Hotels are always opening in Paris – good luck keeping count – but within six months, two of Asia’s most prestigious hospitality brands unveiled new properties in the City of Light, further raising the bar on luxury.
Fortunately, it’s impossible to confuse the Shangri-La and the Mandarin Oriental. Not only is there fair geographic distance between them, they embody different eras and, as such, will appeal to different tastes. Where the Shangri-La adheres to Old World grandeur, the Mandarin Oriental is a product of today, marrying modern architecture with fashionable, highly tactile flourishes. Both were overseen by powerhouse Parisian designers, Pierre-Yves Rochon for the former and Sybille de Margerie at the latter.
The Shangri-La, approaching its one-year anniversary, has a six-month lead on the Mandarin Oriental, which opened in June. Recently, I was a guest of eachfor an evening, and each experience painted Paris uniquely – much the same way Monet’s Paris shares little in common with Brassai’s. Of the two, the Shangri-La carries more Asian touches – from decor to cuisine – than the Mandarin Oriental.
Did I fancy one more than the other? Yes, the Mandarin Oriental won me over mainly because I felt its proposition was fresher, its execution nearly flawless and its service a touch more personal. But I suspect traditionalists and hard-core romantics would beg to differ.
BACKGROUND
Shangri-La: The hotel occupies a mansion that was built in 1896 by Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew, Roland. It took four years and $100-million to return what had become a tired government office space to its former residential splendour. Most structural elements are original and have been preserved and restored. In the gilded Grand Salon, you can imagine lavish soirees, past and future.
Mandarin Oriental: A three-year renovation transformed the former Ministry of Justice building (built in 1930, then converted into a monastery, and then a riding school) into the Mandarin Oriental’s second European property. (The first is in London.) Compared with other grande dame Paris hotels in historic buildings, this one lacks the same decadent curb appeal. But the lobby sparkles with contemporary, bespoke touches and the courtyard garden serves as a lush oasis in the heart of the city.
LOCATION
S-L The 16th arrondissement is not recognized as one of the city’s livelier neighbourhoods. It does, however, possess one of the finest and unobstructed vantage points of the Eiffel Tower in all Paris. Art buffs will also appreciate being so close to the Musée d’Art Moderne and Palais du Tokyo. The Avenue Montaigne, known for its designer shops, is a 10-minute walk away.
MO For starters, fashion brands DSquared2 and Ports 1961 flank the hotel’s entrance as newly opened flagship boutiques. Then there’s Goyard, Gucci, Miu Miu and all the haute jewellers on the Place Vendôme. Translation: You could do serious shopping damage without walking more than a few hundred metres. Two blocks away you’ll find the impeccably manicured Tuileries Gardens for a stroll or sprint.
HAUTE CUISINE
S-L At L’Abeille, Philippe Labbé’s gastronomic fare is being positioned as Michelin-star-worthy. But more novel is Shang Palace, the first high-end authentic Chinese restaurant in a French hotel. It was too brightly lit and formal for my taste although I enjoyed watching the Peking duck carved tableside. Enjoy East-meets-West afternoon tea in La Bauhinia, the airy two-storey space that also serves lunch and dinner.
MO Scoring chef Thierry Marx is a coup for the hotel; this is his Paris debut after receiving two Michelin stars working in Bordeaux. At the Mandarin Oriental, he oversees both Camélia, where I ate on two occasions with near flawless results, and Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx, which is intimate and utterly gourmet. The bar (smartly designed by Agence Jouin Manku) skews slightly more business than pleasure. But the swank pastry shop is 100-per-cent fun.
OMNIPRESENT WINGED MOTIF
S-L Bees, which represent the Bonaparte’s imperial insignia.
