Le Cirque

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 at 58 East 65th Street in March 1974. From 1986 to 1992, Daniel Boulud was executive chef and in 1995, it was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant. Boulud was succeeded in 1992 by Sylvain Portay, and later Sottha Kuhn, Pierre Schaedelin, Christophe Bellanca (2007–2008) Craig Hopson (beginning in 2008), and Olivier Reginensi. In 1993, the tasting menu cost $90. The restaurant at the Mayfair closed in 1996 and reopened as Le Cirque 2000 at the Palace Hotel in 1997 where it remained a hotspot through 2002.

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. It comprised 16000 sqft and was designed by interior designer Adam Tihany 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.

Le Cirque filed for bankruptcy in March 2017, but promised to stay open. However, Le Cirque New York closed on January 1, 2018, due to rising rent costs and other operational challenges, 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 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. Their lower-end sister brand Circo has a location in Abu Dhabi and at the Ritz Carlton in Dubai, but the Dallas location closed.

References

References

1. (October 17, 2017). "A final goodbye to the legendary celeb haven Le Cirque". New York Post.
2. Fabricant, Florence. (2004-06-13). "Le Cirque Is Expected To Move On At Year's End". The New York Times.
3. [http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/01/sirio-maccioni-le-cirque.html Sirio Maccioni Named Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree for 2014]
4. [http://danielnyc.com/chef/bio.html Chef Daniel Boulud: Biography] DanielNYC.com
5. Reichl, Ruth. (1993-10-29). "Restaurants". The New York Times.
6. Chung, Jen. (2004-06-14). "Cirque du Sirio".
7. (February 27, 2008). "Jason Kallert Carries the Le Cirque Torch".
8. (October 5, 2007). "A 'Clean, Elegant' Lamb Trio at Le Cirque".
9. Fabricant, Florence. (November 17, 2008). "Craig Hopson Takes Over at Le Cirque". The New York Times.
10. (31 March 2017). "What Caused the Downfall of New York City's Glitziest Restaurant?". Bloomberg.com.
11. "Le Cirque | Manhattan | Restaurant Menus and Reviews". Zagat.
12. Bruni, Frank. (February 6, 2008). "In Defense of Decadence". [[The New York Times]].
13. DeLucia, Matt. (June 2006). "The return of Sirio and Le Cirque to New York". New York Restaurant Insider.
14. [http://www.tihanydesign.com/project_lecirque.html Project Le Cirque] {{webarchive. link. (February 7, 2009 Tihany Design)
15. [http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/lecirque/synopsis.html Le Cirque: A Table In Heaven] HBO
16. Dai, Serena. (March 27, 2017). "Le Cirque Files for Bankruptcy, But Plans to Stay Open".
17. (11 October 2017). "What Le Cirque Will Be Remembered For".
18. (19 March 2020). "Coronavirus brings down a New York restaurant empire". Financial Times.
19. "Bellagio, Le Cirque". Bellagio.com.
20. (19 August 2019). "Legendary Le Cirque Is Back, But Only for Pricey Events on a Yacht". Eater NY.