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By Gilles Malaisé
(Composed
March 1999. Updated April 2007)
Ava Gardner,
Marylin Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Robert de Niro and Céline Dion
once pushed the revolving door of the elegant 112th, rue du Faubourg St
Honoré building: stepping 
inside
the most confidential palace hotel in Paris. A place where, one decade
ago, some introduction was still necessary to receive admission! The whiter
shade of pale marble floor, the Gobelin tapestries covering the immaculate
walls made out of Ile de France white stone (that kind which was used to
build the Sacred Heart basilica, in Montmartre), the Arabian Nights carpets
bought for extravagant prices and substituted by newer one once a year,
and even the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries paintings formerly exhibited in
the Louvre, don't catch the attention as much as the cyclopean bunches
of flowers artistically arranged on period tables all around. The faithful
guests (whom 80% stay nowhere but at the BRISTOL when visiting Paris;
while the arrival of the very kind and active Pierre Ferchaud as a new
hotel president brought us some new and younger faces) climb up to the
apartments in an old wood and glass framed Otis lift. There is no other
palace hotel in town with a such a beautiful one, indeed.
We stayed
in suite 440-441. A bunch of flowers shaped like a globe matched the aristocratic
Louis XVth gueridon supporting it: it certainly took hours to the in-house
florists to artistically 
create
it! Six people could comfortably seat on the deep and smooth period armchairs
and sofa: welcoming outside visitors in the BRISTOL is a real pleasure.
A warm natural light was invading the apartment; which we enjoyed quite
a lot, as many other palace hotels in Paris tend to have darker rooms:
just like the Ritz, for instance, which is the direct concurrent of the
BRISTOL. Such a brightness made us cheerful at first sight, despite of
the clouds over Paris on those sad winter days. We heard that many artists
don't like the sun that much: the heavy chintz curtain would luxuriously
isolate them from the outside world in a minute. The Persian carpets
and the discreet centuries old prints would make anybody feel home rather
than in an impersonal hotel room. We felt actually like in a privately
owned property; nothing to do with standard Hilton or Intercontinental
rooms, hopefully... If the suite was large (about 100 sq. m, at first sight),
the bathroom, made out of Carrara marble, was palatial. Most of the rooms
and suites have been recently equipped with a similar one. Bathrooms at
the BRISTOL are now the largest in Paris: almost the size of a four-star
hotel room in the centre of Prague! The toiletry is naturally provided
by Hermès: noblesse oblige.
We could
inspect the largest apartments, currently refurbished by decision of Pierre
Ferchaud: starting with the superlative Penthouse, which looks like a private
mansion. Its living room 
was
formerly equipped with a direct lift, recently replaced by... a fireplace.
World famous artists DO love it. This is Céline Dion's house, when
in Paris. Don't expect, nevertheless, to find here anything plush and flashy;
the room is simply luxurious and cosy. If decorum is your style, then rather
book the Presidential and Vice-Presidential suites. Huge (300sq m), they
have been designed for state presidents and Hollywood movie stars. Those
very special and distinctive travellers, like Robert de Niro, would never
like to stay somewhere else than here: enjoying the panorama over the Sacred
Heart, the Eiffel Tower, and the roofs of an idealised Vincente Minelli
like Paris they scarcely visit. Preferring organising appointments or resting
in their suite, where they also have lunch rather than in the splendid
ground floor restaurant. Which
explains why the BRISTOL has one of the very best room service in town.
Chef Eric Frechon has been awarded two Michelin star. While the casual
room service menu balances between the omelette and the toasted cheese
sandwich with ham, the VIPs staying at the BRISTOL often prefer some more
sophisticated courses: just like a Lobster with Cream Polenta and Squid
Ink, or Crispy Cannellonis with Almonds and Chocolate "Caraque"...
The hotel
gets a particular advantage compared to its direct competitors: a pool.
A splendid, unique, and most enjoyable one, indeed! Sharing the 6th 
floor
with a fitness club equipped the Californian way, it had been designed
by Dr Pinnau. A famous name among the jet-society, as he used to be the
architect for Niarchos and Onassis yachts. On the freshly restaured
frescoes offering the swimmer a seaside panorama, you may recognise the
Grand-Hotel du Cap d'Antibes (Eden Roc), under similar ownership.
Another particularity: those who like to go shopping on their own can ask to the concierge the key... of a Smart car. A complimentary service, which seems to please very much the Rolls Royce and Ferrari addicted!
Should we add that, as a matter of fact, the service is anticipating any normal or eccentric requirement from part of the most pernickety guest. The 2006-2007 rate for a double deluxe room starting from EURO 750, and from EURO 900 for a Junior Suite (EURO 6000 / 8000 for a Presidential Suite), one could decently be treated like a king.
More than 300 people are currently employed to deal with the newly refurbished 178 rooms and 47 suites. Staff is courteous, nice, and extremely attentive: that much that, whenever you handle the "Do not disturb" notice to your door, you may be sure that even without prior notice to the operator all the telephone calls to your room will be filtered.
Affiliated to the LEADING HOTELS OF THE WORLD,
this is one of the top four major palace hotels in Paris. As a paradox,
it is much more famous around the world than in France. Book far in advance
if you want to enjoy this sanctuary of the French perfect taste.
HOTEL
LE BRISTOL: 112, rue du Faubourg St Honoré,
75008 Paris
PHONE:
(33) 01.53.43.43.00
FACSIMILE: 01.53.43.43.01
E-MAIL:
resa@hotel-bristol.com
Also
visit our large review of the best deluxe, charming and palace hotels in
Paris
SEE
OUR COMPLETE REVIEWS OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN PARIS
OUR
SELECTION OF DELUXE SHOPPING IN PARIS
