Palais Garnier in Paris - Photo Credit : Peter Rivera

After three attempts, beginning in 1875, the long-awaited restaurant of the Paris Opera is getting ready to open its doors on 27 June 2011 under the management of Pierre François Blanc. Numerous chefs’ names have been circulating regarding this coveted post.

The Chef who was finally chosen to take charge of the menu is the two-star Chef, Christophe Aribert. He has been working for twelve years at the restaurant “Les Terrasses”, in Uriage, close to Grenoble, where he discovered his real talent and passion for gastronomy. This lover of products of quality and audacious alliances loves to push perfectionism to the extreme. Each dish is precisely measured, offering the palate much sought-after flavours. Authenticity, strictness, creativity, and perfection are words that define the very personal work of Christophe Aribert.

Christophe Aribert (Photo credit: Totem Studio)

Christophe Aribert, two star Chef: “Today, the public doesn’t know me because I have always stayed away from the media. I am someone who is passionate and discrete. Accepting the L’Opéra, is no trivial thing: it is associating my name with a highly cultural place, a listed building of French national heritage. For me this makes a lot of sense. I am very enthusiastic about the idea of being the first to write a menu in a place so highly charged with history”.

Pierre François Blanc, restaurant owner: “in the course of our search for a Chef we had incredible encounters around the whole of France. But it was Christophe Aribert who seduced us with his approach to cuisine, both contemporary and classic, that fitted, in perfect harmony with the spirit that we wanted for this unique restaurant”.

The team at Paris Opéra

To create the menu, Chef Aribert has worked, in collaboration with the Executive Chef Yann Tanneau (Castel Beau Site, Mama Shelter), Sous-Chef Didier Quennouelle (Royal Mirage, Le Fouquet’s) and the Pastry Chef Hervé Moreau (Pierre Gagnaire, Michel Rostang), who form the heart of the L’Opéra team. Together, they designed the future menu of the restaurant, in the image of the spatial architecture, where the contemporary forms imagined by Odile Decq, respond to the classic forms of Charles Garnier. One can expect regional products such as lobster, whiting, and sole (after all, Yann Tanneau was born in Brittany), as well as trout and guinea fowl for Christophe Aribert who hails from Isère. Around the bar, the cocktail list will follow the same adaptation. Here, as well, the very classic “Martini Charles” responds to the surprising and disconcerting “Phantom by Martini”.

An architectural place

On the architectural side, the restaurant is designed by French architect Odile Decq. It is located behind the pillars of the eastern side. The restaurant’s façade undulates like a simple veil of glass placed behind the pillars. No visible structure, only a simple steel blade holds the totally transparent glass in place, as if by magic. Inside, a mezzanine was designed as a kind of vessel slipped beneath the dome. Its curves refer to the shape of a fluid ghost. The space is open and opens the view to the outside. The red down the steps of the staircase so theatrical and spread across the black soil. Everything has been created to match the quality of the restaurant located in the Opera Garnier, without mimicking the existing architecture, respecting it but actually affirming its contemporary character.

Photo Credit : ODBC / Thomas Series

The L’Opéra restaurant will be accessible to everyone, directly from Place Jacques Rouché, every day of the week, from 7am until midnight.

L’Opéra
Place Jacques Rouché
75009 Paris, France
www.opera-restaurant.fr

Opening : june 2011 A la carte is around 60 euros (starter + main dish+ dessert)

History

The Palais Garnier was inaugurated on 5 January 1875. Since it was opened, the architect, Charles Garnier, envisaged the creation of a restaurant. His project was not realised due to insufficient funds. Two other attempts were made by directors of the theatre, in 1973, by Rolf Liebermann, followed in 1992 by Pierre Bergé and Hugues Gall, but these projects failed for the same reasons. In March 2007, Opera director Gerard Mortier, in the face of international competition from opera houses, also with the wish to open up opera to a new public, decided to re-launch the project through an invitation to tender.

After 16 months of negotiations, the offer presented by Pierre François Blanc was accepted by the Paris Opera on 1 July 2008 and almost a year later, the architectural project of Odile Decq received the backing of the National Commission of Historic Monuments (on 15 June 2009). The restaurant will be situated at street level, Place Jacques Rouché, and at the junction of rue Halévy and rue Gluck, in a space called “Descente à couvert”. Construction, which started in the summer of 2010, will finish 27 June 2011, allowing the dining room of the restaurant to open its doors, a continuation of the history of the Palais Garnier, after 136 years.

If you are looking for a sophisticated boutique hotel in Paris close to the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde, check out the newly renovated La Maison Champs-Elysées, redesigned by Maison Martin Margiela. The intriguing theatrical environment blends reality and trompe-l’oeil into a surreal atmosphere.

