he spent one month each year here, and now salvador dali leaves a permanent mark at resto le dali, designed by philippe starck.

busy boy starck enlisted the help of daughter ava to transform this spot from a formal madame into a more casual mademoiselle. and the surrealist painter would have been proud. a "pinocchio" piano is an amusing addition to the stately room. where else can you sip cocktails sitting on furniture that has better footwear than you? chairs get a fashion fix with high heels on the legs. good thing the food remains in reality, thanks to chef yannick alléno. his take on gallic-inspired cuisine includes langoustine ravioli, consumée of beef and miso, and golden osetra caviar.

our advice? get here before it becomes a persistence of memory.