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Pure
Luxury
Proof
that Stellar Service
Never Goes Out of Style
by
Sophie Gayot
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| Paris
charm on elegant avenue Montaigne |
Part
of the swanky Dorchester Group, which regards luxury
and refinement as its main preoccupation,
the Hôtel
Plaza Athénée Paris stretches
its famous red awnings and its colorful geraniums
along the ultra-elegant avenue Montaigne. What a
prime location! At the crossroads of entertainment,
fashion and business, it's within walking distance
of many meeting, shopping and leisure venues.
"Once
upon a time in the palace of tomorrow." This
is how the always-smiling Director of Operations
for the Dorchester Group—and the hotel's former
general manager—François Delahaye,
likes to describe this property, and we agree with
him. The hotel first opened in 1911 and rapidly
gained international fame. It has constantly been
kept up, but in 2000 the biggest renovation of all
took place. The goal was to combine traditional,
classical style with the most modern technology.
The
hotel is close to the fashion districts, and its
corridors and suites are decorated with sketches
from well-known designers. The 188 rooms and suites
have been entirely refurbished, while continuing
to capitalize on their star attraction: the views.
Choose vistas of the avenue's chestnut trees, the
courtyard, or the panoramic landscapes of the Eiffel
Tower, Montmartre or the legendary roofs of Paris.
Choose also your style: Art Deco or French classical
with Louis XV, Louis XVI and Regency overtones.
Accommodations are equipped to provide maximum comfort
and convenience: remote control air-conditioning,
Internet access, satellite TV, internal video network,
VCR, two-line telephones and faxes, and stereo with
CD. For some, dreams can come true in the 5,300-square-foot
Royal Suite over avenue Montaigne, or the decadent
Eiffel Suite overlooking...well, you can figure
it out.
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| The
Royal Suite |
La
Galerie des Gobelins |
We
cannot speak about the Plaza Athénée
without speaking about food. Let us start with La Galerie des Gobelins, which is an intimate
and exclusive place to enjoy an afternoon tea or
aperitif. The bar, simply called Le Bar du Plaza, is for
seeing and being seen. It was revamped in 2001,
and the wood-paneled walls remain, but the furniture
and ambience are very modern. Le Bar is divided
into two areas: the first surrounding the long,
illuminated bar made entirely of sculpted and sandblasted
glass, and the second made cozier with leather club
chairs. Le
Relais Plaza, a chic rendezvous spot, will welcome
you with its Art Deco style. Fine ingredients are
used to prepare simple and well-executed cuisine:
crab, foie gras, lobster, sea bass. Two classics
not to be missed are the oeufs bénédictine
and the escalopes viennoise. During summer months,
La Cour Jardin serves Mediterranean fare in the
courtyard.
The
hotel's pièce de résistance is Alain
Ducasse au Plaza Athénée. We don't
need to introduce Ducasse, who has been at the Plaza
since September, 2000. He is in the perfect location
to execute and serve his highly luxurious (and expensive)
cuisine. Although we're not sure about the décor,
we have no reservations about the food. Classics
include the sweetbreads and half-cooked crayfish
with caviar.
What
to do after all these meals? Run to the fitness
room. Adorned with Cuban mahogany wood panels, it
is certainly one of the most elegant workout spaces
in Paris. Cybex training machines, Tae Bo lessons,
Shiastu, sauna and a hamman are available for your
relaxation and pleasure. For a complete escape, indulge in a wide variety of face and body treatments offered at the new Dior Institut, featuring five treatment rooms (including a double VIP room) and a relaxation lounge. Capping the Plaza Athénée
experience is the guest relations team. Devoted
entirely to your well being, and assisted by an
admirable staff, they will satisfy all your demands
and make your stay the best one possible.
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