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Le Cirque

Le Cirque is a French restaurant that has had several locations throughout the New York City borough of Manhattan from 1974 to 2018. The New York location is closed, with its future status unknown. Other locations in Dubai, India and Las Vegas remain operational.

New York City history

Le Cirque was established in 1974 by Italian Sirio Maccioni and continued to be run by the family through its closure in 2018. It opened at the Mayfair Regent Hotel[1] at 58 East 65th Street in March 1974.[2] From 1986 to 1992, Daniel Boulud was executive chef and in 1995, it was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant.[3][4] Boulud was succeeded in 1992 by Sylvain Portay,[5] and later Sottha Kuhn,[6] Pierre Schaedelin,[7] Christophe Bellanca (2007–2008)[8][9] Craig Hopson (beginning in 2008),[9] and Olivier Reginensi. In 1993, the tasting menu cost $90.[5] The restaurant at the Mayfair closed in 1996[2] and reopened as Le Cirque 2000 at the Palace Hotel in 1997 where it remained a hotspot through 2002.[10]

In 2006, the restaurant moved to a location in the Bloomberg Tower building at One Beacon Court (151 East 58th Street) and operated as Le Cirque New York at One Beacon Court.[11][12][13] It comprised 16000 sqft and was designed by interior designer Adam Tihany[14] and architect Costas Kondylis. The family's efforts to transition the restaurant were featured in the documentary film Le Cirque: A Table In Heaven directed by Andrew Rossi.[15]

Le Cirque filed for bankruptcy in March 2017, but promised to stay open.[16] However, Le Cirque New York closed on January 1, 2018, due to rising rent costs and other operational challenges,[10][17] but operated private events on a boat in 2019. Its future plans are unknown as of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the restaurant industry[18] and the 2020 death of founder Sirio Maccioni.

Other locations

As of 2025, there are Le Cirque locations in Las Vegas at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Dubai and three Indian locations: New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The Las Vegas location at the Bellagio Hotel served as a second flagship location and previously had one Michelin Star and an AAA Five-Diamond rating.[19] Their lower-end sister brand Circo has a location in Abu Dhabi and at the Ritz Carlton in Dubai, but the Dallas location closed.[20] The Las Vegas location is closing in August 2026.[21]

See also

External links

References

  1. Steve Cuozzo. A final goodbye to the legendary celeb haven Le Cirque New York Post, October 17, 2017, retrieved 8 September 2022^
  2. Florence Fabricant. Le Cirque Is Expected To Move On At Year's End The New York Times, 2004-06-13, retrieved 2022-08-29^
  3. Sirio Maccioni Named Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree for 2014^
  4. Chef Daniel Boulud: Biography DanielNYC.com^
  5. Ruth Reichl. Restaurants The New York Times, 1993-10-29, retrieved 2022-08-29^
  6. Jen Chung. Cirque du Sirio Gothamist, 2004-06-14, retrieved 2022-08-29^
  7. Jason Kallert Carries the Le Cirque Torch Grub Street, February 27, 2008, retrieved 2022-08-29^
  8. A 'Clean, Elegant' Lamb Trio at Le Cirque Grub Street, October 5, 2007, retrieved 2022-08-29^
  9. Florence Fabricant. Craig Hopson Takes Over at Le Cirque The New York Times, November 17, 2008^
  10. James Tarmy, Kate Krader. What Caused the Downfall of New York City's Glitziest Restaurant? Bloomberg.com, 31 March 2017, retrieved 23 April 2021^
  11. Le Cirque | Manhattan | Restaurant Menus and Reviews Zagat, retrieved January 28, 2013^
  12. Frank Bruni. In Defense of Decadence The New York Times, February 6, 2008, retrieved February 24, 2008^
  13. Matt DeLucia. The return of Sirio and Le Cirque to New York New York Restaurant Insider, June 2006^
  14. Project Le Cirque Tihany Design^
  15. Le Cirque: A Table In Heaven HBO^
  16. Serena Dai. Le Cirque Files for Bankruptcy, But Plans to Stay Open NY Eater, March 27, 2017, retrieved October 11, 2025^
  17. Helen Rosner. What Le Cirque Will Be Remembered For The New Yorker, 11 October 2017, retrieved 23 April 2021^
  18. Joshua Chaffin. Coronavirus brings down a New York restaurant empire Financial Times, 19 March 2020, retrieved 23 April 2021^
  19. Bellagio, Le Cirque Bellagio.com, retrieved January 28, 2013^
  20. Stefanie Tuder. Legendary Le Cirque Is Back, But Only for Pricey Events on a Yacht Eater NY, 19 August 2019, retrieved 23 April 2021^
  21. https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/le-cirque-at-bellagio-to-close-after-nearly-30-years/^