Restaurants

The complete timeline of Alain Ducasse and his restaurants

From chef to restaurateur, businessman, and global culinary powerhouse, Alain Ducasse has shaped and directed over 60 restaurants, consulted on countless others, managed an entire hotel chain, and launched 42 chocolate, coffee, biscuit, and ice cream boutiques. And yet, he never stops. The 18 Michelin stars currently under his belt? Not nearly enough.

Attempts to structure his career have been made, with the most comprehensive reference so far being Oscar Caballero’s Una Historia de la Nouvelle Cuisine (2021). But to truly make sense of it all, we present below a complete chronology—every restaurant he has opened (and closed), his most significant haute cuisine publications, his factories, training centres, and more.

We’ve also included a summary of every restaurant he has launched since 1981, along with their Michelin Guide distinctions.

Chronology
1956Alain Ducasse is born in Orthez and grows up near Castel-Sarrazin, in the Landes region of France.
Early Career
1972He works at Pavillon Landais Inn in Soustons before enrolling at the hospitality school in Talence.
1975Ducasse works at Michel Guérard’s restaurant in Eugénie-les-Bains. During the quiet winter season, he undertakes internships in Gaston Lenôtre’s workshop in Paris.
1976Spends two months working for Guérard at Régines in New York during the winter.
1977A short stint at Le Moulin de Mougins under Roger Vergé.
1978Ducasse joins Alain Chapel‘s restaurant, where his talent is quickly recognised. Within two years, he rises to the position of sous-chef.
1980He spends two weeks as sous-chef in the Bell Inn at Aston Clinton, England, but dislikes the experience. Luckily, Roger Vergé soon offers him his first head chef role at his bistro in Mougins, L’Amandier.
1981
Ducasse takes over as head chef at La Terrasse, the restaurant at Hôtel Juana in Juan-les-Pins, now with full control.
Immediately earns 16/20 in Gault et Millau.
1984
La Terrasse is awarded two Michelin stars.
Alain Ducasse is the sole survivor of a Piper Aztec plane crash.
He undergoes multiple surgeries and a long rehabilitation, spending two years between hospital and recovery.
1986Finally receives his third toque from Gault et Millau.
Road to Success
1987
Opens Le Louis XV in Monaco.
Introduces a mostly vegetarian “Menu des Jardins de Provence”.
1990Le Louis XV earns three Michelin stars, just 33 months after opening.
1991Gault et Millau grants Le Louis XV four toques and 19/20.
1992He publishes his first book, La Riviera d’Alain Ducasse: Recettes au fil du temps.
1994Steps back from managing hotel restaurants to focus entirely on Le Louis XV.
1995Opens La Bastide de Moustiers, a luxury countryside retreat with seven rooms in the heart of Provence.
1996
Opens Restaurant Alain Ducasse in Paris, replacing Joël Robuchon’s three-starred restaurant at 59 Avenue Raymond Poincaré.
Establishes a small farm at La Bastide de Moustiers to supply its restaurant there.
Méditerranées: cuisine de l’essentiel is published.
1997
The Michelin Guide removes one star from Le Louis XV in Monaco.
His Paris restaurant is immediately awarded three Michelin stars.
He becomes an advisor to La Grande Cascade, a historic restaurant in the Bois de Boulogne.
1998
Le Louis XV regains its third Michelin star, making Ducasse the most Michelin-starred chef in history at the time, with six stars—a feat unmatched since La Mère Brazier.
Publishes Flavours of France and L’Atelier d’Alain Ducasse.
Becomes president of Châteaux & Hôtels Collection, a position he holds until selling most of his stake in 2018.
Opens Spoon, Food & Wine in Paris.
1999
Ducasse establishes Ducasse Education.
Alain Ducasse Conseil & Formations is established in Argenteuil.
Launch of Ducasse Édition, his own publishing house.
Publishes Rencontres savoureuses. Petit traité de l’excellence française.
Three restaurant openings:
  • Spoon des Îles in Mauritius.
  • L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de La Celle.
  • Bar & Bœufs, a casual restaurant specializing in sea bass and beef at the Sporting Club in Monte Carlo.
The Great Business Expansion
2000
Ducasse Entreprise is established, with Laurent Plantier as a partner until 2015.
Bar & Bœufs earns its first Michelin star.
Ducasse relocates his Parisian restaurant to the Hotel Plaza Athénée.
Two major restaurant launches:
  • Spoon+ at the Sanderson in London.
  • Alain Ducasse at the Essex House in New York.
2001
Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée earns three Michelin stars.
