Image courtesy of Kimpton St, Honoré Paris
Following years of global travel restrictions and lockdowns throughout Europe, the long-awaited renaissance of Paris has arrived, and the City of Lights has much to offer luxury travelers in 2022. We recently visited the capital of food, fashion and luxury to round up the best places to dine, stay, and shop this summer in one of the world’s most beloved luxury travel destinations.
Image courtesy of L’Abysse
Dine: L’Abysse
While Yannick Alléno’s L’Abysse is a relative newcomer to Paris’ culinary scene, it has quickly earned a reputation as one of the city’s top Japanese restaurants. Helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Alléno and Japanese sushi master Yasunari Okazaki L’Abysse is the culmination of each chef’s lifelong obsession with Japanese cuisine.
Centrally located on the ground floor of the Pavillon Ledoyen in the 8th arrondissement, the gallery-inspired L’Abysse is designed for an elevated dining experience. The open concept dining space is calming and intimate. With just 12 seats at the blond ashwood counter bar and limited tables at window level, the space is meant to be enjoyed by solo diners and small groups alike.
Image courtesy of L’Abysse
Guests who opt to sit at L’Abysse sushi bar will enjoy an up-close view of Chef Okazaki and kitchen partner Taïchi Megurikami. The pair are masters of their craft and their delectable creations are reflective of their unique expertise. Traditional fare such as nigiri and sashimi are reinvented with cuts of blue lobster, red tuna, and monkfish liver. Bright filets of tuna are paired with rare sake and French wines, while a tapestry of assorted delicacies are arranged on hardwood boards to be savored one-by-one. Prepared to perfection every bite is curated to surprise and delight even the most seasoned palate. Sushi is just part of what makes the menu at L’Abysse so special. Alléno and Okazaki have created a number of beautiful and memorable dishes, including a duck foie gras confit paired with kombu seaweed and smoked eel, white asparagus cooked in a kombu broth, smoked pike roe jelly, and savory mushroom ice cream with sobacha nougatine.
For reservations and more information about L’Abysse, please visit yannick-alleno.com
Image Courtesy of Kimpton St. Honoré Paris
Stay: Kimpton St. Honoré Paris
One of the most anticipated hotel openings in France is finally here, and it doesn’t disappoint. With a fresh take on Parisian elegance and refinement, Kimpton St. Honoré Paris brings Kimpton’s modern hospitality to Paris’ Opera District. Just a stone’s throw from Place Vendôme, the Paris Opera, Faubourg St Honoré & the Tuileries Gardens, Kimpton St Honoré Paris is the perfect home away from home in the City of Lights.
Housed in a historic Art Nouveau building built in 1917, the former 1900s ‘Samaritaine de Luxe’ department store has been reincarnated as a sophisticated – yet refreshingly informal – luxury space by French architect and interior designer Charles Zana. With hints of Art Deco and Art Nouveau motifs, the 123 guest rooms and 26 suites are well-appointed and inspired by Parisian apartments. Balconies, floor to ceiling windows and carefully selected works of art add charm and Parisian chic to the hotel’s interior spaces. Upon arrival guests will notice the sweeping original staircase and wooden elevator in the lobby which have been restored and stand out as distinctive architectural features of the hotel.
Image Courtesy of Kimpton St. Honoré Paris
Foodies will delight in Kimpton St Honoré Paris’ multiple dining options. On the ground floor of the hotel is Montecito Restaurant. A chic eatery that pays homage to California style with a colorful, airy, and light-filled space designed by Humbert & Poye. The service is warm and extraordinarily friendly and welcomes both guests and locals alike with a menu that offers a contemporary take on French brasserie favorites. The dishes are made with locally sourced ingredients and the menu combines a quintessentially Californian flair with French technique. Signature dishes include a Korean-fusion fried chicken, langoustine tostadas, gourmet truffle pizzettas, and an array of inventive salads. Delectable craft cocktails and live music add a final touch of magic to a Parisian evening inspired by the California dream.
“Kimpton St Honoré Paris brings a new luxury offering to Paris – defying traditional boundaries with quiet confidence, easy-going elegance and the light-heartedness of Parisian chic.” says Christopher Laure, Area General Manager of IHG Hotels & Resorts. Sequoia is the hotel’s casual luxury rooftop bar and garden that embodies this sentiment perfectly. Located high above the city on the hotel’s 10th floor, Sequoia offers breathtaking 360° views over the rooftops of Paris and its emblematic monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and Opéra Garnier. Sequoia is fast becoming one of the most buzzed about summer hot spots. With its easy sophistication, relaxed chic, garden aesthetic, and rhythmic surf house playlists, Sequoia is the perfect place to take in a sunset with friends or snap that perfect Paris selfie. The menu is thoughtfully curated and offers some best regional wines, champagnes, and cocktails. Inside of the hotel, guests can also enjoy the much-loved Kimpton Social Hour, which is held daily at 5pm and gives guests an opportunity to connect with each other over complimentary wine and non-alcoholic beverages.
Image courtesy of Kimpton St. Honoré Paris
With wellness and relaxation as central tenets to the Kimpton brand ethos, the hotel’s spa is not to be missed. A stunning indoor heated swimming pool takes center stage, complimented by a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a spa run by French brand CODAGE. As with all Kimpton hotels, there are bicycles available for guests to borrow for exploring the city. Kimpton St Honoré Paris has partnered with La Roue Libre, a local, family-owned specialist bicycle shop to provide vintage inspired bicycles that compliment the Art Deco style of the hotel. The hotel has also partnered with luxury dog treat company Bonne & Filou to provide all four-legged guests with Dog Macarons upon arrival, this is part of Kimpton’s pet-friendly policy implemented at all its hotels worldwide.
For reservations and more information about Kimpton St. Honoré Paris, please visit kimptonsthonoreparis.com
Image courtesy of La Samaritaine
Shop: La Samaritaine
Fashionistas rejoice! La Samaritaine, one of the most beloved department stores in Paris, has recently reopened following a stunning redesign commissioned by French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. Marrying past and present, the renovation by Japanese architecture studio, SANAA, includes restored Art Deco and Art Nouveau details that shine alongside contemporary architectural features, including an undulating glass façade wrapped around part of the historic building. The complex of old and new buildings is connected by two glass-domed courtyards. The site closest to the Seine is a historic monument that has been renovated to dazzling perfection. A highlight is its rectangular stained glass roof with an intricate iron frame. Designed by Frantz Jourdain in 1907, it serves as the crown to a soaring atrium space, laced with opulent staircases and topped with a 115-meter-long, gold-hued peacock mural. Cast-iron signs, ornate pillars, ceramic decorations and enamel tiles are original and have been restored to their original splendor by the numerous artisans who worked on the project.
Image courtesy of La Samaritaine
While La Samaritaine’s architecture is certainly noteworthy, it is the shopping experience that will likely delight visitors the most. Centrally located in the 1st arrondissement, La Samaritaine is home to around 650 brands displayed throughout its seven levels. Luxury labels and exclusive designers such as Maison Margiela, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton are curated to include women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, watches, jewelry and accessories. Beauty buffs will enjoy one of Europe’s largest beauty spaces for the latest offerings in cosmetic and skincare. For gifts and homewares there is the concept store, Loulou. Exciting pop-ups, collaborations, exhibitions and events complete the Samaritaine shopping experience.
For mor information about La Samaritaine, please visit dfs.com/en/samaritaine
