Andre Saraiva | cheriecity.co.uk

Bars, Hotels, Hotels - Design, Paris, Restaurants

An Amazing Dinner at Hotel Amour Paris

September 30, 2014 by cheriecity

The restaurant at Hotel Amour is one of my favourite spots in Paris for a fun, stylish night out.

Tucked away on rue Navarin in hip South Pigalle (SoPi), Hotel Amour is an affordable boutique hotel with a popular restaurant and terrace. Co-owned by the inimitable graffiti artist and entrepreneur André Saraiva (Le Baron, La Fidelité, Monsieur A.) and Thierry Costes, the hotel is always buzzing with a cool crowd of Parisian creatives, fashion folk and clued-up travellers.

Many of the rooms are designed by artists such as Pierre Le-Tan, Mark Newson and Sophie Calle and there’s plenty of erotic artwork to live up to the hotel’s name – it is in racy Pigalle, after all.

New hotels and restaurants open in Paris all the time, but there’s something timeless and sexy about Hotel Amour – it never seems to go out of style.

I knew there was nowhere else I wanted to spend my recent 30th birthday than the restaurant at Hotel Amour.

Not only does it have a great atmopshere, a romantic garden and good food, but there are also tons of great bars nearby (check out Glass, Dirty Dick, Chez Moune, Le Dépanneur and Le Mansart). Also, we were conveniently staying in the neighbourhood at the delightful Hotel Josephine.

We caught up with our Parisian friends Coralie and Sunny, who managed to secure us a fantastic table on the terrace overlooking the lush outdoor garden. The evening started on a high with an unexpected birthday present for me – a very Parisian boho-luxe leather purse (Coralie has excellent taste in accessories).

We began by ordering some cocktails – Coralie and I both went for a deliciously sweet Amaretto Sour topped with toasted almonds while Sunny and Steven went for the stronger, sharper Godfather Sour.

After ordering, we were brought a basket of really good rustic bread served with a pot of French salted butter. The butter covers are printed with the cool Hotel Amour logo and even the wine glasses are engraved with André’s signature scrawl – they sure know a thing or two about branding.

Being indecisive and deep in conversation, it took us a while to decide what to order, but our charming waitresses were so relaxed and patient. As usual, I was tempted by the Cheeseburger (€19), which was cooked perfectly medium and spiked with a jazzy cocktail stick. The lean, well-seasoned beef patty was smothered in gooey cheese and packed in a seeded demi-brioche bun.

Happily, they came with a big bowl of crispy, delicious French fries – in fact the portion size was so generous that I could easily share them with the table. On other occasions, I’ve ordered the Poulet Roti (€19), which is equally moreish and comforting.

Coralie and Steven both ordered the Gratin de Macaronis au jambon blanc (16.50). The long tubes of macaroni were perfectly cooked and baked with thick-carved, flavoursome ham and lots of cream, Emmental and Gruyère. The portion size wasn’t particularly big, but the richness of the dish made it a satisfying choice.

Sunny’s Salade de Légumes (€18) took quite a while to arrive after a Salade Nicoise was mistakenly sent out. Luckily, there were plenty of fries and bread to munch on while he was waiting.

It seemed only fair that Sunny’s Chocolate Ganache (€9.50) dessert was the clear winner. The velvety, decadent milk chocolate ganache was served on a cookie crumb and topped with toasted hazelnuts and a sprinkling of sea salt.

Coralie ordered a classic Café Gourmand (with a Mariage Frère tea instead of coffee), which included a platter of four nicely-presented mini desserts. Steven and I shared a large slice of home-made Crème Caramel. It tasted fantastic but it was comically unattractive – a large slab of bubbly cream sitting in a moat of light caramel sauce, rather than the petite, quivering desserts that I’ve had before in Paris brasseries.

Hotel Amour is great for a spot of people-watching, catching up with friends or enjoying a few cocktails on the terrace. There’s room for improvement, but its charm always wins me over and I know I’ll be lured back there time and time again.

For more information and booking, visit: www.hotelamourparis.fr

Photos by Chérie City & Hotel Amour Paris

Hotels, Hotels - Design, London

A Great Stay at Town Hall Hotel London

February 20, 2012 by cheriecity

Imagine a hotel where you can spend a few hours freshening up after a long journey, preparing for a business meeting or engaging in a romantic tryst without have to spend the whole nightly rate. Day Use Hotels makes the ‘mini stay’ possible at a negotiated rate in some of London’s most exclusive hotels.