Meanwhile, Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo loses its third Michelin star.
His restaurant at the Essex House receives the highest distinction—four stars—from The New York Times.
Publication of Grand Livre de Cuisine d’Alain Ducasse.
2002
La Bastide de Moustiers is awarded one Michelin star.
Ducasse opens L’Esprit Bistrot, his first bistrot in Paris. Though it eventually closes, the name inspires a book in 2015.
Acquires the historic Parisian bistro Aux Lyonnais.
Teams up with baker Éric Kayser to launch La Boulangerie Épicerie in Paris, though it shuts down in 2015.
Expands to Saint-Tropez with Spoon Byblos.
2003
Le Louis XV reclaims its third Michelin star.
Three more openings:
  • miX New York.
  • Spoon Food and Wine in Hong Kong.
  • Spoon des Neiges in Gstaad, Switzerland.
  • Auberge Iparla and Ostapé in Bidarray.
2004
Alain Ducasse is awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur of France.
He publishes Grand Livre de Cuisine d’Alain Ducasse: Méditerranée.
Launches a variety of new projects:
  • Le Tamaris in Beirut, which would close in 2006.
  • Spoon Carthage in Tunisia. It also closes two years later.
  • La Andana, a hotel in Tuscany under the Châteaux & Hôtels Collection, featuring a restaurant under his direction.
  • miX in Las Vegas.
  • Beige, a restaurant in a Chanel store in Tokyo.
2005
Essex House in New York is awarded three Michelin stars, making Ducasse one of the few chefs in the world to hold three sets of three Michelin stars—in Monaco, Paris, and New York.
However, The New York Times downgrades Essex House to three stars (out of four).
Ducasse acquires Benoît, the only Michelin-starred bistro in Paris.
He co-develops a hotel similar to la Bastide, Domaine des Andéols in Luberon.
Expands to Japan with the opening of Benoît Tokyo.
miX New York closes.
2006L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de La Celle earns its first Michelin star.
2007
miX in Las Vegas, Trattoria Toscana in La Andana, and Beige in Tokyo each earn one Michelin star.
He opens Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London.
Ducasse acquires Rech, a historic seafood restaurant in Paris, later overseen by Jacques Maximin from 2009.
He takes over Le Jules Verne on the Eiffel Tower.
Ducasse invests in education, taking a 51% stake in l’École Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie (ENSP) in Yssingeaux, alongside Yves Thuriès (49%), ensuring the school’s survival.
Alain Ducasse at the Essex House closes.
Spoon des Neiges and Spoon+ in London shut their doors.
2008
Ducasse becomes a Monegasque citizen, renouncing his French nationality.
He continues expanding with three new restaurant openings:
  • Adour Alain Ducasse at The St. Regis Hotel in New York.
  • Adour at The St. Regis in Washington, D.C.
  • The Benoît brand reaches New York, with the launch of Benoît New York.
2009
Le Jules Verne, perched atop the Eiffel Tower, is awarded one Michelin star.
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London earns two Michelin stars.
Closes Auberge Iparla and Ostapé in Bidarray.
2010
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester reaches the pinnacle, securing its third Michelin star.
Three major openings:
  • La Trattoria Sporting Monte-Carlo in Monaco, replacing Bar & Bœuf.
  • miX on the Beach in Puerto Rico.
  • The first international campus of École Ducasse opens in Manila.
Ducasse steps out of Domaine des Andéols.
2011
Launch of the Collège Culinaire de France with Joël Robuchon.
The miX brand expands with a new location in St. Petersburg. Short-lived, it closes in 2014.
Spoon Paris closes.
2012
The IDAM Alain Ducasse restaurant opens on the top floor of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.
Meanwhile, two closures:
  • Adour New York shuts its doors.
  • Spoon des Îles in Mauritius closes.
2013
Ducasse is honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Ducasse Encyclopédie is published.
He launches several new ventures:
  • The Manufacture de Chocolats Alain Ducasse is inaugurated in Paris, marking his foray into artisanal chocolate.
  • Rivea Byblos takes over from Spoon Byblos in Saint-Tropez.
  • Pinch American Grill in New York, though it proves short-lived.
  • Le Meurice – Alain Ducasse.
He also acquires Allard, another classic Parisian bistro.
A couple of closures:
  • Adour Washington D.C. closes.
  • miX on the Beach shuts down.
La Naturalité
2014
Le Meurice – Alain Ducasse earns three Michelin stars.
Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée reopens with a new philosophy—“La Naturalité”, a focus on vegetables, fish, and cereals—led by chef Romain Meder until 2021.
