Reborn from Le Petit Marguery, the Acte III restaurant pursues some gastronomic heritage in Paris
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A well-known address among lovers of traditional French cuisine, Le Petit Marguery restaurant long held a special place in the Parisian gastronomic landscape. Located on Boulevard de Port-Royal, this historic bistro embodied a certain vision of classic Parisian dining—elegant, timeless, and deeply rooted in tradition oriented and welcoming local regulars, political figures, and devoted admirers of culinary institutions alike. Behind this emblematic establishment was already Pascal Mousset, a respected Paris restaurateur, known for his commitment to craftsmanship and culinary heritage. By AP
Today, these history-filled walls give rise to Acte III, a new chapter that both honors the past and boldly embraces some visible change. Without denying the previous restaurant’s legacy, Le Petit Marguery, the project reinterprets it through a Mediterranean, generous, and contemporary lens. Pascal Mousset joined forces with his son Thomas Mousset and Amaury Latham, a close friend and former classmate, met in the École Hôtelière de Lausanne, to create a place dedicated to sharing, authenticity, and conviviality (photo credits: Acte III).
The restaurant’s transformation was entrusted to architect Hervé Porte, who masterfully rose to the challenge of reshaping a sort of La Belle Époque inspired interior into a bright and welcoming space. Preserved architectural features, notably through moldings, high ceilings, and wooden floors now blend seamlessly with mineral tones, natural materials, and soft lighting evocative of the Mediterranean South. Every detail has been carefully curated, including the handcrafted ceramic plates, created by a Basque artisan, underscoring the importance of artisanship and a certain attention to all kind of details.
In the kitchen, Chef Stéphane Hemery orchestrates a cuisine, deeply inspired by the Mediterranean coastline, from Provence to the Maghreb, via Italy and Spain. His seasonal, market-driven menu highlights vibrant flavors and quality ingredients through a colorful and generous approach. Sharing dishes play a central role, reflecting a culinary culture, mostly built around gathering, tasting together, and allowing time to slow down. Acte III thus stands as a bridge between past and present, a restaurant where the legacy of Le Petit Marguery lives on in a more sunlit and contemporary expression, while remaining true to the essence of the place.
Acte III, 9, Boulevard de Port Royal, 75013 Paris (France) / Phone: 00 33(0) 1 43 31 58 59. More details on their official website.