The hotel’s 40 rooms and suites feature comfortable luxury bedding and warm cozy touches in addition to the contemporary chic decor, which is minimalist but striking. Note that there are very quiet rooms facing the hotel’s private garden. The hotel is on an elegant street between the Champs Elysees and the Seine, only minutes away from the luxury designer boutiques of the Avenue Montaigne.

Although the rack rates start at 225 EUR (superior room), the hotel’s website has many special offers including an early booking rate of 135 EUR. Check their website for the best deals.

When you arrive in Paris, read the guides to our favorite restaurants in the city:

Paris bistros and brasseries: French comfort food at its best

Mapplr’s favorite restaurants and cafes in Paris

For the best boutiques in the city, check out the Paris Shopping Guide of our sister site, Shopplr.com.

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La Maison Champs Elysées
8 Rue Jean Goujon
75008 Paris, France
+33 1 4074 6465
Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.

Now managed by the Raffles Group, Le Royal Monceau was originally designed by Louis Duhayon and has since become very popular among artists and celebrities.  Notable guests have included Winston Churchill, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. Other artists and celebrities such as Walt Disney and Coco Chanel have used it as a meeting point since its opening. The hotel was founded by Pierre Bermont and  André Junot who owned many French luxury hotels such as the Miramar in Cannes and the Carlton in Paris.

The newly renovated hotel includes 150 luxury rooms instead of the 260 which now includes 54 suites and 10 prestige apartments.  This remodeling allows for even larger and more luxurious rooms which are not enclosed in one style but composed of many-in-one through distinctive lighting and furnishings.   The suites are designed as private home-away-from-home for worldwide trekkers and following its artistic mood, it comes with a signature “Royal Monceau” acoustic guitar and rooms are filled with works of art, art books, and an artist’s work desk.  There is also WiFi and a mobile sound-recording studio available upon request.  The rooms are redesigned by Phiippe Starck and he makes each room feel like it is lived in, filled with a past life, and a story that the traveler is invited to pursue.

The cuisine is sure to impress with pastry master, Pierre Hermé, who created a new menu of pastries for the 5 restaurants and cafés.   The Spa My Blend by Clarins is a unique blend of luxury and well-being with its contemporary yet timeless elegance that includes a a 26-meter swimming pool, the largest hotel pool in Paris.

If you are intrigued by art and fashion, this is the place to stay.  Rates start from 730 EUR and reservations can be made online.

Located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Pres on the Left Bank, La Belle Juliette opened in January 2011 to the delight of visitors looking for intimate lodgings in Paris.  This opulent yet cozy boutique hotel is inspired by Juliette Recamier, the famous literary salonierre who was revered for her ability to charm and entertain.  She was a influential woman who led many literary and political circles during the early 19^th Century.

Some of the small 34 rooms test the limits of cozy but the rich palette and meticulous furnishings (books are specially sourced by local antiquarian, Pascal Trovero) more than compensate.  Be prepared to be enchanted by the romantic atmosphere, beautiful colors, and subtle elegance created under the care of designer Anne Gelbart, who is renowned for her French ‘Home Couture’.  Her mission was to channel Juliette and bring to life her beauty and personality in La Belle Juliette.  Since Juliette herself was a chic trendsetter, iconic pieces such as an Eero Saarinen table and Jens Risom chair are introduced to the hotel.

Every floor is meant to resemble a particular person or period of Juliette’s life and the color themes range from monochromatic white to bold contrasting colors which create a refined and discreetly luxurious mood. Being known to use fine fabrics, Gelbard used fabrics from Dior and Lacroix among others to add to the luxury. The rooms possess all contemporary amenities that include iMac computers along with free WiFi.

The hotel is equipped with a luxurious spa and plenty of dining. Guests can eat at Le Talma, a bar and restaurant that has carefully crafted menus for breakfast, lunch, afternoon treats, and dinner.  Rates start at 300 Euros for a Classique Room and special rates are often posted on their website.

The hotel was renovated this year with interiors designed by Christophe Delcourt. There is a small restaurant on the premises that serves Japanese bento box meals created by Shinsuke Kawahare of the popular Japanese restaurant Usagi.

There are five types of rooms and one large apartment: City S (for one person); City D, City K and City L for 2 persons; a Zen Suite; and the Citizen Apartment which has 2 separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, but sadly, no kitchen. The interiors have clean lines and an uncluttered, sparse look, but the spaces retain a feeling of warmth and cosiness because of the natural light wood panelling and textured fabrics.

Rates per night start at 149 EUR for the one-person room (City S), 169 EUR for City D; 219 EUR for City K and L; 249 EUR for the Zen Suite; 418 for the Citizen Apartment. Rooms come equipped with free Wi-Fi, an iPad for use during your stay, flat screen TVs, minibar, a safe that can accommodate a laptop, and bath products from Omnisens.

Le Citizen Hotel
96 Quai de Jemappes
75010 Paris
+33 (0)1 83 62 55 50
Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.

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NOTE: This hotel is not affiliated with the stylish budget Citizen M hotel in Glasgow and Amsterdam.

