Le Saint Jean is the story of a Parisian brasserie… but also that of a family.
It all began in the 1950s when Robert, Franck de Bona’s father – the current owner – arrived from Aveyron at the age of 13 and took his first steps as a commis in a brasserie on Place Blanche: Le Cyrano. Through hard work, he climbed the ranks and eventually took over an establishment that would become legendary: Le Saint Jean, on Rue des Abbesses. In the 1980s, the venue enjoyed growing success: packed from morning till night, seven days a week, it became Montmartre’s go-to spot. A lively atmosphere, clinking glasses, and echoing laughter filled the air.
It all began in the 1950s when Robert, Franck de Bona’s father – the current owner – arrived from Aveyron at the age of 13 and took his first steps as a commis in a brasserie on Place Blanche: Le Cyrano. Through hard work, he climbed the ranks and eventually took over an establishment that would become legendary: Le Saint Jean, on Rue des Abbesses.
In the 1980s, the venue enjoyed growing success: packed from morning till night, seven days a week, it became Montmartre’s go-to spot. A lively atmosphere, clinking glasses, and echoing laughter filled the air.
In 1997, Franck took over the business and added his personal touch. A professional chef and wine enthusiast, he modernized without betraying its essence: wooden floors, wood, leather, and always the same generous, simple, and sincere cuisine. He also added his personal touch: music.
For over twenty years, the greatest jazz musicians in Paris came to perform at Le Saint Jean, making the venue a vibrant stage where locals, music lovers, and passing visitors could meet.
Today, Franck wants to write a new chapter. After a 4-month closure during the winter of 2025, the new Saint Jean was born with a stronger identity that highlights the essential: this unique link between Montmartre and Aveyron, between a neighborhood brasserie and a regional establishment.
One enters Le Saint Jean as if visiting a dear friend: the welcome is warm and inviting. The wooden tables are set, ready to host generous plates, where one shares a creamy aligot, endlessly stretchable, a good beef bourguignon, or an Aubrac tartare.
Cutlery clinks cheerfully, and, from time to time, music rises: a jazz band sets the mood, making those who know how to enjoy a leisurely evening tap their feet. One orders a golden, perfectly gratinéed onion soup before dipping a spoon into a tender veal blanquette, served with fluffy rice.
One enters Le Saint Jean as if visiting a dear friend: the welcome is warm and inviting. The wooden tables are set, ready to host generous plates, where one shares a creamy aligot, endlessly stretchable, a good beef bourguignon, or an Aubrac tartare.
Cutlery clinks cheerfully, and, from time to time, music rises: a jazz band sets the mood, making those who know how to enjoy a leisurely evening tap their feet. One orders a golden, perfectly gratinéed onion soup before dipping a spoon into a tender veal blanquette, served with fluffy rice.
One enters Le Saint Jean as if visiting a dear friend: the welcome is warm and inviting. The wooden tables are set, ready to host generous plates, where one shares a creamy aligot, endlessly stretchable, a good beef bourguignon, or an Aubrac tartare.
Cutlery clinks cheerfully, and, from time to time, music rises: a jazz band sets the mood, making those who know how to enjoy a leisurely evening tap their feet. One orders a golden, perfectly gratinéed onion soup before dipping a spoon into a tender veal blanquette, served with fluffy rice.