My trip to Paris with Hermès started with an indulgent breakfast at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, followed by a private tour of the atelier to see the maison’s handbags, leather goods and accessories in production, so of course the next step was to see the shiny finished pieces in their natural surroundings.
Location
We visited the spectacular Hermès flagship store on the rue de Sèvres, just a few steps from the iconic Hotel Lutetia, in the heart of Saint Germain.
Located in the what was once the Hotel Lutetia’s art deco swimming pool, this is the very first Hermès store on the Left Bank.
Designed by architecture agency RDAI, the three-floor concept store contrasts original 1930s features with Denis Montel’s intricate wooden cocoons and wave furnishings, reflecting the building’s original purpose.
Baptiste Pitou Flowers
The front of the store features an adorable flower shop with stunning arrangements and bouquets by renowned Parisian florist Baptiste Pitou.
After a fragrant entrance to the store, there is the silk scarf counter, a book store with a well-edited collection of art, fashion and coffee table books and Le Plongeoir tea salon and restaurant.
Home collection
Downstairs is the recently launched interiors collection featuring re-issued numbered furniture designs by Jean-Michel Frank. I loved the monogrammed ‘H’ cushions and cashmere throws and the zesty lime green candle holders complete with leather tags.
The wooden cocoon structures showcase home furnishings, tableware, ceramics and beachwear.
There is also ready to wear for men and women, a tie counter, childrenswear, fragrances, jewellery, accessories and shoes.
Perfume counter
The perfume counter features the full range of fragrances from the luxurious Collection Hermessence. The sales assistant kindly offered me a beautiful Hermès orange paper pouch with two large complimentary samples of my two favourite fragrances. I chose the light and fresh Rose Ikebana and the sweet, smoky Ambre Narguilé. Both come in sleek glass bottles with a stitched leather top with the option of adding a leather bottle sleeve. They are also offered as mini fragrances in a bespoke gift set.
Le Plongeoir
Le Plongeoir, translated as the ‘diving board’ is the cool, 30-seat in-store tea salon and restaurant. Minimally decorated, Le Plongeoir is all about the small details, showcasing the exquisite Hermès tableware that can be found in the store.
The menu focuses on light bistro dishes, club sandwiches and salads with an extensive collection of rare and exotic teas by Le Palais des Thés.
The Food
We started with a few sharing platters of Bellota-Bellota Ibérico dry-cured ham with crisp focaccia slices. The strong flavours complimented each other perfectly and it’s easy to see why this is regarded as the best cured ham in the world.
For my main dish, I ordered the roast duck with a carrot and citrus purée – a French classic with a twist. The meat was juicy and expertly cooked and the carrot purée was a something different to the usual potato gratin usually served with duck. The dish was delicious and comforting, but not too heavy.
Dessert
The pâtisserie table was too tempting to resist, so we tried a selection of cakes and macarons to share. The dense chocolate cake was a highlight and other treats included a sticky almond cake, pistachio and honey brioche, chocolate macaron and a vanilla and mint macaron.
Of course, with cake must come tea. I ordered a pot of Montagne Bleue – a fragrant black tea blended with honey, lavender, blueberry, strawberry and rhubarb. It was fruity and lightly perfumed and came served in a cast-iron teapot.
The Hermès Left Bank flagship store is the perfect place to see the the extensive Hermès collection in an inspiring, creative environment. Le Plongeoir is delightfully peaceful and a discreet alternative to Saint Germain’s ‘people watching’ terrace cafes such as Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots. So if you’re on the Left Bank, looking for a luxurious afternoon treat with room for your shopping bags, step inside…
Hermès, 17 Rue de Sèvres 75006 Paris
Chérie City was a guest of Hermès
All photos by Chérie City