For more than three decades, Davé, a small Chinese restaurant in Paris, attracted an astonishing list of celebrity guests. While many cafés hang a few photos of famous customers, Davé became known for something far more distinctive. Its walls were filled with Polaroid portraits of actors, models, designers, musicians, and filmmakers who visited the intimate spot on Rue Saint-Roch.

Owner Tai “Davé” Cheung began taking Polaroids soon after he opened the restaurant in 1982. Andy Warhol inspired his interest in instant photography, and the camera quickly became part of the restaurant’s identity. Early supporters included photographer Helmut Newton and his wife June, who even spent a Christmas at the restaurant. Soon, figures like Serge Gainsbourg, David Lynch, Kate Moss, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kim Kardashian also became regular visitors.

A new book titled “A Night at Davé,” created with writers Charles Morin and Boris Bergmann and published by IDEA, celebrates the restaurant’s rich history. The book includes more than 100 pages of portraits, notes, postcards, and photographs. Sofia Coppola, whose father Francis Ford Coppola once booked the entire restaurant for New Year’s Eve, wrote the foreword. She recalled a lively scene filled with fashion and film insiders, plates of home-style Chinese dishes, and Davé moving from table to table with his Polaroid camera.

A Space Built on Privacy and Trust

Davé says the atmosphere always felt like a family gathering. The restaurant was dimly lit, with a tropical fish tank adding a soft glow. Cheung carefully arranged seating so guests felt comfortable and protected from unwanted attention. This privacy made the restaurant a haven for high-profile visitors, many of whom returned often.

Writers also took note of the unique environment. In 1998, The New York Times described the restaurant as a place where one could “gauge who’s in and who’s out” based on Davé’s reception. Its location near the Jardin des Tuileries brought in fashion editors, stylists, and models during Paris Fashion Week. By 2005, The Guardian dubbed it “the fashion canteen.”

Davé’s distinctive swirling logo and a constant “complet” (full) sign in the window became signature features. Keeping the restaurant technically “full” ensured space for his regular celebrity clients. The Polaroids added to the charm, and guests loved seeing the instant results. Davé estimates he took several thousand photos over the years, many of which he kept stored safely. Copies hung on the walls to avoid losing the originals.

A Lasting Legacy Preserved

Although the restaurant closed seven years ago, working on the book allowed Davé to revisit decades of memories. He says the process felt joyful rather than nostalgic. While smartphones replaced Polaroid cameras for most people, the instant photos remain a powerful reminder of the era. He especially treasures images of guests on the restaurant’s landline phone—pictures of Keith Haring, Mick Jagger, and Aurore Clément stand out.

Today, Davé’s story lives on through the book and the timeless images he captured. The restaurant may be gone, but its influence—and its legendary guest list—remain firmly part of Paris’s cultural history.