Nobu Matsuhisa opens first Paris restaurant at Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris

There may be fewer foreign faces to be found in the lobbies of Parisian hotels these days, sadly due to effects of the heinous events that have plagued the French capital in the past year or so.

But at Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris, one of the city's swankiest five-star plus hotels located on Avenue Hoche, a short stroll from the Arc de Triomphe, there's at least one familiar visage from abroad.

Nobu Matsuhisa, the world's most famous, and possibly most criticised, Japanese chef, has opened his first restaurant in Paris inside this exclusive 149-room boutique establishment.

The new Gallic branch of the Nobu empire is called Matsuhisa Paris, the chef's more expensive, exclusive and more refined brand. Unlike the burgeoning Nobu chain, co-owned with actor Robert de Niro and with a branch in Melbourne, Matushisa is controlled by the chef's family.

The world's seventh Matushisa is located just off the lobby of the cultured Le Royal Monceau, which features interiors designed by Philippe Starck.

If Nobu, what with all those Latin-American infused Japanese, and now, courtesy of Matushisa Paris, Gallic, flavours (read: algae tacos with black truffle and crispy oysters with caviar and wagyu beef with foie gras ravioli), is a no-no for some, then there's always Il Carpaccio.

It's Le Royal Monceau's delightful in-house Michelin-starred Italian diner set in a conservatory-style space located elsewhere in the hotel.

See leroyalmonceau.com.