Already popular in Paris and cities around Europe, Day Use offers a new hotel experience, made easier by its quick, discreet and easy-to-use website. Founded by five friends who met and worked at Andre Saraiva’s Hotel Amour in Paris, Day Use was inspired by guests wishing to book rooms by the hour.

As the creator of Love Graffiti and a generally amorous kind of guy, André must have been happy to support the combination of love and hotels proposed by his colleagues. Co-founder Thibaud d’Agrèves told me: “We all worked for and with André for many years. André has these skills to support all new project and as we worked together, he made us a little clip art which represents his vision of our concept and offered us that as a gift to begin our new adventure.”

‘Love hotels’ have been a part of life in countries such as Brazil and Spain, where people often live with their parents longer and want some privacy for their love lives.

Thibaud explained: “This practice has existed for years, today we are modernising it with the internet. It becomes even trendy, glamorous and modern to offer a dayuse. Attitudes are changing.”

Town Hall Hotel

I visited the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green to see just what this cheeky little 11am-5pm visit would inspire. Don’t expect all the details of what goes on behind my closed hotel door, but I can tell you I left feeling rejuvenated and relaxed, without the need to even stay the night.

Town Hall Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel and residence with 98 rooms in the East End. The Grade II listed Edwardian former council building is full of character, with Art Deco interiors at play with cutting edge design and vintage furniture.

The Lobby

Town Hall Hotel has invested in some intriguing art works by six East London artists, which you can discover around the hotel. Some of my favourites were the vault at the entrance, a giant Victorian dolls house and a mounted moose’s head covered in a Persian rug.

The Studio Room

Our Studio Room was very spacious and a stunning mix of polished wood, wool and felt furnishings in neutral and green shades. The room was filled with a mix of designer furniture and vintage pieces, with original artwork on the walls.

The Kitchen

Unlike most hotel rooms, ours had a fully-appointed, partitioned kitchen with a Musetti espresso machine and selection of teas, cooking utencils and crockery and a fridge stocked with fresh milk and bottle of complimentary mineral water.

The Bedroom

It also had a separate dining table and a living space with a stack of magazines and a large flat screen TV. The bedroom had a partition to change the energy of the room and an incredibly comfy double bed with sumptuous linen and plenty of pillows. I loved the double sheepskin rugs by the sides of the bed.

The Bathroom

The open glass bathroom was a cool design feature and had tiny mosaic walls and a powerful shower. Bathroom amenities were by Rituals and there were embroidered bath robes and slippers, plenty of fluffy towels and a cute rubber duck in the shower.

Floor to ceiling windows provided plenty of natural daylight and the decorative aluminium grate cleverly shields the room from the view of nearby residents.

A Welcome Treat

We were welcomed with a delicious exotic fruit plate, which we grazed on throughout the day. During our six hours at the Town Hall Hotel, we made use of the complimentary wifi, took a dip in the stunning pool and managed to squeeze in a long afternoon nap.

Viajante Bar

After checking out, we made use of our welcome drink voucher at the ever so stylish bar of the Michelin starred restaurant, Viajante. We sipped on the House Punch and did a spot of people-watching, as Viajante chef Nuno Mendes spoke to journalists at the next table.

The Corner Room

There really is no need to leave the Town Hall Hotel, as Viajante offers experimental cooking to impress, while The Corner Room is great for more informal food with a daily changing menu. The Town Hall Tea Lady comes by the rooms with her martini trolley in the evening, should you want a cocktail in the privacy of your own room and there’s even a room service menu by The Corner Room.

If you’re staying for longer, you can book the spectacular De Montfort suite, which spans three floors, or arrange a private dinner with a chef in your room.

Location

With Day Use, you’d be tempted stay all day in your room, but should you wish to pop out for some air, there are some great local restaurants and cafes such as Bistrotheque, Ombra, E5 Bakehouse and Mare Street Market. Also worth a visit are the art galleries on Vyner Street and the weekend food markets on Broadway Market and leafy London Fields.

With the fleeting, romantic nature of Day Use, surely the co-founders have come across plenty of secrets and juicy gossip. Thibaud said: “Secrets should stay secret, but I can tell you that we helped a lot of people, couples in their construction of relationships and themselves. Of course we have a lot of spicy feedback and romantic story to tell you but that something we keep for ourselves.”

Day Use has a great selection of London hotels, including Ten Manchester Street, St John Hotel and The Beaufort, and will gradually expand to other cities in the UK and soon New York.

Chérie City was a guest of Day Use and Town Hall Hotel.

