The hotel was originally located at 223 rue du Saint HonorĂ©. Initially excelling in responding to the practical needs of travelers from the British coastal regions, Le Meurice soon began to attract princes, princesses, sovereigns, artists, and writers that primarily enjoyed its environment that brought to mind all the splendor of Versailles, Fontainebleau, or Le Trianon. In 1835, it was the first hotel to enter into the extremely select circle of luxury hotels – or at least Parisian palace hotels. At the same time, Le Meurice took up on the rue de Rivoli, number 228. Not far from the Place de la Concorde, within walking distance from the Louvre and right across from the Jardin des Tuileries, adored by artists of renown such as Salvador Dali, Le Meurice quickly garnered a reputation as a legendary hotel.
But this temple of luxury ended up resting on its laurels and, after around 200 years of existence, closed down with such discretion that it softly faded from memory. In 2007, the hotel made a comeback. With the guidance of a number of renowned architects, the palace hotel revisited its private spaces with humor and glamour aplenty. At the crossroads of past and present, the lobby areas were revisited by Philippe Starck. Adopting the Belle Epoque aesthetic that originally forged Le Meurice’s success, the interior designer crafted a luxurious atmosphere that maintained strong ties with the heart and soul of the property in a more resolutely chic and contemporary incarnation.
With its new approach, Le Meurice no doubt incarnates a French palace more than ever. Sumptuous volumes, the flamboyance of the service – what once was obsolete is now indubitably alive and well. Each of the seven floors corresponds to a different variant of Louis XVI style. The tranquil atmosphere improves as time passes, while the charm of things from a time gone by holds onto certain choice privileges. Upon contact with our modernity, Le Meurice’s grand salon, “Le Jardin d’Hiver” has become “Le Dali”. The restaurant has also opted for a collaboration with a number of artists.
Philippe Starck was once more entrusted with redecorating the space. The historic glass ceiling is dissimulated beneath an artistic veil, while the antique furniture is substituted with the eclecticism and elegance of more design-conscious furnishings. Perhaps less formal but warmer and more with the times, Le Dali quickly became a hot spot for in-the-know Parisians. Under the direction of Alain Ducasse, authentic tastes are always the platter du jour. Using seasonal products, the chef didn’t take long to see his establishment bequeathed with 3 stars. Le Meurice of today is still a meeting point for international high society. The hotel is truly a hotbed of renowned artists, politicians, actors, and CEOs that come to share moments of convivial intimacy. Le Meurice is thus an ode to an unconditional love of art, a timeless source of inspiration that states its case for the complexation of past and present.
Leave a Reply