Features

Paris - C’est Chic!

22 Mar 2019 by Riaan Jacob George

Ritz Paris:  Heritage Palace

Adoyenne in the Parisian luxury landscape, the Ritz Paris has been standing proudly at the heart of the tony Place Vendôme, since 1898. Its guest list (past and present) reads like a who’s who of international society, with the likes of Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, Marcel Proust and Ernest Hemingway being regulars. The hotel’s swanky cocktail bar is named after Hemingway — this was his favourite Parisian hideaway — and is often named as one of the world’s best bars. As soon as you step into its glamorous lobby, you are immersed in a sense of understated elegance. The Ritz Paris today — following a massive four-year refurbishment — is now included in the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World fold.

Other highlights at this lavish property include a highly-rated gastronomic restaurant, L’Espadon and the very unique Ritz Escoffier cooking school, where you can enrol for classes in cooking, pastries and wine pairing, offering you an immersive Parisian experience.

If you’re in the mood to splurge, check out the INR 17 lakh-a-night Coco Chanel Suite, brimming with personal belongings of the legendary designer, and sketches by Karl Lagerfeld, in rooms that she designed herself.

Business meetings are best enjoyed in the elegant Salon Proust, just off the lobby, with a fireplace, library et al. Spots are limited in the wood-panelled salon where an elegant afternoon tea à la française is served with hand-crafted pastries.

Chat with the concierge for ultra-exclusive experiences like a Bentley airport transfer or, like I did, a private tour of the nearby Breguet museum, and a guilloche workshop.

Doubles from INR 90,000

15, place Vendôme, 75001 Paris.

ritzparis.com

Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet’s Paris: Parisian Glamour

For starters, Le Fouquet’s enjoys the most prime real estate in Paris, at the corner of the legendary Avenue des Champs Élysées and Avenue George V, across the street from the Louis Vuitton flagship store and a stone’s throw from the luxury retail hub of Avenue Montaigne. Parisian foodies will vouch for the high gastronomy offered at the historic brasserie by the same name, on the ground floor of the heritage building. What started off in the late 1800s as the humble Le Criterion café, was later bought over by Louis Fouquet in 1899, led to the establishment of the eponymous brasserie in 1913. In the ‘30s, ‘50s and ‘70s, this address became inherently linked to the world of cinema, with international celebrities frequenting it regularly. Today, the hotel, created in 1998, enjoys the status of a French cultural hotspot, and even comes under the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World banner. As soon as you set foot inside Le Fouquet’s, its close ties with cinema are visible, with portraits of old and new film stars on the walls, and a sort of old-world cinema element in the decor. The hotel features no more than 81 rooms and suites spread across different categories. Even the entry level rooms are generously sized by Parisian standards. Each room comes with a large entrance hall, a spacious bathroom, a dressing room and a generous work desk area. The Nespresso machine and the free snacks, chocolates and soft drinks, replenished daily add a nice touch to the experience.

Breakfast is served in the elegant Le Joy restaurant and if the weather’s fine, you can enjoy your meal in the private courtyard.

Doubles from INR 57,000

46, Avenue George V 75008 Paris

lefouquets-paris.com

Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile: Business Chic

The unmistakable tower of this building is visible from the peripherique ring road as you approach downtown Paris and it is named so because of its proximity to the famous Place de l’Étoile and the Avenue des Champs Élysées. Said to be the only skyscraper hotel in Paris, this hotel, formerly the Concorde Lafayette, is usually the preferred hotel for MICE travellers as it is located just outside the exhibition and trade centre of Paris, the Palais des Congrès de Paris. The hotel features no more than 995 rooms and suites, across different categories, each boasting spectacular views of the City of Lights. Following a massive renovation and rebranding, the rooms now wear a fresh, contemporary look, with modernised fittings and more business traveller-friendly amenities, such as more power points, eye-pleasing colour tones and a simplified aesthetic, suited to jet lagged travellers. MICE travellers will find more than enough options within the hotel as it offers a massive portfolio of 35 meeting spaces, which can accommodate up to 2,800 delegates.

If a stunning view is what you’re after, book yourself into the 44 sqm Eiffel Tower Suite, which offers sweeping views of the Parisian monument. If the suite is too big for you as a solo traveller, you can choose to pay a premium and stay in a standard room on one of the higher floors, just for the view. After hours, you can enjoy a sundowner on the 34th floor panoramic bar, Windo.

Doubles from INR 16,000

3, Place du Général Koenig, 75017 Paris

hyatt.com

L’Hotel du Collectionneur: Art Hotel

The aptly named L’Hotel du Collectionneur is located a stone’s throw from the Arc de Triomphe and just next to the upscal Parc Monceau. This hotel is all about the art, expressed in a glorious Art Deco style, revisiting the ‘20s and the ‘30s. Interestingly, the hotel is situated in the 8th arrondissement of the city, which has always been the hub of the French capital’s art scene, with homes of collectors, art galleries and grand mansions. As soon as you set foot inside L’Hotel du Collectionneur, you will be transported to the golden era of transatlantic steam liners, with its resemblance to the deck of a ship and use of precious materials such as exotic woods, ceramics and jade green granite. The lobby itself is like a treasure trove of world-famous artworks with pieces from the likes of Ruhlmann, Armand-Albert Rateau, Edgar Brant and Erté, the highlight being the stunning Martel sculpture at the heart of the lobby. The hotel features 478 rooms, across different categories (many of which boast sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower and the city around). The rooms are designed in keeping with the steam liner theme, and an Art Deco spirit — ebony furniture, rich linen and characteristic Art Deco motifs dot the space. Parisian chic meets vintage glamour at the hotel’s Purple Bar, with its elegant decor, retro-inspired furniture and extensive cocktail menu. The hotel also lends itself very well to meetings and events with different spaces, which can accommodate up to 650 people.

Doubles from INR 20,000

51-57, rue de Courcelles, 75008 Paris

hotelducollectionneur.com

9Hotel Montparnasse: Boutique Hotel

A short walk away from the French capital’s Gare Montparnasse, and located in a beautiful neighbourhood in the 14th arrondissement, 9Hotel Montparnasse is one of our favourite boutique hotels in Paris. For starters, the neighbourhood once housed the likes of Picasso, Chagall and Modigliani, and its bohemian vibe continues even today. Location-wise, the hotel gets full marks — it shares a wall with the metro station and a direct like takes you to the Champs Elysées in 15 minutes flat. The hotel is part of a pan-Europe chain of boutique hotels, 9Hotel Collection, and this one features 42 compact rooms, with minimalist Parisian-chic decor. What we love most is the 24/7 self-service bar and the massive co-working table in the public area, where you can host informal meetings. The rooms are comfortable and well-equipped. 9Hotel Montparnasse is perfectly suited for a solo business or leisure traveller who needs basic luxuries and a local neighbourhood feel.

Doubles from INR 13,000

76, Rue Raymond Losserand, 75014 Paris

9-hotel-collection.com

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