Parisian Luxury with an Oriental Twist / Shangri-La Hotel
Probably the most Parisian of all the Palaces, the arrival of the Chinese owned Shangri-La Hotel offers a magnificent opportunity to take a look at traditional French luxury. Former home to Prince Roland Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew, the recent renovation of this sumptuously sophisticated palace, designed by architect Richard Martinet, will take your breath away. From the beautifully classical entrance freshly dressed in white linen, to the ornate wrought iron trim that adorns the magical marble staircase, the windows, the entry and of course the giant gate that protects the hotel from the clamor of the city.
The interior of the hotel is sublimely decorated by Pierre-Yves Rochon in subtle shades of gold, cream and white with dashes of color surfacing beneath your feet in the form of checkerboard marble tiles that evoke the Art-Deco penchant particular to the French. The suites are elegantly decorated in a classical French style with oak flooring or luxurious carpeting, ornate staircases, luxury furnishings and delicious drapes. Le Grand Salon, the Fonction Room, pays tribute to the famous Galerie des Glaces, Hall of Mirrors, at the Chateau de Versailles with its long, rectangular room brilliantly brought to life by the gold-plated moldings and crystal chandeliers that silently await their privileged guests.
La Suite Shangri-La offers one of the most incredible panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine, creating a surreal perspective of the city of Paris, with a modern decor that combines a living room and dining room in one large open space, leaving the ceiling to floor glass sliding doors to weave their magic in the waning hours of the day. La Suite Chaillot is the essence of French chic in pale tones of silver and green, with an elegant balcony set in front of a realist painting of the Eiffel Tower and the rooftops of Paris. The Eiffel Duplex Terrace Suite is the most romantic with a private balcony designed especially for lovers. Imagine yourself as Marie Antoinette in La Suite Impériale, bathed in beautiful shades of blue and swathed with luxury from one corner to another, sitting majestically on the mountaintop of the Place d’ Iéna.
Set in a bastion of heavenly seclusion, designed by landscape architect Louis Benech, the Shangri-La Hotel sits discreetly nestled in the neighborhood known as Museum Mile, which starts at the Place d’Alma, passes by the Place d’ Iéna, and climbs the hill to the Place de Trocadéro, surrounded by a handful of of leading museums and cultural institutions, not to mention a large choice of monuments right nearby. The Shangri-la Hotel possesses 54 spacious rooms, 27 luxurious suites that look out onto the water, the city or the garden, and 1 private pavilion. An elegant lounge and bar can be found to quench the thirst of all world travelers, and to bite back the hunger the Shangri-la Hotel offers a casual dining experience under the colossal cupola at La Bruhinia, a gastronomic French experience at L’Abeille, under the guide of Chef Philippe Labbé at the 2-starred Michelin table, or an authentic Chinese meal at the Shang Palace. As far as facilities go, the Shangri-la Hotel proposes a 24-hour gymnasium with a personal trainer on hand, two large salons for meetings and events, and the promise of a future indoor pool with teak decking.
Parisian Luxury with an Oriental Twist / Shangri-La Hotel
Shangri-la Hotel 10 Avenue d’ Iéna 75016 Paris 01 53 67 19 98 M Iéna
www.shangri-la.com
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(Photo Credits: Courtesy of the Shangri-La Hotel Group)