ABOUT

Raphael François is the Executive Chef and co-founder behind Bonne Vie Café & Bistro, located at 1602 U Street NW in Washington, DC. 

Inspired by the corner cafés of Paris, Bonne Vie blends casual elegance with a focus on quality, offering fresh made breads, pastries and coffee in the mornings and a classic bistro menu by evening. The concept reflects Raphael’s long-standing approach: authentically French, unfussy food served with a warm welcoming Parisian vibe.

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Raphael’s passion for cooking was shaped early on by his family’s deep love for preparing and sharing meals together. At the heart of it all was his great-grandmother, whose influence—along with his grandparents—created lasting memories of weekends spent in the kitchen. They would spend their days off cooking from morning until lunchtime, then gather around the table to enjoy the meal together well into the afternoon and early evening.  

At 16, Raphael acquired his first job in a kitchen where he started working for Claude Lavallee at the Jiverny. He studied Hospitality and Catering before starting his professional career with Michel Theurel at La Maison du Bœuf, Hélène Darroze, and Le Cirque in New York. His time at Hélène Darroze at the Connaught in London helped the restaurant earn two Michelin stars.

In 2016, Raphael played an integral role in the creation of Le DeSales.  He shaped the downtown gem with his signature authentic approach.  He sourced the wine to compliment the look and feel of the DeSales experience—from bentwood leather chairs and French graffiti art to signature dishes like Tarte de Boeuf with hand sliced steak and quail egg and a dry-aged Bavette with shallots and fresh grapes.  

With Bonne Vie, Raphael continues his journey to bring classic French flavors and a sense of quality, freshness and authenticity to the table—rooted in tradition, but made for DC.