Like its big sister, Restaurant Copenhagen, Flora Danica has gone through a bit of a refurb. Gone is the sombre decoration and same-same menu, and instead we're treated to a vibrant and stylish ambiance - on and off the plate.
Located on the prestigious Champs-Elysées within the Maison du Danemark, Flora Danica’s Danish brasserie is more than spacious. Two dining rooms, a bar area, and a Champs-side terrace. But the two-tier outdoor terrace is the star - a leafy oasis that is pure romance on a summer’s day. With all this space, groups are easily accommodated.
The menu has been devised by Andreas Møller of the upstairs gourmet restaurant, in collaboration with Parisian chef Guillaume Leray. It's kept mostly Danish with Smørrebrød tartines topped with mackerel and herring, tasting dishes of varieties of smoked salmon and roasted cod. There are some French dishes to be found (steak tartare, vol-au-vent etc) but what sings here is the fresh fish dishes and a very strong wine list to complement it.
Interior deco - as elegant and modern as the food - has been designed by Danish agency GamFratesi. Service is laidback to match the setting, we wouldn't recommend going here for something super fast - but trust us, you won't want to.
For an area rife with tourist traps, picking Flora Danica avoids a disappointing and uninspiring option that Champs-Elysées's visitors often fall pray to.