L’sleep
A former palace with a sense of history (George Gershwin wrote An American in Paris and Henry Kissinger signed the Paris Peace accord), the newly opened Peninsula in the 16th arrondissement is luxury personified with a 10+ WOW factor! I am not going to try and impress you with the 20,000 pieces of gold leaf throughout the property, the 900 French artists and craftsmen who painted the frescoes by hand, the high tech digital tablets that control everything in the room in whatever language you want, the built in nail dryers located in the desks, the valet boxes (or dumb waiters for those in the know) discreetly tucked away for pick up and deliveries. I am most impressed with the fact that all bathrooms, whether in a suite or room, are oversized with double sinks, TV, mood lighting, cascading waterfalls from the bathtub faucet, heated floors and, do I dare say it, Toto toilets with heated seats!
http://paris.peninsula.com/en/default
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Dining at L'Oiseau Blanc, the fabulous rooftop restaurant at the Peninsula. Move over Jules Verne, the views of the Eiffel Tower don't get better than this!
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Le Cinq Codet, a 67 room boutique hotel on the left bank, just opened in November and it is the best kept secret in Paris…until now! Aren’t you glad you know me ?!
The style is modern-industrial cool and, for a small hotel, it is chock full of big time amenities including a fitness center, spa with a steam room and outdoor jacuzzi, bar, indoor and outdoor restaurant, high tech throughout the hotel and drop dead views of the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides, without the 5 star hotel rates! By the by, this is the sister property of Le Burgundy Hotel, the 5 star luxury boutique hotel near rue Saint-Honoré. Keeping it all in the family is a good thing!
www.le5codet.com
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| View from a room at the Le Cinq Codet |
Opening in February 2015, Maison Souguet will be the first 5 star hotel in Montmartre. Designed by Jacques Garcia, this 20 room haute-couture hotel will have a swimming pool which can be privately booked by their guests, a master tea sommelier and the trés famous mixologist from Monaco, Kevin Ligot, introducing his signature cocktails in their trendy Maison Souguet bar.
www.maisonsouquet.com
I’m sure you read about the anticipated opening of La Reserve (Jan 21, 2015). This 40 room jewel box in the 8th arrondissement is designed by Jacques Garcia (he’s quite popular these days). Located in a 19th century building, La Reserve will retain the glamour and grandeur of the Belle Epoque era, but make no mistake, it will have all the bells , whistles and conveniences of a 21st century hotel. Frederic Picard, the General Manager, is a marathon runner so he cleverly designed a running trail throughout Paris; not only will you get your exercise, but you will also discover the wonders of this city of lights!
www.lareserve-paris.com
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| Watching the artisans restore the original 19th century fireplaces while taking a hard hat tour with Frederic Picard. |
L’ Eat
The Clown Bar, a historic bistro, has just been taken over by one of the hot new chefs of the moment, Soto Atsumi, and now he is performing acrobatics with the incredible cuisine!
Prior to the renovation, it was owned by the Cirque D’Hiver (the winter circus that still exists next door) Bon Appetit!
The Clown Bar, 114 Rue Amelot, 11th arrondissement
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| Ceramic Clowns from the orginal bistro built in 1902 |
I have eaten at Le Chateaubriand, an unpretentious, fashionable bistro with an outstanding kitchen. As luck would have it, the owners just opened Le Dauphin, a neo bistro/wine bar serving tapas and small dishes. The food was fab, the ambiance fun and it is definitely on my ‘it’ list!
Le Dauphin, 131 avenue Parmentier, 11th arrondissement
The restaurant everyone’s talking about is David Toutain and with good reason! Formally of Agape Substance, he now has his own restaurant where he takes a back seat to his creations (who knew vegetables could taste so heavenly).
David Toutain, 29 rue Surcouf, 7th arrondissement
L’Shop
Merci, the cool concept store in the Marais district, is brilliant at merchandising and has a little bit of everything…think Colette meets Anthropologie with Café Marly thrown in for good measure!
Calling all fashionistas: although there are over 100 high end International brands, each kiosk in Montaigne Market carries only 1 color! C'est parfait pour moi because the new black is black!
If you’re in the market for a hat, you must visit Anthony Peto. Aside from a wide range of styles and sizes in the shop, Monsieur Peto will customize and create the perfect chapeau for your head!
Espace Kiliwatch is a combo thrift, army navy, fashionable fusion of old mixed with new. This is an address worth knowing!
Merci: 111 boulevard Beaumarchais
Montaigne Market: 57, avenue Montaigne
Anthony Peto: Chapelier. 56, rue Tiquetonne
Espace Kiliwatch: 64 rue Tiquetonne
L’Musts
Located in Paris’ public park Bois de Boulogne, La Fondation Louis Vuitton is an extraordinary architectural glass monument designed by Frank Gehry which will house a permanent exhibition as well as rotating art exhibits. The private ‘A Hundred and Forty-Six Steps’ audio/visual installation takes you on a private adventure through the building and it is hauntingly surreal!
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| The masterful work of Frank Gehry at La Foundation Louis Vuitton |
Niki de Saint Phalle was one of the most controversial and complex female artists of the 20th century and now you can view her extensive body of work and get a retrospective of her life—it is definitely worth going to! The exhibition is at the Grand Palais through Feb 2, 2015.
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| Niki de Saint Phalle exhibit at the Grand Palais |
The Picasso Museum closed for expansion in 2009 and has recently reopened with over 400 Picasso works, as well as his private collection of other artists he loved. On any given day or time, the wait to get inside of the museum can be hours unless, of course, I arrange for ‘priority access’!
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| Picasso, baby! |
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