BACKGROUND Luxury Hong Kong-based chain Shangri-La chose Paris for its first European hotel. Housed in a 1890s palace built as the private residence of Napoleon’s grandnephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte, the property underwent a multimillion-euro four-year renovation before opening in December 2010.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? Turning through iron gates into the driveway of the grand, pale stone building, you immediately feel at a remove from the fairly busy road. Top-hatted, long-coated doormen greet you, and two Ming-style vases flank the entrance.
The lobby is bright and exquisite, with a mosaic and marble floor, three lavish lounge rooms on the right – originally the palace’s smoking, billiard and waiting rooms – another lounge to the left and, just beyond that in an alcove, the reception desk. Pierre-Yves Rochon, who led the revamps of London’s Savoy and the Four Seasons Park Lane, is also behind the interior design here, and he has introduced Asian touches to the carefully restored European building. Lanterns and orchids sit alongside ornate candelabra, detailed plasterwork and Bonaparte insignias, while a curving steel and brass staircase leads to the fabulous function rooms upstairs.
WHERE IS IT? On Avenue d’Iéna in the prestigious 16th arrondissement. It’s slightly outside the “golden triangle” of top hotel addresses – avenues des Champs-Élysées, George V and Montaigne – but is still only a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe in one direction and the Eiffel Tower in the other. It’s a 15-minute drive from Gare du Nord station, traffic permitting.
ROOM FACILITIES There are 81 rooms and suites across the property’s two adjoining wings – Iéna, the main wing, and Fresnel, originally home to the library, study, stables and staff quarters. There are plans to add more rooms, though the details have not been finalised. They start from 35 sqm and come in a range of categories, from Superior to the three signature suites.
The hotel says that 40 per cent of rooms and 60 per cent of suites offer a direct view of the Eiffel Tower (other views include the hotel garden, the city or Avenue d’Iéna). Almost half have a balcony. They are elegantly decorated with pale blue or ecru colour palettes and luxurious furnishings. All come with free wired and wifi internet, a minibar, a Nespresso machine, a workdesk, free bottled water, air conditioning, a flatscreen TV, bedside controls for the lights and curtains, a safe, robes, and a media hub for linking your gadgets to the TV.
The marble bathrooms have a separate tub and rainshower, a TV built into the mirror and Bulgari toiletries. If your budget doesn’t stretch to the 225 sqm Shangri-La suite, ask to take a look – located on the top (seventh) floor, it provides jaw-dropping views of the city and Seine via its floor-to-ceiling windows and 100 sqm terrace. The vista from my Eiffel Duplex suite was also great, with the iconic tower larger than life from the small balcony off the double-height bedroom. My only gripe was that the hairdryer was the weak type you have to hold the button down on to operate – surprising when everything else was so high-spec.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS The hotel’s three restaurants are overseen by executive chef Philippe Labbé. At the end of the lobby is La Bauhinia, an elegant all-day eatery serving French and Asian cuisine. An à la carte breakfast is served, with a continental option costing €38. To the right of here is L’Abeille, a 40-seat fine-dining French restaurant that serves dinner Tuesday to Saturday.
Open since September 2011, Shang Palace is Shangri-La’s signature brand, serving gourmet Cantonese cuisine in refined surroundings (see “Parisian gourmet”). It’s located below the lobby and is open for lunch and dinner Thursday to Monday. Le Bar, off the lobby, has a masculine feel and serves expensive cocktails.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES There are four function rooms totalling 850 sqm. Three are accessible from the lobby’s grand staircase – the wonderful, high-ceilinged Salle à Manger, Grand Salon and Salon de Famille, each full of grand historical detailing. Used in combination with their foyer, they hold 400 people for receptions. Salon Roland Bonaparte, in the Fresnel wing, can accommodate 230 delegates theatre-style. There is also a business centre with two Macs.
LEISURE FACILITIES There is a temporary gym until a spa with a fitness centre and 16-metre pool opens in the Fresnel wing at the end of the year. In-room treatments are available in the meantime.
VERDICT A virtually flawless stay, as you would expect when you are paying these rates. Superb views from many of the rooms, excellent service and fine dining make this exquisite property a worthy competitor to the city’s range of top hotels.
FACT FILE
- HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 81 – eight Superior, 24 Deluxe, 11 Premier and 11 Eiffel Premier rooms, 16 suites (a mix of Deluxe, Deluxe Pavilion, Premier and Premier Duplex), eight Eiffel suites (Premier, Duplex and Duplex Terrace) and three signature suites.
- ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The elegant décor, super view and free wifi.
- PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in March started from €810 for a Deluxe room.
- CONTACT Shangri-La Paris, 10 Avenue d’Iéna; tel +33 153 671 998; shangri-la.com
Michelle Mannion
