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Barcelona, Caribbean, Lisbon, Miami, Paris, USA

My Top Five Travels of 2014

December 31, 2014 by cheriecity

2014 feels like it has flown by, but luckily it’s been filled with some unforgettable travel experiences, from European city breaks to a long, relaxing cruise in the Caribbean. Here are some of my favourite moments from over the year…

A Cocktail Masterclass at Le Bristol Paris

My first stay at Le Bristol was one of my most memorable times in Paris, so I was thrilled to be invited back a second time (staying in the very same Junior Suite, no less).

I had the pleasure of meeting Head Barman Maxime Hoerth, who took us on a fabulous tour of the city’s coolest cocktail bars – Le Mary Celeste, Sherry Butt and Jeffrey’s. We learned how to make a variety of Old Fashioned cocktails in a private masterclass in Le Bar du Bristol and Maxime created my very own cocktail, the ‘Chérie Club’.

Happily, most of our time was spent in the hotel, indulging with room service breakfasts, lunch in Le Jardin Francais and 114 Faubourg and exquisite cakes.

Not only was it a dreamy, relaxing trip in the company of a fun group, but I was reunited with Fa-Raon, the hotel’s majestic white Birman cat. I dare say my cocktail making skills have improved too.

A Foodie Trip to Lisbon

Lisbon is a place that I’ve always wanted to visit and I was really impressed by the warm, welcoming Portuguese hospitality wherever we went. We were kindly invited by Four Seasons Lisbon, who went the extra mile to make our trip so special.

We saw the city in style with a private car tour organised by the hotel, taking in the city’s beautiful sights such as the Castle of São Jorge and Church of Santa Engrácia in old Alfama, the Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. Trying a couple of Portuguese custard tarts from the famous Pastéis de Belém is an absolute must.

Lisbon is also a haven for foodies and we had the most fantastic meals at José Avillez’s two Michelin star restaurant Belcanto, one Michelin star restaurant Feitoria and lunch at Flores do Bairro and Varanda. I’d love to spend more time in Lisbon and explore the nearby coastal town of Caiscais.

Late Summer in Barcelona

It had been quite a few years since I visited Barcelona, so it was definitely time to revisit the Catalan city. We spent a good amount of time by the Barceloneta, staying at the stylish Hotel Arts Barcelona and munching on Californian-style burgers at SALT Beach Club at W Barcelona.

Visiting during Catalan Day offered an interesting insight into the cultural and political mood in Barcelona and we could feel the energy of this important day when strolling around the MACBA square, El Raval and El Born. As ever, food was high on the agenda with dinner at Blanc at Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, tapas at Ocaña on Plaça Reial and gelato at Eyescream and Friends.

My Birthday in Paris

I have my Parisian friend Coralie to thank for suggesting I spend my 30th birthday in Paris. As we all know, Paris is always a good idea, and where better to spend a monumental birthday with friends?

Steven and I spent the first night in Pigalle with a wonderful birthday dinner on the terrace at Hotel Amour with Coralie and Sunny. We ended the night with a nightcap at Le Mansart, just a few steps away from where we were staying at the atmospheric Hotel Josephine.

Then it was on to the beautiful Pavillon de la Reine in the Marais and an evening at legendary Paris cabaret club, The Crazy Horse (I’ve always wanted to see the show in Paris). Other highlights of the trip were country-style burgers at Big Fernand (arriving soon in London), perfume shopping at Nose and watching the world go by at the Place des Vosges.

A Eastern Caribbean Cruise

This was a trip of firsts – the first time I visited the Caribbean and the first time I’d been let loose alone (well, with Steven) on a cruise ship. The Celebrity Reflection was a destination in itself with copious amounts of food and drink around the clock, a fabulous pool and sundeck and plenty of entertainment.

We explored three very different Caribbean destinations that I never thought I’d have the chance of visiting – San Juan (Puerto Rico), Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) and Philipsburg and Marigot (St. Maarten). I’ve definitely caught the cruise bug, as they say, and look forward to more sailing with Celebrity Cruises in 2015.

After the cruise, we stayed in Miami for two nights at boutique design hotel The Tides, right on South Beach. We enjoyed a stunning dinner at The Setai, discovered the Wynwood Art District and marvelled at the pretty Art Deco buildings on South Beach. It was a perfect end to the year and led nicely into the run-up to Christmas in London.

What was your travel highlight of 2014? Which destinations are on your wish list for 2015?