Beauty

New Fragrance: Kenzo FlowerTAG

August 30, 2011 by cheriecity

FlowerByKenzo is an iconic fragrance that has endured over the years and hold court alongside modern classics such as Jean-Paul Gaultier Classique, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue or Thierry Mugler Angel.

Releasing a new ‘interpretation’ of a classic fragrance can be an arduous task and this summer, the brand has launched Kenzo FlowerTAG. At first glance, I thought it might just be a slightly lighter fragrance with cool new packaging, but in fact, its very individual and almost a completely different scent.

Kenzo FlowerTAG is inspired by the personal expression of tagging, with the idea of the signature Kenzo poppy emerging spontaneously on the urban landscape, like graffiti – transient and full of creative energy.

The fragrance first hits you with a youthful rush of tart fruitiness with notes of Rhubarb, Blackcurrant and Mandarin. This is swiftly followed by a fresh, intoxicating floral blend of Peony, Lily of the Valley and Jasmine.

The fragrance stays sparkling and bursting with florals, but it is gradually warmed by Tea Note, Vanilla and Musk.

Kenzo FlowerTAG is an effervescent, sexy, vibrant scent that is all about youth, rebellion and passion. It’s unconventional and a real departure from Kenzo Flower, which reflects the quirky side of intelligent – in fashion terms, much like Prada or Marni.

I was also drawn to FlowerByKenzo but for very different reasons. It’s a clean, powdery fragrance that reminds me of fresh linen, parma violets and elegant lilies, but with a slight edge of fresh greenery. It shares some of the same notes as its younger sister, but its unique aroma comes from Parma Violet, Hawthorn, Cassis, Bulgarian Rose and Opoponax.

With FlowerByKenzo there is a touch of androgyny, but Kenzo FlowerTAG is a very feminine fragrance and is definitely aimed at a younger wearer. The fiery red bottle echoes the shape of the original long, leaning bottle but features white graffiti with the words ‘flower flower flower’ inscribed.

Kenzo FlowerTAG artistic director Patrick Guedj said that the product conception was based on “the idea of reclaiming this spirit of love and generosity in the graffiti. The challenge was to give tags a feminine touch, a really poetic vibe.”

This made me think of French graff-artist André’s Love Graffiti (he is commissioned to graffiti lovers’ names on a secret location in Paris) and how beautiful graffiti can be when there is meaning.

In a way, Kenzo’s influence is tagged all over the streets of Paris (ever since Kenzo Takada settled there in the ’60s), so Kenzo FlowerTAG is a very appropriate homage to the legacy of the maison while looking to the future.

Kenzo FlowerTAG launches September 2011 at The Perfume Shop and nationwide and is available from £31 for 30ml to £63 for 100ml (all Eau de Toilette).

Personalised the ad film and tag your messages on www.kenzo-flowertag.com

Art, Designers, Exhibitions, Fashion, London, London Fashion Week, Stores

Blue Logan party @ SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED

September 20, 2010 by cheriecity

After a hectic first day of charging up and down Kingsway (my new Urban Outfitters power wedges didn’t let me down) there was no better way to finish up than gazing at Blue Logan’s exquisite fashion illustrations over a glass of champagne or ten two at the SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED Lounge.

The party was a relaxed but ever-so-stylish affair, with appearances from Zandra Rhodes and Andrew Logan, ELLE fashion editors, London Fashion Week press, East London clubkids, artists and the odd model. New York’s Becka Diamond played a brilliant DJ set of New Wave and party stuff including Siouxie & The Banshees, Fever Ray and Madonna.

Blue Logan is known as the ‘pencil paparazzi’ in fashion circles and the work featured ranges from tiny portrait sketches of the likes of Olivier Zahm and Andre Saraiva to an insanely beautiful painted illustration of an Alexander McQueen dress using goldleaf.

Blue Logan also recreated a runway with two of his front row quick sketches, featuring fashion’s most illustrious characters, headed up by Kaiser Karl himself.

Key looks from the Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Alexander McQueen collection also get the Blue Logan treatment, as well as this statuesque portrait of the inimitable Grace Jones wearing magenta Azzedine Alaïa.

The Blue Logan exhibition runs until 22 September at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED, so there is still time to drop by and view some of his extraordinary work. Also, spend over £60 in store and get a complimentary illustrated tote bag, specially designed by Blue Logan for the exhibition.

Hotels, Hotels - Luxury, Paris

A Luxury Stay at Hotel La Trémoille Paris

September 11, 2010 by cheriecity

Every arrondissement in Paris tells a different story, but the most exclusive and desirable is the 8th, with its grandiose embassies, sweeping Haussman avenues and global fashion houses.

