Chez Omar is an Algerian bistro in the Marais that opened in the 70s. Tourists go because it's listed as some of the best couscous in Paris. They're also drawn to the sight of fur-coated women queuing outside.
At the time it opened, Algerian-born Yves Saint Laurent was at his peak and everyone loved his Moroccan inspired collections. Everyone was going to Marrakech. Tunisian-born Azzedine Alaïa happened to have his studio nearby and started coming in with his friends and core group of models. Through that, people in the industry started going a lot. It helped that Omar kept the previous brasserie interiors. Fashion people love that look. Gene Pressman of Barneys made it his spot for parties (he has photos of a belly dancer gyrating in front of Rei Kawakubo that will never see the light of day), and Sofia Coppola came up with the idea for Marie Antoinette while having lunch there.
