thai chef of Night + Market in Los Angeles, whose spicy and uninhibited cuisine echoes the freedom claimed on Avenue Parmentier. Around them, several friends who have already played behind the piano, like Yves Camdeborde or Alexandre Gauthier, complete this true family photo of Parisian bistronomy.
When will the restaurant Le Chateaubriand close permanently?
The definitive closure is announced for December 2026, after a very lively last quarter in chef residences and slate bistro-style service.
Which chefs are in residence at Chateaubriand before closing?
Among the announced guests are Raquel Carena, Valentin Raffali, Hanne Grunewald, Kris Yenbamroong, as well as friends of the place who have already come such as Yves Camdeborde or Alexandre Gauthier.
How to reserve a table at Chateaubriand during its last months?
Reservations remain essential, by telephone or online via the restaurant’s website, the dates and special formats being detailed gradually on the Chateaubriand Instagram account.
