Nudist Restaurants: Bad Business Model?

Given the success or failure of restaurants lies in getting enough butts on the seats, are nudists restaurants represent a bad business model if it can’t get enough – naked or not?

By: Ringo Bones

After being open for just 15 months, Paris’ first ever nudist restaurant plans to close next month after it can no longer “get enough butts in the seats” for economic viability. The restaurant is called O’naturel and is located in the city’s 12^th arrondissent opened to much fanfare back in November 2017, but just over a year later, a dearth of customers is forcing the pioneering restaurant to close its doors. Mike and Stephane Saada, 43-year-old twins, launched the concept – despite not being nudist themselves and in the videos shown of the restaurant in operation, the waiters appear to be fully clothed.

Unlike nudist beaches operating in Europe, which only attract naturists during the warm summer months, O’naturel was designed to offer “the pleasure of dining naked all year in the capital in the respect of naturist values” according to the website, which is still live. The owners said of the closure: “we will only remember the good times, meeting beautiful people and customers who were delighted to share exceptional moments.”

Diners were shown into changing rooms on arrival, where they could store clothes and mobile phones and cameras – strictly banned in the restaurant – in lockers. Guests were also given a pair of slippers, though women could leave their heels on if they so desire. The experience was open to everyone, whether “initiates” or those “who want to try”. Yves Leclerc, president of the French Nudist Federation, said when O’naturel first opened: “it is like we’re on holiday, but it’s even better.” However, some eventually complained that the presence of clothed waiters was not in the spirit of a nudist restaurant. It had a better run than London’s The Bunyadi, which was admittedly only a pop-up venture. Given that France has stricter nudist rules than the more libertine Dutch – i.e. lack of “all age nudist camps” on French soil, the lack of loud bratty kids would also be O’naturel’s unique selling point in providing a “sedate” and relatively quiet nude dining experience.