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in the middle of the hotel. For me,
this fanciful and zen-like space is
the crown jewel in the Mandarin
Oriental’s tiara. Certainly unlike
anything I’ve seen in a city hotel,
the tree-laden, butterfly-filled
garden is ideal for a leisurely café
latte or pre-dinner cocktail. The
best table is found inside of the
massive, whimsical birdcage--quite
literally in the catbird seat.
staircase in one of her glamorous
getups.
Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière has all the
amenities that this pretend heiress
expects from a luxury Parisian
property—opulent spa, Michelinstarred restaurant, lovely linens,
exquisite room furnishings, stateof-the-art technology and an
accommodating staff. So what sets
Fouquet’s apart from its equally
fabulous counterparts? It’s their
commitment to the environment.
Considering the sleek interior, it’s
difficult to imagine that since the
16th century, the building has
served as a monastery, theater,
royal riding school and office space,
before opening in 2011 as one of
Mandarin Oriental’s few European
locations. The hotel has hints of its
Asian lineage, but the design is
unmistakably influenced by Paris’
Art Deco period and its glamorous
location between the Tuileries
Gardens and Place Vendôme.
Having been awarded Condé Nast
Traveler’s coveted World Savers
Award in 2013 and certified
Leading Green, Fouquet’s provides
guests electric bicycles, a charging
station for electric vehicles, a
hybrid limo and will even request
hybrid taxis. Reducing their carbon
footprint is a priority and extends
into every aspect of the hotel—LED
lights, fair-trade or locally sourced
organic produce, organic linens and
recycling are just a few notable
efforts. Fouquet’s even serves its
guests an eco-friendly Champagne
called Pop Earth.
No expense was spared in designing
the public space of the hotel, but
it’s what’s behind the elevator door
that’s truly remarkable. Seriously,
thoughts of sequestering myself à
la Howard Hughes crossed my mind
more than once.
So to Fouquet’s for their dignified
luxury vision, I raise my Baccarat
Champagne flute and say, “Santé.”
Rooms have a romantic and feminine
feel, though not in a Laura Ashley
floral-explosion-sort of way.
Instead, it’s the sensual artwork,
clean-lined furnishings and
sophisticated jewel tone palate
of pink, purple and orange, which
provide this feeling of femininity.
Mandarin Oriental,
Paris
My first experience with Mandarin
Oriental, Paris occurred nearly a
year before I became a guest.
Shopping along rue Saint-Honoré, I
had my nose firmly planted against
the Chloé window. Lost in lust for
the latest collection, my daydream
was rudely interrupted by shrieks.
The source of this commotion came
from the front of Mandarin
Oriental, where a hundred
screaming preteens waved Canadian
flags and held signs professing
their love for Justin Bieber.
Mandarin Oriental encapsulates
everything I didn’t know I liked
in a Parisian five-star hotel. My
vision of what modern luxury
looks likes has since been redefined:
haute couture with an avant-garde
attitude, quite like the fashion
filling the windows along rue
Saint-Honoré.
How apropos.
Take away the legion of Beliebers,
and the stylish Art Deco façade of
Mandarin Oriental doesn’t scream
for attention, instead opting for
understated elegance. Flanked by
designer boutiques, the goldenframed entrance discreetly displays
the hotel group’s signature fan, a
symbol of luxury recognizable
around the world.
Hotel Napoléon
Though intimate and impeccable,
the marble, silk and velvetdrenched lobby is overshadowed by
the interior, open-air garden. Yes, in
a city renowned for its cost per
square foot, Mandarin Oriental has
carved out a green space squarely
Shortly after Hotel Napoléon’s
opening, wealthy Russian
businessman, Alexandre Pavlovitch
Kliaguine, was looking for the
perfect wedding gift for his
Parisian bride. Apparently, jewelry
from Cartier or crystal from Lalique
Having recently earned its fifth
star, Hotel Napoléon is steeped in
both luxury and history dating back
to the 1920s. Dubbed “The Palace”
by Errol Flynn, Hotel Napoléon
quickly became the place for Paris’
high society and literary types to
see and be seen.
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