Inside Parisian Palace Hotel Lutetia
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1 day ago
This Art Deco landmark is one of Paris' most stylish places to stay
Carole Annett checks into Hotel Lutetia, Paris’ long-standing Left Bank hotel known for its dazzling interiors.
Review: Hotel Lutetia, 45, St.Germain-des-Pres, Paris
STAY
Located in the beating heart of the Left Bank, famous as the intellectual district of Paris, Hotel Lutetia’s curved facade, milky stone and trellised balconies, epitomises 19th-century Belle Epoque elegance. Originally opened in 1910, it underwent an ambitious restoration and emerged with the French Ministry of Tourism’s top Palace status, the only Left Bank hotel to achieve the award.
Accommodation is spread over seven floors, 184 rooms in total with 47 suites including The St Germain Penthouse by Coppola and The Suite Parisienne by Isabelle Huppert celebrating two of the many famous names to frequent the hotel. The overall room style is smart and chic – navy walls bordered in white for exterior facing rooms and neutral stone shades for courtyard-facing with dark chevron parquet floors. The suites have fabulous marble bathtubs, huge by French standards, as well as a walk-in shower. On the starched white bed, oversized pillows are monogrammed with each guest’s initials.
EAT
Salon Saint Germain is a bustling meeting place for locals and hotel guests gathering to chat, negotiate business or simply relax beneath artist Fabrice Hyber’s radiantly colourful glass ceiling. Lobster roll brioche, roasted turbot or Club Lutetia, the chef’s take on a club sandwich, are served throughout the day with executive pastry chef Nicolas Guercio’s afternoon tea a highlight. For cocktails, Bar Josephine is a wonderful mix of old and new – a modern bar with slow-slung contemporary furniture surrounded by magnificently restored frescoed walls and ceiling.
When Parisians talk about the Left Bank, it’s not so much in terms of geography but also to nurturing of great names of literature, art, music and theatre. Hotel Lutetia has played host to James Joyce, Matisse and Picasso. The hotel is a short walk to Le Bon Marché, and after meandering around the Latin Quarter, enjoy fabulous people-watching and vin chaud.
Notre Dame is about a 25-minute walk (book free tickets online for a time slot). A unique experience guests to book with the concierge takes guests on a modern architecture tour of Paris. Co-created with the hotel’s architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the outing connects beautifully with the hotel’s own heritage and lends greater clarity on the era’s influences on design.
SPA
The Akasha Spa & Gym bases its philosophy on the four elements: air, earth, water and fire. There are six wellness rooms, alongside a sauna, steam room, plunge pool and infinity-edge jacuzzi as well as a beautiful 17-metre long swimming pool bathed in natural light, a rarity in Paris.
