Le Royal Monceau

The day the newly renovated Le Royal Monceau opened its doors was the day we had to stop saying most of the things we’ve been saying about Parisian grand hotels all these years. No longer is it sensible to say that Paris, when it comes to luxury hotels, is entirely a conservative town — not now that Le Royal Monceau has been redesigned from top to bottom by none other than Philippe Starck.

Whether it’s proof that the boutique revolution has finally conquered the hospitality mainstream, or simply proof that the industry is finally ready to give Starck his due, one can’t be sure. It certainly feels like proof of something. We have a pet theory around here that the original grand hotels — we’re talking a hundred years ago, before they all became frozen in time — were all about sensory overload, about dazzling the spectator with rich materials and bold effects. And if that’s the case then the new Royal Monceau is simply a return to form.

Here, seemingly unconstrained by budgetary concerns, Starck’s imagination runs wild. Hallucinogenic stripes create op-art effects in the halls, and there’s glass and crystal everywhere, from the staircase with its million tiny chandeliers to the hall-of-mirrors bathrooms. The hotel’s got its own Art District, an in-house gallery, and installation pieces line the common spaces.

Underneath all this, however, is not some fly-by-night boutique, but an impeccably crafted and luxurious five-star hotel, with all the trappings: Clarins spa, conference space, kids’ club (arranged upon request), even a “junket room” with extra sitting space for the journalists who’ve come to interview you. The handful of restaurants and lounges are dramatic spaces, destined to pick up where they left off as some of Paris’s favorite meeting points. All this five minutes from the Arc du Triomphe. Altogether a totally unique experience — though we’re hoping it won’t stay unique for too long.