Plaza Athenee, Paris

What a location! When a young Christian Dior opened his boutique across the street, the Plaza Athenee instantly became the gathering spot of the fashion industry. When other designers sprang up along the Avenue Montaigne, the hotel became the place to see and be seen.

When I heard that all 188 bedrooms and suites of the Plaza Athenee had just been entirely refurbished I jumped at the opportunity to go and see what they had done with this famous hotel, less than a five minute walk from the Champs Elysees.

The eight floor hotel is built around a stunning courtyard with Virginia creepers trimming it’s walls, wrought iron balconies, red lattice blinds and geranium flower boxes….this is the enchanting setting for the La Cour Jardin restaurant. Dining at this restaurant is an experience not to be missed. The food and the service are outstanding and the atmosphere is perfect.

The hotel has several other restaurants and no matter which one you choose, you will not be disappointed. The Bar in the hotel is also a very “in” place to be seen and is a favorite watering hole for local Parisians and guests.

This bar reinvents the meaning of the word “cocktail” One trendy choice is a small tray with three jello-like cubes that you pop in your mouth, loaded with spirits and packing a punch! And then there’s the bar decor itself…designed to look like a piece of glacier ice, a spotlight illuminates your drink from below when the glass is set on the bar.

All the rooms and suites are beautifully designed. Two floors have been redecorated in Art Deco style, while other floors preserve the authentic and classical French style while modernizing all the rooms with up to date technology.

Amenities include hypoallergenic linens, CD players, flat screen televisions and personal fax machines in the suites, and double line phones. Each room has a great view of either the ivy-covered courtyard, the tree lined avenue Montaigne or the Eiffel Tower.

I was quite impressed with the unbelievable knowledge behind the Concierge desk. Each gentleman has decades of experience working at the Plaza Athenee, and there won’t be a request or problem that they cannot help or solve instantly for you.

This hotel has all the modern amenities without losing that feeling of being in elegant Paris. They claim to have “paired tradition with modernity – elegant, charming and bathed in refined luxury”. I agree with them and I am know you will too!