In 1911, palaces began flourishing in the East of France. Jules Cadillat decided to lay the foundations for the Hotel Plaza on the avenue Montaigne. The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées would set up shop not far away. Originally conceived as a place to spend the evening after a show, it is now unconceivable for one to exist without the other. 1913: one would open up on the 31st, the other the next day. Indeed, legendary stories are never dull! The Plaza brand was already in use, though, and its competitor threatened to go after the hotel. It was Emile Armbruster, director general at that time, who added the final missing piece: Athénée. The Plaza Athénée was inaugurated on April 20th. Naturally, musical masters, composers, and interpreters would soon show up in numbers. Without a doubt, the panoramic view, extending from the Avenue Montaigne to Montmartre, contributed to making it a fashionable place, THE place to get a drink or stay on vacation.
Over the years, its reputation began crossing borders. The hotel also changed ownership. Put up for sale after the Great Depression, its doors were closed from 1934 to 1936. The rooms on the 7th floor became studios that were rented out by the month, regardless of whether they were connected to other rooms or not. In that very year, the restaurant Le Relais Plaza, today graced by three stars from Michelin, was designed by architect and decorator Constant Lefranc. But three years later, Paris was occupied, and the Plaza Athénée commandeered as well. Risking their lives, the personnel secretly transfered linens, wine, tapestries, and silverware to safety in a private residence on the rue Quentin-Bauchart.
When Christian Dior opened his avenue Montaigne boutique in 1947, the clientele changed. A new era was beginning: the era of Haute Couture. The palace, one of the first to be officially named as such in 2011, became one of fashion and art, ideal for any and every hedonist. In 2008, the Institut Dior set up shop there, their spa giving a blissful aura of comfort and impeccable service. Grace Kelly, Gary Cooper, the Ford and Kennedy families… all of them have been guests at the hotel, proving its exceptionality. The spirit of innovation of its successive directors has created a standard of quality, excellence, gastronomic savoir-faire, and refinement as evidenced by the decor that unites the elegance of tradition with modernity. In 2010, it was the first to be labeled in France as an “enterprise of living patrimony”. This pinnacle of perfection is celebrating its first century of being with pomp. The Palace of tomorrow proves that you can always count on it.
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