All photos by Chérie City

Paris, Restaurants

Spectacular Dining at Le Bristol Paris

May 11, 2014 by cheriecity

I recently stayed at luxury palace hotel Le Bristol and enjoyed a special masterclass with Head Bartender Maxime Hoerth and a fun cocktail tour of Paris’ best bars.

Le Jardin Français

We had the pleasure of dining mostly in Le Bristol for our two days in Paris, making it a very decadent, relaxed trip. Before our cocktail masterclass with Maxime, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Le Jardin Francais, Le Bristol’s elegant, lively lobby restaurant and bar. It’s the perfect spot for people watching and leads on to the hotel’s exquisite garden where guests can dine on the terrace.

Renowned three Michelin star Chef des Cuisines Éric Fréchon oversees all food at Le Bristol and Pastry Chef Laurent Jeannin is the creative force behind the hotel’s dazzling patisserie.

I started with a fantastic King crab salad with grapefruit, avocado and coriander vinaigrette. The plump pieces of chilled king crab were given a citrus zing with juicy segments of grapefruit and a tangy, aromatic coriander vinaigrette. The colourful, uplifting salad also included slices of creamy avocado and the most perfect little gem lettuce leaves, finished with fresh herbs and edible nasturnum.

I couldn’t resist following my virtuous salad with a decadent Cheeseburger with crispy bacon and spicy tomato with fries. At 42 Euros, it’s one of the most pricey burgers I’ve ever ordered but also one of the very best. Two high quality beef patties were smothered in gooey Gruyère with a layer of grilled tomato, rashers of smoky bacon and a spicy tomato tapenade, packed inside a toasted sesame bun.

With such rich flavours and an unexpected double patty, it’s a truly indulgent choice for lunch and may just send you into a momentary burger coma. The fries were classic slim, well-seasoned and plentiful, in fact, I shared more than half of them with the table.

Somehow I found room for dessert when Le Bristol’s magnificent sweet trolley parked up at our table. It was laden with colourful Parisian patisserie created by Pastry Chef Laurent Jeannin. Tempting desserts included a tarte au citron, Mont-Blanc, lemon meringue pie, tarte au framboise, éclair au chocolat and yuzu or pistachio macarons.

Of course, it had to be my all-time favourite patisserie – Pistachio Réligieuse, accompanied by an equally green fresh mint tea. The pistachio and vanilla crème anglaise was so silky and creamy while the choux pastry was exemplary. I loved it that my Pistachio Réligieuse was decorated in Le Bristol’s signature lime green colours – a signature pastry that can only be eaten at Le Bristol.

Laurent Jeannin’s stunning pastries can also be sampled as part of a Parisian-meets-British afternoon tea, or at ‘Fashion Saturdays’, where models present the new collections of designers such as Céline, Givenchy and Chloé in the refined setting of the Castellane room.

We finished with a tray of hand-made salted caramel chocolates and candied orange sticks wrapped in dark chocolate and then rolled into Le Bar du Bristol for our cocktail masterclass.

Le Bar du Bristol

That evening, after drinks at Jefrey’s in hip Montorgueil, we were back at Le Bar du Bristol for artisan cocktails and gourmet bar plates by Eric Frechon.

I loved the fragrant and refreshing So British – Earl Grey infused Beefeater 24 gin, elderflower syrup, freshly squeezed lime and fresh grapefruit juice. The elegant, limited edition 365 cocktail celebrates Le Bar du Bristol’s first birthday and I couldn’t resist trying the Hot Punch as a potent nightcap.

We grazed on a luxurious selection of Gambas Tempura with ginger and coriander mayonnaise, Maki Rolls with king crab and vegetables in spicy ketchup, Pata Negra ham and Crudités. To end the night on a sweet note, we enjoyed a plate of exquisite mini pastries, a selection of macarons and hand-made chocolates.

114 Faubourg

The next day, we were treated to lunch at the hotel’s one Michelin star brasserie de luxe, 114 Faubourg. Located in the hotel’s newer Matignon wing, the chic two-level restaurant is designed in bold shades of orange (which remind me of Hermès) and purple with oversized dahlias adorning the walls.

114 Faubourg is helmed by Head Chef Eric Desbordes, who was mentored by Chef des Cuisines Éric Fréchon. The restaurant is upscale yet with a relaxed atmosphere and the menu is contemporary French with a focus on comforting dishes.