Opening of Rivea London in the Bulgari Hotel.
2015
Ducasse is awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF) honoris causa, a rare distinction granted without undergoing the famously rigorous competition.
Publication of Naturalité.
Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris undergoes a major modernisation.
In Las Vegas, miX at the Delano transforms into Rivea Las Vegas.
2016
Le Meurice – Alain Ducasse loses one Michelin star, retaining two stars.
Beige Tokyo receives two Michelin stars. Benoît Tokyo receives one.
Alain Ducasse opens Ore in renovated premises of the Pavillon Dufour at the Palace of Versailles.
Opening of a brasserie, Champeaux, in Paris.
2017
The film La Quête d’Alain Ducasse is released.
Rech at the InterContinental Hong Kong opens, replacing Spoon, and earns one Michelin star in the same year. It would close in 2020 with the pandemic.
Ducasse brings back the Spoon concept, launching a new Spoon in Paris.
Closure of La Trattoria Sporting Monte Carlo in Monaco.
2018
Le Louis XV undergoes another renovation.
Meanwhile, Ducasse makes a strategic shift by selling most of Les Collectionneurs, his boutique hotel chain.
A plethora of openings:
  • Bistrot Benoît under the pyramid of the Louvre.
  • Two restaurants in Macau: Alain Ducasse at Morpheus (obtaining two stars in the same year) and Voyages by Alain Ducasse.
  • Bar & Billiard Room by Alain Ducasse in Singapore.
  • Cucina Mutualité in Paris.
  • His first floating restaurant, Ducasse-sur-Seine, sets sail in front of the Eiffel Tower—while concurrently, Alain Ducasse ceases to direct the kitchens of the Jules Verne restaurant.
  • Bib & Guss in Paris.
  • miX Dubai by Alain Ducasse.
  • Manufacture de Chocolats Alain Ducasse in Japan.
Rivea London closes.
2019
Several openings:
  • The first Manufacture de Café by Alain Ducasse opens in Paris.
  • ÔMER, in the gardens of the Hôtel de Paris Monte Carlo.
  • Adjugé, a bistro in Paris.
  • Esterre in Tokyo.
  • Jiwan in Doha.
  • Blue by Alain Ducasse in Bangkok.
Relaunch of Rech with a new direction, still supervised by Jacques Maximin.
In Saint-Tropez, Rivea Byblos is replaced by Cucina Byblos.
Sommet Education acquires 51% of Ducasse Education.
2020
Esterre and Blue each receive a Michelin star.
Publication of Le Grand Livre de la Naturalité.
Renaud Dutreil’s investment fund, Mirabaud Patrimoine Vivant, becomes a preferred shareholder in Ducasse Paris, aiming to expand the Manufactures.
École Ducasse for professionals inaugurates its new campus in Meudon, on the outskirts of Paris. Jacques Maximin becomes culinary adviser and resident chef.
New openings:
  • Muni Alain Ducasse and Muni La Terrasse launch in Kyoto.
  • Benoît Kyoto.
  • A new Adour on the Meudon campus.
2021
Muni and Muni La Terrasse each receive a Michelin star.
Several openings and launches:
  • A new branch of the Manufactures, the Manufacture des Glaces.
  • Château de Versailles – Le Grand Contrôle, a gastronomic experience separate from Ore.
  • Sapid in Paris.
  • ADMO, a pop-up restaurant at Les Ombres in the Musée du Quai Branly, run by Alain Ducasse, Albert Adrià, and Romain Meder.
The contract between Ducasse Paris and The Dorchester for the Plaza Athénée ends.
The pandemic forces the closure of Adjugé and miX Dubai, the last of the miX brand.
2022
Le Grand Contrôle in Versailles earns a Michelin star.
Publication of Une vie de goûts et de passions, a sort of autobiography.
More openings and launches:
  • Manufacture du Biscuit is launched.
  • A Manufacture de Chocolat in London.
  • Rivea in Nice.
  • A branch of École Ducasse in Bangkok.
  • A branch of École Ducasse in Delhi.
Rech closes. The restaurant, now called Vive, is taken over by Stéphanie Le Quellec.
ÔMER in Monte Carlo and Bib & Guss in Paris also close.
2023
Ducasse steps away from Osteria BBR in Singapore, a revival of Bar & Billiard Room launched in 2021.
Muni La Terrasse loses its Michelin star.
New openings:
  • Manufacture de Chocolat in Munich.
  • Another branch of École Ducasse in Abu Dhabi.
2024
Alain Ducasse is promoted from Chevalier to Officier de la Légion d’Honneur.
Idam earns a Michelin star.
Beige in Tokyo loses one of its two Michelin stars.
L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de La Celle loses its Michelin star.
Publication of ADN.
Openings:
  • Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse at ROMEO Napoli.
  • Alain Ducasse Baccarat and Midi Minuit in Paris.
The last remaining Spoon restaurant (in Paris) closes.
Champeaux closes.

