Hôtel Fouquet's Barrière 46, av. George V 75008 Paris Tel. +33 (0)1 40 69 60 00 www.fouquets-barriere.com

French Savoir-Faire
Luxury in the Midst of Le Triangle d'Or
by Sophie Gayot

The lobby

The Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière is a family story, a seven-year project, five Haussmann buildings put together. The result is a very luxurious hotel on avenue George V, just around the corner from the most beautiful avenue in the world, Les Champs-Élysées. The saga started back in 1906, when the founder of the French Groupe Barrière was sitting on the terrace of the already famous Fouquet's restaurant. His dream was to open a palace at that magical location. A hundred years later, his heirs have succeeded. After purchasing the restaurant in 1999, in November 2006, they opened the hotel named after the culinary establishment renowned because it has been linked to the history of French cinema since its beginning.

Located in the middle of Le Triangle d’Or, the hotel has been designed to attract a ritzy and hip clientele. French architect Édouard François and French designer Jacques Garcia have worked closely together to convey a different idea of luxury encompassing the modern technology of the twenty-first century. Some might not appreciate the oval-shaped sofa in gold tones in the lobby at the foot of the majestic staircase leading to the restaurants and bar, the chest drawer covered with furry velvet or the Plexiglas decoration under the wavy front desk, but the least we can say is that you don’t usually see that in a hotel, as well the embroidered dark chocolate leather covering the walls. Architect François has done a remarkable job, and with the reunion of the five buildings he has created an elegant terrace, which is the hotel’s center of action.

The terrace

A room,	and its bathroom

The staff’s only goal is to please the client and be ready to respond to any need one might have. Unique in France, there is 24-hour butler service. The small number of rooms (107 of which 40 are suites) results in an intimate feel despite the size of the hotel. Rooms are done in beige and brown tones while the bathrooms have black and white mosaics. In both your room and bathroom you will be connected to the world with four telephones, some cordless; with international TV channels on a flat screen; with music and videos on demand; with complimentary Wi-Fi access to high-speed Internet; and with a printer/scanner/copier that should be compatible with the latest computers. There is always a desk if you need to work or send postcards to your friends back home to tell them how much you are enjoying the beauty of the City of Lights. Let us not forget the courtesy non-alcoholic-beverages mini-bar and the safe. When walking in the hallways, the size of the room numbers posted on the doors will ensure that you won’t be knocking at the wrong place.

View room

View bathroom

Your private swimming pool

Underground you will find the spa, U Spa (U = Unique), which has based its treatments around four elements: air, water, earth and light. The facility, which has a 15-meter pool as close to the Champs-Élysées as it can get, is decorated in relaxing red and blond tones with slate on the floor. There is, of course, a fitness room, a sauna, a starred-ceiling hammam and an exercise pool.

Let us go back to the interior garden, interior because it is within the five buildings, not because it is inside. Around it you will find the gastronomical restaurant, Diane, the upscale snack spot, La Galerie Joy, and the Bar Le Lucien. The round-shaped Diane is dedicated to elegant French cuisine prepared by chef Jean-Yves Leuranguer, while you can enjoy breakfast, light meals and tea at La Galerie Joy all day long. Try a house cocktail or simply a glass of Champagne at the bustling Bar Le Lucien. Warm days will surely find the terrace quickly filled. Unless you choose to go to Fouquet's, which has a direct entrance from the hotel.

The restaurants: Diane, La Galerie Joy & Bar Le Lucien, Fouquet's