On September 24th, Vienna will transform one of its most iconic landmarks into an open-air gourmet restaurant. Starting at 11:30 AM, 350 guests will gather around 35 tables set at the foot of the Temple of Augustus and Livia for a lunch that's as spectacular as it is delicious. For a few hours, this historic square will become one grand open-air dining table. Open kitchen, plated service, plate decoration right before your eyes, and renowned chefs at the helm: everything has been designed to deliver an experience worthy of France's finest restaurants.
Behind this lunch lies above all a story of culinary tradition that has profoundly shaped French gastronomy. More than 70 years ago, a young Paul Bocuse took his first steps in the kitchens of La Pyramide in Vienna, under chef Fernand Point. His teachings would help shape the man who would become one of the greatest figures in French cuisine. On the occasion of the centen
area of Paul Bocuse's birthplace in 2026, Vienna intends to celebrate this link between two generations of chefs and the gastronomic heritage of the territory.
A secret menu and the region's finest wines
The 350 guests will discover on the day an original menu whose contents will intentionally remain secret until the last moment. The dishes will showcase local products and know-how, in a true tribute to Viennese terroir and more broadly to regional gastronomy. The meal will be accompanied by wines from Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie and Vienne-Seyssuel. A way to introduce guests to some of the appellations that have made the region's wine reputation, while imagining a food and wine pairing specially designed for the occasion.
The Temple des Chefs won't just serve beautiful dishes: it will offer a true gastronomic spectacle. Tables will be arranged in a semi-circle around an open kitchen so guests can watch the chefs prepareer, prepare and finalize the dishes live. Around sixty students from three hotel schools in Isère will also participate in the service. In a perfectly orchestrated ballet, they will serve the plates at table as in a great gastronomic restaurant, while an ice sculptor will create a live artwork in tribute to Paul Bocuse.
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Jazz to complement the dishes
Even your ears will enjoy their own menu, with jazz musicians present during the welcome and the various highlights of lunch. An elegant soundtrack that will echo the world of gastronomy, between the piano of the kitchens and the brass of musical ensembles.
White tablecloths and carefully laid tables—every detail will reflect the standards of the finest establishments. Just what's needed to give this ancient square an utterly unexpected air and allow guests to experience, over the course of lunch, a true gastronomic journey right in the heart of Vienna.