Bagatelle, the French restaurant-lounge that helped turn Sunday brunch into a Champagne-fueled dance party, is heading back to the Meatpacking District. The group plans to reopen at 413-419 W. 14th St. in winter 2026, and its own tagline sums up the mood: “The homecoming. A new chapter. Opening winter 2026.”
The comeback was reported Tuesday by WhatNow, which describes Bagatelle as a New York-born restaurant inspired by the South of France. The outlet also points to the spot's long-running reputation for lively, Champagne-heavy brunches. Bagatelle's own New York venue page lists the address as 413-419 W 14th St.
No exact opening date has been announced, so “winter 2026” is as specific as it gets for now.
From Two Friends to a 15-Venue Group
According to the restaurant's About Us page, Bagatelle began with two French entrepreneurs, Rémi Laba and Aymeric Clemente, who met in New York in the early 2000s. The pair imagined a place celebrating the South of France's “festive spirit, generous cuisine and friendly atmosphere.”
The company says that after the first restaurant took off, it “quickly started exporting its concept worldwide.” Bagatelle Group now counts 15 venues around the world, with Corporate Chef Rocco Seminara leading the kitchen side. The group also says it plans to open multiple new concepts and destinations per year over the next five years.
The Brunch That Changed the Party
Bagatelle's New York legacy is tied closely to brunch. Village Preservation credits the restaurant with helping change the face of NYC brunch in 2008, shifting it from a laid-back Sunday meal to a party featuring live DJs and $15,000 bottles of Champagne.
The same organization notes that Bagatelle was long known at 1 Little West 12th Street, where it moved into the ground-floor space in 2012 from a different Meatpacking District location. Back then, Haute Living wrote that the restaurant had gained notoriety for raucous weekend brunch parties that purported to transport a St. Tropez vibe.
What We Don't Know Yet
Plenty about the new W. 14th Street venue remains unannounced, including its size, menu and hours. Nothing in the available reporting speaks to the status of construction or permits. For anyone who wants to track the building's paperwork, the city's Department of Buildings runs a DOB NOW Public Portal with information on applications, certificates of occupancy and violations.
For now, the Meatpacking District can look forward to the return of a name that once defined its nightlife. The corks, it seems, are about to pop again.
