Paris Opens First Nudist Restaurant

Paris is known the world over for being the capital of style and the heart of the fashion industry. Just walking down the street in the City of Lights is a visual feast for the fashion novice.

Now the city is leading another trend that requires leaving your stylish garb at the door.

Paris’ first nudist restaurant opened this week in the city’s 12th arrondissement.

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Named O’Naturel (of course), the restaurant requires clients to disrobe in the lobby coat check room before being taken to a table, Forbes reported. The restaurant held a “soft opening” November 2 for members of the Paris Nudist Association and opened its doors to the public the following day.

The press thus far has been widely positive.

“Known for their casual attitude towards nakedness, the French now have their first eatery to dine in the raw,” wrote RT News.

“There are restaurants so expensive that you can ‘lose your shirt’ on your way out. At O’Naturel, it is at the entrance that customers are asked to leave their shirt (and all their other clothes),” joked Le Parisien.

The French have never been shy about nudity. There are as many as 260 million French who regularly practice nudism, and the country has about 460 areas reserved for nude tourism, according to Forbes.

Those hoping to take a peek from the street at customers dining in the buff are out of luck: The restaurant’s windows are covered with curtains. There’s also a blackout curtain over the door to prevent such gawking.

And just in case you were wondering, the cooks, waiters, and waitresses in the restaurant are all required to wear clothing for sanitary reasons.

The new restaurant is being managed by 42-year-old twin brothers Mike and Stephane Saada, who told Forbes they’ve already taken many online reservations, which is the only way to gain entry to this unique Paris experience.

“We offer a friendly atmosphere where families, as well as couples, will feel comfortable,” the Saada brothers told Nudist Magazine.

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O’Naturel will be open Tuesday through Saturday, and meals start at around $40. As for the menu, offerings range from vegan fare to duck fois gras and lobster salad. There’s also an extensive wine menu.

France is not the first location of a nudist restaurant in Europe. Last year, the Bunyadi nudist restaurant opened in London amid quite a bit of publicity.

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