The Best Caviar House in Paris Expands to Rome and London: Inside the World of Old School Luxury Indulgences

How many times have we indulged in the exquisite menu at Paris’ Caviar Kaspia? Dare we say on each and every trip to the City of Light. In fact, some years ago, actually in the previous century, I explored the various caviar houses of Paris for a self-assigned travel article that was so informative that it was posted in newspapers across the country.

We sampled oesetra, smoked salmon and foie gras until we needed a heart surgeon on call. Of the places we visited on this culinary quest, Caviar Kaspia lasts longest in our memory with its old world elegance and windows overlooking the bustling Place de la Madeleine.

It has, after all, long been the darling of the entire Parisian smart set, since it opened in 1927 on the Champs Elysee. How can we forget images of the iconic baked potato drenched in sturgeon roe, a favorite of the disparate likes of designer Valentino and Beyoncé.

Good news for travelers now comes wafting across the Atlantic: Caviar Kaspia opened a sibling in Rome on November 15 and is poised to open in London in the spring of 2019.

The Italian outpost is located on floors five and six of Palazzo Rhinoceros, a project of the  Alda Fendi Foundation, in the heart of Imperial Rome, where Paris-based starchitect Jean Nouvel has transformed the historic building into a mixed use development with exhibition spaces (through a cultural cooperation partnership with the Hermitage Museum) and culture-oriented boutiques at street level as well as small residences available to visiting artists and art lovers, labeled The Rooms of Rome.

While Caviar Kaspia Rome will, of course, offer the expected indulgences, with chef Giovanni Giammarino at the helm, the restaurant will add several new dishes with Italian influences. 

In a departure from the regal ambience of Caviar Kaspia in Paris, the Rome space is contemporary with turquoise linens a nod to the original’s decor. Large windows overlook the ancient Roman Forum adding to the allure. In addition to the culinary draw, the Rome edition boasts two terraces and the roof terrace which offers 360 degree views.

Women’s Wear Daily reported earlier this week that Caviar Kaspia would also return to London after an absence of several years. The London branch is taking over the site of the former Chess Club at 1a Chesterfield Street, a stone’s throw from Hyde Park.