Staying in Paris’ most elegant, refined neighbourhood for the first time certainly added a spring to my step and I couldn’t help wearing those rose-tinted glasses while dashing around the city.

Set within a 19th century Haussman townhouse, Hotel La Trémoille stands proudly at the centre of the ‘golden triangle’ between the prestigious Champs-Élysées and the stylish Avenue Montaigne.

Location

La Trémoille is a chic, contemporary boutique hotel that offers all the bespoke luxuries of the nearby palace hotels but in a more hushed, intimate environment. It has a strong jazz heritage, dating back to the 1960s, when Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington performed a legendary impromptu concert from their adjoining balconies with their orchestra below.

Today, La Trémoille’s illustrious history and hushed luxury have attracted guests such as Rihanna and the notoriously media shy Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis.

Arrival

It was surprisingly easy to find Hotel la Trémoille and it is just a short stroll from either Franklin D.Roosevelt or Alma Marceau metro stations. On arrival, I was immediately relieved of my heavy bags and greeted by the warm, courteous staff at the reception.

The Suite

I was shown to my room, on the second floor, and had the various room features explained to me, which cut back on time spent searching for the air conditioning switch. My bags followed a few moments later.

To call my new abode a mere ‘room’ is an understatement, as it was more like a mini apartment, with the bedroom and bathroom on the mezzanine level and a separate living room. The charming dark wood stairs and railings show the hotel’s sympathetic approach to maintaining the building’s original features and gives it a more homely feel.

The living area features white Haussman style panelled walls with Art Deco lighting and is decorated in elegant camel shades (appropriate for the Autumn/Winter 10-11 trends). It also boasts a traditional wrought iron Haussman balcony overlooking the incredibly chic streets – perfect for a spot of people watching.

Every home comfort is taken care of, as the room is technologically wired up with complimentary high-speed wifi, two flatscreen TVs, a radio DVD player and an iPod base.

Having easy access to the internet in your hotel room is such a blessing, as you can just look up all the fabulous addresses you researched and forgot to jot down, although the Clés d’Or Concierge at La Trémoille would be happy to make any reservations for you.

For the ultimate hideaway stay, the living room has a built-in hatch, so you can have your breakfast, room service or laundry silently delivered while still lounging in your bathrobe.

Bedroom

The bedroom was simply stunning and beautifully designed. Opulent silk drapes frame the tactile flocked velvet wall and are accented with a statement leopard print headboard.

The Queen-size bed was incredibly luxurious, with fine quality linen and a stylish throw – needless to say I slept extremely well that night!

The bedroom also had a flatscreen TV and it own balcony, although the street view could be shaded a night by the heavy mohair curtains. There is also a telephone next to the bed, so you won’t have to stumble down the stairs to answer your wake-up call.

Bathroom

The bathroom was also suitably elegant and carefully considered, with the utmost attention to detail. A stylish mix of wood and marble, the bathroom features a large bath with a powerful shower and an impressive collection of wall-mounted Molton Brown toiletries.

This is the first hotel I’ve stayed in that offers a choice of no less than four bath and shower gels, varying from relaxing to invigorating, and two different types of shampoo. There are also small bottles of Molton Brown conditioner and body lotion to use and take away with you.

Also provided are packets of cosmetic cotton wool, face cloths, a full range of fluffy towels and luxurious embroidered bathrobes. For single travellers, it’s reassuring that there is a telephone in the bathroom, just in case of any emergencies.

When I came back at night after dinner and cocktails at Hotel Amour, my room had been given the full turn-down service. The lights were dimmed, soft French chansons played on the radio, my bed had been made ready to slip into and a cotton mat was placed down next to my bed.

A Welcome Treat

Best of all, waiting for me on the table was a handwritten note from the General Manager Olivier welcoming me to the hotel and the most perfect lilac box containing four exquisite Ladurée macaroons. A long, relaxing shower followed by a macaroon in bed was the blissful end to a perfect day, catching up with my best friend and my favourite city.

Waking at 8am from a prompt call wishing me a ‘good morning’, I really could have done with a few extra hours in that heavenly bed, but Yves Saint Laurent was waiting and fashion waits for no gal, however tired she may be.

Breakfast

The thought of an indulgent breakfast is motivation enough to get ready and start the day. I headed down to Le Louis², the hotel’s bar and restaurant and I had the entire room to myself.

The breakfast was presented as a buffet and offered a hot tray of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and mushrooms and a good continental selection of patisserie, petite baguettes, pancakes and maple syrup, cereal, yoghurt and juices.