We started with an amuse-bouche of King crab egg, ginger and lemon mayonnaise. The crab was fresh and flaky and covered in a light, zesty mayonnaise, toppd with crisp green apple.

This was followed by an indulgent Artichoke soup with black truffle emulsion. The soup was ever so rich and indulgent and the black truffle emulsion added depth to the flavour. The soup usually comes with pan-seared foie gras, but I ordered it without and still found the dish very satisfying.

For the main course, we enjoyed Roasted scallops, ‘Le Puy’ green lentils with black truffle. Four plump, succulent scallops were cooked perfectly golden on the outside and were served on a bed of flavoursome, comforting lentils with small pieces of mixed vegetables. It was finished with an airy emulsion and shavings of black truffle.

For our last indulgence in Paris, it had to be the Vanilla Bourbon millefeuille with salted butter caramel. 114 Faubourg’s unique take on the Parisian classic was a decadent affair with crisp pastry, silky vanilla creme patisserie and intense salted butter caramel. It was finished with delicious vanilla bean ice cream, gold wafers and gold leaf.

Breakfast in Bed

Breakfast at Le Bristol is a real treat and I had the chance to enjoy it in the comfort of my own room each morning. I loved the Eggs Benedict with shaved black truffles and fluffy pancakes served with an enormous jug of maple syrup and red berries painted with gold leaf.

My daily basket of freshly-baked Viennoiserie had a selection of mini pastries, brioche and bread, plus the most incredible pain au chocolat.

Dining at Le Bristol is a true Parisian delight, from exquisite fine dining to elegant patisserie and evening cocktails and bites. One day, I hope to visit Epicure, Le Bristol’s three Michelin star gastronomic restaurant with innovative dishes by Eric Frechon.

Rates at Le Bristol start from €830 per night on a room only basis. For more information and booking, visit: www.lebristolparis.com

Eurostar operates up to 18 daily services from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare Du Nord with return fares from £69. Eurostar also offers connecting fares from more than 300 stations in the UK. Fastest London-Paris journey time is 2hr 15 minutes. Tickets are available from eurostar.com or 08432 186 186.

Photos by Chérie City and Le Bristol

Chérie City was a guest of Le Bristol and Eurostar

Bars, Hotels, Hotels - Luxury, Paris

A Cocktail Tour with Le Bristol Paris

April 13, 2014 by cheriecity

Le Bar du Bristol is a favourite haunt among stylish Parisians and clued-up visitors for a chic apéritif or an evening of creative cocktails.

Opened at the end of 2012, the bar is an intimate, cosy hideaway within the luxurious five star palace hotel Le Bristol, in Paris’ prestigious eighth arrondissement. It has Le Bristol’s signature friendly, unpretentious atmosphere and attracts a well-heeled crowd – perfect for a bit of civilised people-watching.

I had a memorable stay at Le Bristol a few years ago and was thrilled to be invited back for two nights to attend a special masterclass and cocktail tour of Paris hosted by award-winning Head Bartender Maxime Hoerth.

Eurostar

We travelled to Paris by Eurostar and enjoyed the delights of Standard Premier – spacious seating, generous luggage allowance and a tasty meal with drinks and plenty of tea or coffee, plus a selection of complimentary glossy magazines to pass the time.

The Junior Suite

On arrival, I found that the lovely people at Le Bristol had kindly assigned me the very same Junior Suite that I stayed in last time as a surprise. It was wonderful to feel like a regular and I was touched that they had planned this even though the hotel was busy. After checking in, we were granted a private audience with Fa-Raon, the hotel’s famous Birman cat (he is the hotel’s real VIP, after all).

A Cocktail Masterclass at Le Bar du Bristol

The highlight of the trip was a private cocktail masterclass at Le Bar du Bristol with Head Bartender Maxime Hoerth. After a leisurely lunch in Le Jardin Français, we spent a few hours learning all about Le Bristol’s approach to the art of cocktails, even getting behind the bar ourselves.

Designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and Maja Oetker, Le Bar du Bristol is a chic yet homely space with exquisite frescoes and tapestries, plus quirky touches such as leopard print stools and taxidermy birds and peacocks. There is even a cosy open fireplace where guests can curl up with a fine whisky – that’s if Fa-Raon hasn’t claimed the space for himself.

