The weather this past April in Paris was erratic at best. The sun was harsh at times during the day but when evening fell, it’s the kind of chilly you’d still expect from Paris that time of year. It’s a good thing we were housed for a few nights at Le Bristol Paris—conveniently located near hot luxury shopping spots from Champs-Élysées to rue Saint-Honoré where it stands.
Needing a little bit of respite from the afternoon sun before heading out for drinks, we headed back about a 20-minute walk from the Tuilleries Garden. It was Easter weekend and the lobby was decked out in chocolate eggs and bunnies that decorated a table positioned right in the middle. We waited for the elevator to bring us up to our junior suite near the left wing of the hotel. As the elevator doors opened, out walked Elisabeth Moss of The Handmaid’s Tale.
Photo: Le Bristol Paris.
The odds of casually bumping into an American celebrity on a Saturday afternoon in Paris? It’s something I wouldn’t put my money on. It was the only celebrity run-in throughout the stay unfortunately, but a reminder of Le Bristol Paris’ reputation as one of the preferred accommodations in the city for an international roster of A-list clientele.
Le Bristol Paris was founded by Hippolyte Jammet, and was transformed from an 18th-century mansion at 112 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré that he acquired in 1923 at the age of 30. Jammet was intent on making Le Bristol Paris a luxurious hospitality experience unlike anything else of the time. In its infancy, the hotel went as far as having a maître d’hôtel on every floor so that it could offer room service to all guests.
Almost a century old, Le Bristol has evolved over the course of its history. 14 years after Jammet’s death in 1978, the ownership of the establishment was sold to Rudolf Oetker, a German businessman, who at the time already owned two other prestigious properties in Baden-Baden and Cap d’Antibes. Le Bristol Paris had already steadily expanded by then—Jammet built an eight-floor extension which included a basement—but ramped up further once Oetker took over.
In 1979, Le Bristol Paris opened a new wing that allowed it to create its very own 1,200-square-metre garden . It’s here during the warmer temperatures that Epicure and Le Jardin Français—two of Le Bristol Paris’ restaurants—converge to offer an outdoor dining experience within the privacy of the compound; an oasis in the heart of Paris, if you will.
A swimming pool was also added in the very same year. Designed to resemble a 1920s caravel, the pool is located on the sixth floor of Le Bristol Paris. Stepping into the area feels like a completely different part of the hotel. The wooden interior leads to a shower room facing a small steam room and sauna. Head up a small flight of stairs and the pool’s grand frescoes will immediately greet you. It’s a rather sizeable indoor pool and if you enjoy having it all to yourself like I did, visiting an hour before it closes at 9pm would probably afford you just that. The sunlight streams in quite beautifully in the day though, and the large windows open up to a solarium decked with chaise lounges to allow you to soak in all the vitamin D goodness.
But a hotel, no matter how well-established, is only as good as its next upgrades. Le Bristol Paris had undergone multiple renovations throughout the decades with its latest officially completed in September 2020. The most recent updates include new room and suite designs by Countess Bergit Douglas and her architectural firm MM-Design, as well as landscape designer Arabella Lennox-Boyd’s refreshed take on the courtyard garden.
The redesigns don’t stray far away from the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles that evoke the quintessential French elegance befitting the grandeur of the establishment. Upon entering the junior suite on the sixth floor, I was greeted by a small hall of mirrors of sorts—the entire entryway where two large wardrobes facing generous shelving as well as the mini bar, are hidden behind mirrored doors. It then opens to a lounge area consisting of a coffee table and a plush two-seater couch flushed to the wall on the right. A regal king-sized bed takes up the majority of the space on the left, with a vanity positioned right in front of the large windows the bed faces. To the left of the bed is a gold-trimmed work desk located near the entrance to the en suite bathroom.
The details are immaculate. Bedding is covered in Quagliotti—an artisanal Italian brand Le Bristol partnered with to create its own bedding line—while modern touches such as USB ports are integrated into the room’s decor without distracting from the stately aesthetic.
Photo: Le Bristol Paris.
The same goes for the bathroom. It’s completely done in marble with double sinks as well as a bathtub and shower closet that are both sufficient to fit two. The bathroom is so large (by Paris standards) that a cushioned chair fits comfortably right near the entrance, just in case one requires a breather from their extensive skincare routine.
Le Bristol Paris doesn’t leave anything to chance. Its dedication to excellence extends to even the sources for its culinary experiences. Both Epicure—where guests are able to enjoy their daily breakfast—and 114 Faubourg are three and one Michelin-starred restaurants respectively. The latter received a Michelin star for the tenth consecutive year in 2022.
It’s no surprise given how underneath Le Bristol Paris is a network of ateliers supplying fresh breads, pastas and chocolates. In fact, Le Bristol Paris makes its own flour using a mill that was specially designed for the hotel. Needless to say, every bread basket on offer at any of the restaurants shouldn’t be left untouched.
Photo: Le Bristol Paris.
Bucking tradition, the hotel has recently gone a step further by venturing into the metaverse to offer a plethora of experiences typically unavailable to guests. Le Bristol Paris calls it L’H3ritage Club, a Web3 private club that can only be accessed by minting one out of 11 limited edition Le Bristol Unlocked NFTs. The five-year membership entitles weekly access to the aforementioned swimming pool without needing to stay at the hotel, invitations to Le Bristol Paris’ year-round events, as well as secret menus at its dining establishments.
And if those aren’t enough, one of the more unique advantages of being part of the club is the opportunity to partake in money-can’t-buy experiences carefully curated by Le Bristol Paris. For example, a cooking masterclass in Epicure’s kitchen, or perhaps a gourmet barbecue on one of the hotel’s most stunning terraces. But if a traditional stay is more your speed, the membership also earns you a night in one of Le Bristol Paris’ signature suites, packaged with an American breakfast as well as early check-in and a late check-out.
One could say that Le Bristol Paris is late to the Web3 game; yet, it’s the first Palace hotel to do so. Yes, it is also officially known as a Palace, a distinction specifically given by Atout France—the France Tourism Development Agency—to five-star hotels that offer exceptional standards of service as well as contribute to the French culture. To date, only 11 such Palace hotels exist in Paris and Le Bristol Paris was the first to be bestowed the honour.
Amid the move to build a blockchain community, the charm and draw with Le Bristol Paris remains in its old-timey comforts. Strip it back to the very essence and the hotel feels homely—if home is a palatial residence with 24/7 butler service, of course. The service is undoubtedly warm and not restricted to forced pleasantries.
Then there’s the resident cat Socrate that roams around the entire compound. Upon learning of its existence, we went on a hunt for Socrate and found him on the upper floors, lounging along a corridor leading to a signature suite. And on the last morning of our stay at Le Bristol Paris, Socrate sauntered onto our balcony. He did little to resist coming in upon my coercion, a sign that he’s probably used to overexcited cat people. We spent a good 15 minutes entertaining the cat before breakfast service arrived and he eventually decided to wander back out. I can’t say I’ve ever had such an experience at any other luxury hotel.
If the stars align, you may get the chance to encounter a celebrity in the elevator or perhaps even during breakfast. But even if none of that occurs, Le Bristol Paris itself is a gem. It’s like stepping into a time capsule with modern capabilities—the best of French excellence across different eras.