List of Alain Ducasse’s restaurants through time

(Excluding restaurants that are bundled with hotels, such as Le Grill, Le Relais du Parc, La Terrasse du Parc, Le Relais Plaza, La Cour Jardin, and Le Dalí, as well as those linked to museums like Les Ombres or MUSIAM)

La Terrasse, Juan-les-Pins (1981-1987) – ⭐⭐ (1984-1987)

Le Louis XV, Monte Carlo (1987-Present) – ⭐⭐⭐ (two stars in 1996 and 2001-2002)

La Bastide de Moustiers (1995-Present) – ⭐ (since 2002)

Restaurant Alain Ducasse at 59 Raymond Poincaré, Paris (1996-2000) – ⭐⭐⭐

Il Cortile, Paris (1997-2005) – ⭐ (1998-2005)

Restaurant Alain Ducasse at Plaza Athénée, Paris (2000-2013, 2016-2021) – ⭐⭐⭐

Spoon, Food & Wine, Paris (1998-2011)

Spoon des Îles, Mauritius (1999-2012)

L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de La Celle (1999-Present) – ⭐ (2006-2023)

59 Poincaré, Paris (2000-2008) then named Le Relais du Parc (2008-2020)

Bar & Bœuf, Monte Carlo (1999-2010) – ⭐ (2000-2010). Then transformed into La Trattoria (2010-2017)

Bar & Bœuf, Monte Carlo (1999-2010) – ⭐ (2000-2010)

Spoon+ London (2000-2007)

Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, New York (2000-2007) – ⭐⭐⭐ (2005-2007)

L’Esprit Bistrot, Paris (2002-?)

Aux Lyonnais, Paris (2002-Present)

Spoon Byblos, Saint-Tropez (2002-2013) then Rivea Byblos (2013-2019). Finally Cucina Byblos, Saint-Tropez (2019-2024)

Auberge Iparla, Bidarray (2003-2009)

Ostapé, Bidarray (2003-2009)

miX New York (2003-2005)

Spoon, Hong Kong (2003-2017). Then transformed into Rech (2017-2020) – ⭐ (2017-2020)

Spoon des Neiges, Gstaad (2003-2007)

Le Tamaris, Beirut (2004-2006)

Spoon Carthage, Tunisia (2004-2006)

La Andana, Tuscany (2004-2016) – ⭐ (2007-2016, as Trattoria Toscana)

miX Las Vegas (2004-2015) – ⭐ (2007-2009). Transformed into Rivea Las Vegas (2015-Present)

Beige, Tokyo (2004-Present) – ⭐⭐ (2016-2024). ⭐ (2025).

Benoît, Paris (2005-Present) – ⭐ (since 2005)

Benoît, Tokyo (2005-Present) – ⭐ (2016-2020)

Domaine des Andéols, Luberon (2005-2010)

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London (2007-Present) – ⭐⭐⭐ (since 2010)

Adour, New York (2008-2012) – ⭐⭐ (2009), ⭐ (2010-2012)

Adour, Washington D.C. (2008-2013)

Benoît, New York (2008-Present)

Le Jules Verne, Eiffel Tower, Paris (2007-2018) – ⭐ (2009-2018)

La Trattoria Sporting Monte-Carlo (2010-2017)

miX on the Beach, Puerto Rico (2010-2013)

IDAM, Doha (2012-Present) – ⭐ (since 2025)

Le Meurice – Alain Ducasse, Paris (2013-Present) – ⭐⭐⭐ (2014-2016), ⭐⭐ (2016-Present)

Rivea Byblos, Saint-Tropez (2013-2019)

Allard, Paris (2013-Present)

Rivea London (2014-2018)

Rivea Las Vegas (2015-Present)

Ore, Versailles (2016-Present)

Champeaux, Paris (2016-2024)

Rech, Hong Kong (2017-2020) – ⭐ (2017-2020)

Spoon, Paris (2017-2024)

Bistrot Benoît, Louvre, Paris (2018-Present)

Alain Ducasse at Morpheus, Macau (2018-Present) – ⭐⭐ (since 2018)

Voyages by Alain Ducasse, Macau (2018-Present)

Bar & Billiard Room, Singapore (2018-2023)

Cucina Mutualité, Paris (2018-Present)

Ducasse-sur-Seine, Paris (2018-Present)

Bib & Guss, Paris (2018-2022)

miX Dubai (2018-2021)

ÔMER, Monte Carlo (2019-2022)

Adjugé, Paris (2019-2021)

Esterre, Tokyo (2019-Present) – ⭐ (since 2020)

Jiwan, Doha (2019-Present)

Blue by Alain Ducasse, Bangkok (2019-Present) – ⭐ (since 2020)

Muni Alain Ducasse, Kyoto (2020-Present) – ⭐ (since 2021)

Muni La Terrasse, Kyoto (2020-Present) – ⭐ (2021-2023)

Adour, Meudon (2020-Present)

Le Grand Contrôle, Versailles (2021-Present) – ⭐ (since 2022)

Sapid, Paris (2021-Present)

ADMO, Paris (Nov 2021 – March 2022)

Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse at ROMEO Napoli (2024-Present)

Alain Ducasse Baccarat, Paris (2024-Present)

Midi Minuit, Paris (2024-Present)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *