La Maison Française

Unique among French diplomatic missions, The “Maison Française” at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C., offers an environment that encourages friendly relations between states, promotes outreach and cultural events, and serves as a center for professional and educational activities.

Since its creation in 1985, the “Maison Française” has gained a reputation for exquisite hospitality and diverse program offerings. The facility is designed to accommodate a wide variety of activities, from business conferences to films, art exhibitions, receptions, and dinners.

The premises of the “Maison Française” offer 11,250 square feet of space, which includes a sky-lighted lobby, a 285-seat auditorium, an exhibition gallery, a patio, a bar area, and a landscaped terrace. This area can accommodate receptions for up to 1,500 guests, and sit-down dinners for 450. It also offers meeting rooms, ideally suited to seminars and business conferences.

La Maison Française also offers In-house catering, LE CAFÉ DESCARTES, so that your guests may receive with fresh, quality ingredients and a superb level of culinary artistry.

In keeping with the Embassy of France’s "ambassade verte"—"Green Embassy"—initiative, La Maison Française features a rooftop of live plants and foliage. It also engages in many other eco-friendly practices, from selective purchasing to environmentally mindful event organization. The Embassy of France received a Greening Embassies Forum Award, honoring its leadership among the District’s foreign diplomatic missions—in partnership with the U.S. State Department—in the field of sustainability.