George Gershwin composed An American in Paris here, but it is Peninsula, an Asian group, that has restored the shine of yesteryear to the old Majestic hotel. And what a shine it is! The restoration of the old 1908 building saw contributions from France’s most renowned master craftsmen, the experts from the Louvre. More than twenty stonemasons renovated the facade, repairing and remodelling the little bows, ribbons, and cascades of flowers sculpted into the limestone. Nothing less would do for this historic address that stands majestically on Avenue Kléber, a stone’s throw from the Arc de Triomphe!
As soon as you enter the hotel, the main lobby sets the tone. The chandelier’s cascade of 800 crystal shards presides gracefully over the monumentally luxurious space from on high, suspended between the marble floors and newly restored high ceilings.
L’Oiseau Blanc is named in tribute of the biplane that disappeared during the first attempt at a non-stop transatlantic flight, and the restaurant’s entrance proudly features a replica of the biplane (at 75% scale). But it’s the 360° views of Paris from the panoramic terrace on the7th floor that really draw the eye. Perfect for a romantic tête-à-tête.
Extremely spacious, the 200 rooms include 34 suites (all with spacious dressing rooms and boudoirs) and offer guests a distillation of understated elegance, all in shades of pearl grey and cream, as well as the epitome of modern comfort: nightstand and office tablets in 11 languages, and LED wall screens to adjust the heating or check the weather. Amongst the 34 suites, 5 come with private hanging gardens.
It was within these four panelled walls covered in intricate oak woodwork that Henry Kissinger, then head of the American State Department, negotiated the Vietnam peace treaty in 1973. Such is the venue’s historic significance. Today it is fitted out as the Kléber Lounge, a smoking room purveying a range of cigars and spirits.
The Lili restaurant expresses Peninsula’s Asian roots with considerable aplomb. The decor evoking a Chinese opera serves as a backdrop to the refined cuisine inspired by Cantonese gastronomy and Honk Kong specialities, showcasing fish and seafood. Dinner is a show in its own right, with live cooking demonstrations.
The spa is not only huge (1800m²), it is also the biggest in any of the Parisian Palaces! It is also an extremely exclusive space in granite and precious marble, with two double treatment rooms for couples. The beautiful swimming pool (20m long), flanked by jacuzzis, invites guests to relax, while more active guests can work up a sweat in two cutting edge fitness suites
You might also tear yourself away from the spa’s voluptuous embrace to practice some yoga or Pilates out on the terrace. The view of the Eiffel Tower are plenty reward for your exertion!
The “grandest dinner of all time” took place here in 1922, when the hotel was still the Majestic. At the table were Igor Stravinsky, Sergueï Diaghilev, Pablo Picasso, Marcel Proust and James Joyce, the crème de la crème of contemporary artists. It’s hard to imagine a better set of patrons!
Zoom in - The Peninsula Paris
By Anne-Claire Delorme
Globetrotting journalist anneclairedelorme@yahoo.fr
