Photo: Courtesy of Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
There is something intrinsically Parisian about Le Royal Monceau, which is located just minutes away from the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe in the eighth arrondissement. Perhaps it is the weight of an illustrious history or a disposition that is at once excessive and sophisticated. The property appears as a rich tapestry woven with almost a century of encounters and emotions. Most importantly, it has managed to metamorphose into something more than a hotel as it remains focused on celebrating art, culture, and creation.
Photo: Courtesy of Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
When Pierre Bermond and André Jugnot opened Le Royal Monceau Paris during an intense heatwave in 1928, the two hoteliers managed to create a haven burgeoning with creativity – a rendezvous for artists and writers, as well as for gentlemen and adventurers. The alluring design of the property was envisioned by architect Louis Duhayon who, along with his associates Charles Lefebvre and Marcel Julien, also created Les Arcades du Lido on the Champs-Élysées, among other luxury addresses.
Photo: Courtesy of Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
Soon after opening its doors the hotel counted among its patrons the likes of Josephine Baker, Maurice Chevalier, Ernest Hemingway, and Mistinguett. This tradition of gathering the most influential minds within its rooms and private salons and witnessing history in the making has persisted through the years – General Eisenhower, Ho Chi Minh, Walt Disney, the Maharajahs of Indore and Kashmir, King Farouk of Egypt, and the Aga Khan are only some of these distinguished guests. In their footsteps would later come Michael Jackson, Madonna, Robert de Niro, Lou Reed, and Sofia Coppola.
Photo: Courtesy of Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
In 2008, the palace hotel was reimagined by French designer Philippe Starck to suit contemporary sensibilities while maintaining its historical elegance and appreciation for art. In his own words, “Le Royal Monceau has nothing to do once again, with the architecture or the decoration, it has to do with an exploration. The exploration of what is, of what should, of what could be the French spirit. Our strengths, our faults, that poetry, that romanticism, that reflection, those high-level critical spirits that kill or that qualify.”
Photo: Courtesy of Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
The spirit that Starck hoped to embody is apparent from the moment you walk into the antechamber that opens out into the lobby. It appears as a huge central aisle punctuated with little private salons and tiny display cases full of sentimental chaos – a Siberian knickknack, an Italian vase, a work of art. The bedrooms, suites, and private apartments offer guests the exacting elegance of the 40s and 50s with rigorous lines, fine materials, and warm colors. In the dressing room, discover an allusion to the fitting-rooms of haute couture, a delightfully Parisian detail. With a plethora of dining options ranging from the first Matsuhisa restaurant in France to Italian delicacies at Il Carpaccio, rest assured that the hotel caters to every palate.
Photo: Courtesy of Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
Most representative of Le Royal Monceau’s distinct identity is its affinity with art. Discover the works of notable creatives such as Simon Chaput, Koichiro Doi, Guy Le Querrec, Lucien Hervé, Rune Guneriussen, Thierry Dreyfus, Harry Gruyaert, and Marie Maillard throughout the property. In addition to this extensive private collection, the hotel also offers a unique service in a world first, an art concierge. Elsewhere the gallery Art District and the bookstore La Librairie des Arts builds upon this celebration if creativity and further immerses guests into the world of art and culture. From US$ 2 293/night
Read Next: Vogue Reviews: Bulgari Hotel Paris
