Clothing Is Not an Option at This Nude Restaurant in Paris

Paris hasn’t been shy about allowing residents to enjoy certain spaces in the nude: The French capital just concluded an experimental run of a nudist zone in its largest public park. But one area that’s been off-limits is restaurants. That changed with the opening of O’Naturel in the city’s 12th arrondissement on November 4. As Condé Nast Traveler reports, the establishment requires guests to bear it all, making it the first nude restaurant in Paris.

Upon arrival, diners are asked to strip down and leave their garments in one of the wardrobes outside the dining room. Once they’ve been seated, they can enjoy a three-course meal without having to worry about restrictive clothes muddling their sensory experience.

O’Naturel celebrated its grand opening by hosting a special dinner for the Paris Naturist Association. The group cites the description of naturism from the International Naturist Federation’s Congress of 1974 on its website. It reads: “Naturism is a way of living in harmony with nature, characterized by the practice of social nudity which, in turn, encourages self-respect, respect of others plus that of the environment.” The club's members who were present reportedly approved of the situation.

To customers used to fine restaurants where jackets are required, a clothing-free eatery may sound like a place where anything goes. But nudists have their own code of conduct. Brush up on the rules of etiquette from a real nudist resort before experimenting with naturism, whether in Paris or elsewhere.