RH Paris Opens An Immersive Gallery With Art, Furniture, And Fine Dining On The Champs-Élysées

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Paris has always been close to my heart. My mother was raised there, and my family’s story has deep roots in the city. Over the years, my visits have often been tied to fashion events, but my most recent trip centered on a different type of design – interior design. It was my first Paris Design Week, and an opportunity not only to visit the many participating galleries, but also to explore the Maison&Objet show, when the city transforms itself into a celebration of creativity beyond the runway. The event that stood out most to me during this extraordinary week was the debut of the RH Paris, The Gallery on the Champs-Élysées.

A furniture gallery may not seem like a must-visit destination in a city like Paris, but the new RH Paris should be for fans of great design and architecture, as it is so much more than a furniture store. It truly is, as the company describes, a “Love letter to Paris,” a celebration of the history, city and people of this great city. The gallery, restaurants, and garden are so distinctive, beautiful, and grand that the RH complex – despite its American roots – rightfully belongs on the storied Champs-Élysées alongside French icons like Dior and Louis Vuitton.

Once known as Restoration Hardware, RH has grown far beyond its retail beginnings to become a global luxury brand. Just as Ralph Lauren created a signature vision of American fashion, RH is doing the same in design, setting trends in furniture and lifestyle, and giving interiors a cultural presence on the world stage. It has become the unofficial ambassador of American interior design abroad, recognized for its large-scale furnishings, quiet luxury, international reach, and unmistakable sophistication.

The gallery sits at one of the most coveted addresses on the Champs-Élysées, right on the corner of Avenue Montaigne. The building, at 23 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, was commissioned in 1983 by French aviation engineer Marcel Dassault. It once housed the Le Paris cinema and later Abercrombie & Fitch’s flagship. As the story is told, Dassault didn’t like being turned away at the cinema’s door, so he solved the problem in the most Parisian way possible: he bought the entire building. His company still owns it today. RH’s transformation, six years in the making, completely reinvented the property. The renovation was so complete that it erased every trace of the building’s former life, even the famously strong Abercrombie fragrance that reportedly lingered long after the store closed.

The RH opening was the hottest ticket in town, and truly felt like the unofficial kickoff party for Paris Design Week. More than five hundred guests filled the gallery, including Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who have collaborated with RH through de Rossi’s art and design work, French icon Catherine Deneuve, and Hollywood stars Zoë Saldaña and Theo James. The food and drinks matched the grandeur and star power of the setting, with sushi and pâtisseries by famed Parisian chef Cyril Lignac, caviar by Petrossian, and cocktails by Colin Field of The Ritz Paris together with Alessandro Palazzi.

The arrival experience at RH begins at the original gilded wrought iron gates that surround the property, opening onto a long limestone path lined with manicured hedges. This expansive garden setting is virtually unheard of in this most expensive and desirable retail section of Paris. You can’t help but feel as though you are walking through a private estate rather than stepping into a retail establishment on the Champs-Élysées. Monumental nineteen-foot bronze medallion doors, discovered by Dassault’s son during his travels, became the dramatic backdrop for photographs at the opening, as guests entered and were welcomed by RH’s brand ethos and a representation of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man – a signature dedication in all of RH’s galleries.

A rare 1521 edition of De Architectura and volumes by Da Vinci, Palladio, and Haussmann are on display near the entrance, grounding the project in architectural history. Seven levels of the gallery rise around a central staircase of frosted glass and ornate brass balustrades that seem to float upward, and a glass modern elevator that blends modern with classical chic. At the center stands a bronze Caryatid by Louis Félix Chabaud, a classical guardian presiding over a resolutely modern space and anchoring the atrium from below.

Contemporary works, including paintings by German artist Thomas Junghans, add to the dialogue between old and new. Each floor showcases bespoke art from different artists which adds another layer of design. Walking through, you forget that you are in a store at all, because the space feels more like a cross between a private membership club and a museum.

Much like Ralph Lauren immerses its customers through Ralph’s Coffee, Ralph’s Restaurant, and the Polo Bar, RH has been extending its brand into hospitality. And here in Paris, that experience is every bit as compelling as the gallery itself, making it well worth a visit even if you are not in the market for a sofa. With three very different hospitality venues to choose from, we chose to have dinner at Le Jardin RH. Designed by Foster + Partners, the restaurant is striking, clad entirely in rare white onyx across the floors, walls, and tables. Soaring glass panels and steelwork recall the architecture of the nearby Grand Palais, but with a modern touch.

The menu at Le Jardin is rooted in American classics with a Parisian touch. The Mulholland Salad, a refined homage to my favorite salad from the Beverly Hills Hotel, the McCarthy Salad, was a highlight – comfort food elevated for Paris. To my surprise, Gary Friedman, the CEO and visionary behind the brand, was in the restaurant, casually moving between tables and greeting guests before graciously stopping at ours. He was beaming with pride and appreciation for his team and the beautiful space they had helped to create.

“We are not just creating places to buy furniture, we are creating spaces that inspire, that elevate how people live. Paris gave us the opportunity to make that statement on the world’s most iconic stage.”

Le Petit RH sits one level up and truly earns the ‘jewel box’ description. The room glows with champagne lacquered walls and a ceiling of more than seven thousand handblown glass polyhedra. The menu leans into caviar specialties and generous seafood towers, a playful nod to Parisian indulgence.

The Le Petit RH Rooftop crowns the experience. A glass and brass elevator designed by Foster + Partners rises discreetly from a hidden shaft, and once you step out, the door closes behind you as if there were never an elevator at all – a design and engineering gem, and one of the most memorable features of the gallery. From the manicured terrace, which holds 43 guests, Paris unfolds in a cinematic panorama, with the Eiffel Tower standing proudly in the distance. Below, the Winged Victory gleams in the garden. It is one of the most remarkable views in the city, available with a decadent menu of caviar, champagne, and specialty cocktails.