American-style hot breakfasts in Paris hotels can be a bit hit or miss, but everything was well-cooked and the scrambled eggs were buttery and delicious. I was also given a generous pot of freshly brewed coffee and a jug of hot milk, which I was able to take up to my room to finish, as I was pressed for time.

At 35 Euros per person, the breakfast will set you back the cost of a dinner, so you’d have to be particularly hungry with enough time to relax and enjoy it to make it worth splashing out.

If I’d stayed longer at La Trémoille, I would have love to try the inventive cuisine and cocktails at Le Louis² bar and restaurant and unwind at the spa, with its sauna and multi-jet shower.

Le Louis²

Head Chef Yann Frohn (previously from Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée) has created a seasonal market menu of contemporary French dishes and comfort food with an artistic flourish. Le Louis² also offers lunch and dinner set menus and is a lunchtime haunt for the well-heeled Avenue Montaigne set.

La Trémoille’s forte is the fine attention to detail and those extra touches that make your stay so memorable. Staying in such a refined, classic hotel is an exclusive neighbourhood really is an indulgent experience. Its exceptional facilities and luxurious bedrooms make it much more of an urban retreat than just a base for exploring the city.

* Chérie City was a guest of Hotel la Trémoille

Paris, Photography

Paris Photo Diary

September 3, 2010 by cheriecity

Paris, 24.08.10 – 25.08.10

merci, boulevard Beaumarchais
Place de la Concorde
rue François 1er
Berthillon glaces on the Île Saint–Louis
Hotel Amour, rue Navarin

Accessories, Designers, Paris, Shopping

Olympia Le-Tan’s AW 10-11 collection at colette

August 1, 2010 by cheriecity

Paris-based designer, DJ and society gal, Olympia Le-Tan has launched her second collection of minaudières and bags at colette, based on her favourite classic novels.

Following her first full collection of luxuriously crafted clutch bags for the Paris concept store last year, Olympia has expanded the collection and diversified into equally covetable suitcases, tote bags and pouches.

Her signature clutch bags are hand-made recreations of first edition book covers, raided from her artist and book collector father, Pierre Le-Tan’s library.

For the AW 10-11 collection, Olympia was inspired by Paris, the 1940s, surrealism and books that were turned into movies. One of the most striking is her range of boxy clutch bags, each featuring a play on the French word boite.

The bags are crafted a base of cotton canvas and are embroidered with silk thread, with felt appliqué in bold colours and lined with Liberty of London fabric. Each piece also comes with a hand-stitched label inside that says, ‘Made in Paris with love’.

The clutch bags are priced between 950-1090 EUR, but there are also more affordable entry pieces, featuring printed illustration by Olympia Le-Tan and André.

The full Olympia Le-Tan AW 10-11 is available to buy online and in store at colette.

Art, Exhibitions, France, Paris, Shopping, Stores

André moves from street to gallery…

February 7, 2010 by cheriecity

I’m becoming more and more convinced that it’s not Sharkozy who runs Paris, but in fact André. No party is complete without him and you’d find it pretty hard not to encounter Monsieur A, his dandyish graffiti character, around town.

André made his name as a world-renowned graffiti artist with his Love Graffiti and has redefined nightlife in Paris, New York and Tokyo with his clubs Le Baron, Le Paris Paris and Beatrice Inn.

This month, André is showing a different side of his work in his ‘drawings’ exhibition at Colette. This is a rare opportunity to see some of his work in a gallery setting, as he would never confine his graffiti to a space.

In an interview with Dazed Digital, André summed up the street art debate perfectly by saying: “You can’t put street art into a gallery, it’s condescending and limiting: 80 per cent of the graffiti is in the act, the challenge. The result is meant to disappear. Galleries are traditional spaces, and street art is what it is: it’s a vandalizing act.”

André took inspiration from the love imagery/LSD art of the 1960s and 1970s, Krazy Kat comic strips and Pierre Le-Tan’s illustrations. Many are very personal with references to his past and present, such as his favourite novels and his whirlwind love affair with ex-wife Uffie and the arrival of their baby Henrietta.

On display will be over 30 sketches, limited edition silk screens and pieces made for Purple Fashion Magazine. The space has also been given a slick André make-over, with spray painted columns, customised surfboards, Monsieur A. rubber balls and a viewing space painted black.

A selection of André’s framed silk screens are available to buy online, priced at an affordable €1000-€2000 and ‘Drawings’ is on at Colette until 27 February.