Inès de la Fressange, French fashion model and style icon, has written a book called La Parisienne which contains her favorite addresses in Paris for fashion, beauty, home interiors and spas, as well as cafes and restaurants. You can buy the book online at Amazon.fr and FNAC. The English translation won’t be out until spring 2011.

UPDATE: You can order Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange now from Amazon.com. It will be released in the US on 5 April 2011.

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Check out our fashion and style site, Shopplr.

If you are going to Paris and are looking to stay in a modern design hotel with retro chic elements, as well as excellent shopping nearby, check out the Hotel Jules, located in the 9th arrondissement, within walking distance from the grands magasins (big department stores) such as the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, as well as the boutiques, cafes and restaurants of the rue des Martyrs. It is only a few steps away from the fabled auction house, Drouot, and the intimate antique shops in the neighborhood.

Hotel Jules is a charming boutique hotel with lots of personality and design inspired by the 50s, 60s, and 70s, but revamped with contemporary touches.  It has 95 rooms in three different categories: standard, superior or deluxe; each overlook either the courtyard of the street and has Wi-Fi as well as LCD TVs.  In addition, there are 6 junior suites that even have direct elevator access. In fact, the junior suites should suit all tastes as it is “sensual, eye-catching, cozy, vintage, glamorous, sexy, [and] trendy” with soft and golden lighting throughout the rooms to “melt your stress away”.  Located on the rue La Fayette, this vibrant and bohemian area is renowned for its chic glass covered passageways and traditional Parisian restaurants and stylish clothing stores.

The hotel and its unique twists on simple furnishings feature quirky items such as the “Cadillac Seat” — 50s inspired and looks like the back seat of a Cadillac” lining  the walls of the lobby.  The Internet station is also anything but standard and is called the “Internet Capsule’”as it is designed as a white ball that exudes the ultra 70s look which is the perfect combination of technology and tradition (think of the designer Paco Rabanne and his fashion models in minis with white patent leather boots channeling 2001 Space Odyssey)

In addition to the bar that offers an intimate environment and a plethora of beverages, there is a breakfast room that is inspired by American diners of the 50s.  For those on business, there is a meeting room that is the contemporary version of 70s style and can accommodate 16 people around the table or up to 30 for cocktails.  The standard rooms are quite affordable at 140 EUR and the hotel has plenty of design to make your experience pleasant.  Reservations can be made online.

If you are going shopping in Paris, check out our sister site, Shoppler’s, shopping guide to Paris.

Hotel Sezz is as elegant as the finest places in Paris, yet it is contemporary and has none of the stiff formality that accompanies the more traditional luxury hotels in the city . The hotel has a friendly staff member to welcome you with a kind hello and a drink upon arrival. With only 26 rooms (ranging in size from 18 to to 65 square metres), it feels very intimate and exclusive.

For those staying in Paris on business, Wi-Fi is offered throughout the hotel and there is a meeting room that can fit up to 10 people and is equipped with a plasma screen.  The hotel even allows pets and babysitting for children if needed.

Rooms have a uniquely modern, striking design with all amenities such as flat screen TVs, and iPod docking stations. For added luxury, you will find Petrossian chocolates and Kiehl’s skincare products in your room.  Rooms and suites are often described “perfect bachelor pads” with dark wooden floors and tomato red or mustard-toned rugs. Beds are a luxurious take on the “camp bed” and are made of chrome frames with leather headboards, flannel blankets, and cashmere throws.

The wellness center is a delightful place to relax as it is equipped with a hammam, jacuzzi and massage room. To extend your relaxation, you can you can head around the back and find the Grande Dame bar which was named for Veuve Clicquot’s most prized Champagne cuvee.  The bar can also be rented out for Champagne tasting, private parties, or press events.

The hotel’s location is ideal for those visiting Paris for the first time, as well as for return visitors. Aside from the Eiffel Tower, notable sights close to the hotel are the Palais de Tokyo (dedicated to contemporary art, located at 13 avenue du Président-Wilson, near the Trocadéro) and the Musée du quai Branly (known in English as the Quai Branly Museum, nicknamed MQB, designed by Jean Nouvel and featuring indigenous art, cultures and civilizations from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas).

Hotel Du Parc is a boutique hotel with 23 art-deco style double standard rooms located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris on the Left Bank. It is only 10 minutes from the Jardins Luxembourg and 2 minutes from the Gare Montparnasse. The neighborhood around Hotel du Parc is filled with lively cafes, brasseries and trendy boutiques. As many travelers are on a tight budget, Hotel du Parc is a real find in Paris. Room rates usually start at 120 EUR for a double, but this summer, they are running a promotion: 68 EUR for a double room!

Hôtel du Parc
6 rue Jolivet
75014 Paris
France
+ 33 1 43 20 95 54
www.hotelduparcparis.com
Email the hotel to inquire about a booking.