Hed Bartender Maxime Hoerth

Head Bartender Maxime Hoerth is a well-known personality on the Paris cocktail scene and was awarded the title of ‘Best Craftsman in France 2011’. Not only is he France’s top mixologist (and a really cool, friendly guy), but he knows Paris inside out and is happy to share tips on where to go.

Maxime’s favourite cocktail is an Old Fashioned, so he demonstrated how to make six different versions of the classic drink, including a special Christmas Old Fashion made with a home-made spice syrup, an Irish Old Fashioned using Kahlua and a Bourbon Old Fashioned.

The Chérie Club

Maxime offered to create a special cocktail for each of our websites, based on the types of drinks that we like. I reeled off a number of favourite ingredients and within a matter of moments, the Chérie Club was born.

Based on a classic Clover Club, my new signature drink includes No.3 London Dry Gin, St Germain liqueur, muddled raspberries, lychee flavours, rose syrup, lemon juice and egg white. I loved the fresh, fragrant taste and the romantic presentation with dried rosebuds and a touch of sugar on the rim.

Collaborating with La Maison du Chocolat

An exciting new project from Le Bar du Bristol is the Spirited Cocktails Collection, a collaboration between Maxime Hoerth and La Maison du Chocolat Master Chef Nicolas Cloiseau. The limited edition chocolates are based on Le Bar du Bristol’s unique cocktails flavours, marrying the finest juices, fruits and tea with sumptuous dark and milk chocolate.

The five chocolate flavours include MOF2, Bellini, Faubourg, So Bristol and Peacock and come in coffets of 8 or 27 chocolates bearing the signature colours of Le Bristol.

Le Mary Celeste

Our first stop on the cocktail tour was Le Mary Celeste, a hip nautical-inspired bar in the Marais. Created by the team behind Candelaria and Glass, Le Mary Celeste is a popular spot among Paris’ creative crowd – it even hosted a pop-up raw juice bar during Paris Fashion Week.

Over drinks and bites, Maxime Hoerth introduced us to the Paris cocktail scene, explaining that the arrival of the Experimental Cocktail Club kicked off a trend for artisanal cocktails served in low-key bars in the city’s coolest neighbourhoods.

The well-edited selection of cocktails are exciting and innovative, plus the bar offers a tempting menu of small plates and has a daily oyster happy hour. My chosen cocktail was Valentina – Plantation 3 Stars Rum, violet liqueur, fino sherry and lime (€12). Served in a coupe, the fragrant and tangy cocktail had an attractive pale pink colour and was finished with a sprig of lavender.

We grazed on a selection of gourmet small plates including the most delicious Gratin Japonais (€9), Spiced Cauliflower with almonds and pickled red onions (€8), Crudo of Pollack with with soya sauce, orange and fennel (€11), Aubrac Beef Tartare with rice, pork rinds, fresh herbs and a spicy sauce (€12) and Devilled Eggs with ginger, fried rice and spring onions (€7).

Dishes on the constantly changing menu are so tasty and inventive that it’s worth visiting Le Mary Celeste for dinner rather than just drinks, to experience as many as possible. The bar is also well-placed for a hip bar crawl with neighbours such as Little Red Door, Grazie and wine bar Au Passage.

Sherry Butt

Just a short walk away from Le Mary Celeste, is Sherry Butt, a laid-back, spacious bar that specialises in rare and interesting whiskies. It has a hidden, discreet feel and is designed in a cool industrial loft style with exposed brick walls, high ceilings and leather banquettes.

Cathleen McGarry and Amaury Guyot opened Sherry Butt after honing their skills at Curio Parlour and Prescription Cocktail Club. We were lucky enough to have a large table to ourselves when we visited on a chilled out Wednesday evening, but the bar can get much busier when DJs play on weekends.

Sherry Butt is known for its excellent Whiskey Flights, but we were keen to try the cocktails, all of which are priced between 12 and 13 Euros. After the delicious small plates at Le Mary Celeste, I was in the mood for something sweet, so I tried a Banana Rose – Calvados, Tawny Port, banana flambée syrup, lemon juice and chocolate bitters (€13).

The bar bites at Sherry Butt are simple, delicious and ideal for sharing. We grazed on moreish Pata Negra ham (€20), Taramasolata with Truffle and toasted sourdough (€13), cool and creamy Burrata Tartines with pistachio pesto (€14) and some tasty Sausage Rolls with tomato and Pedro Ximinez chutney (€12).

Sherry Butt is a cool, chilled out place to catch up with friends or bring a date, plus it’s close to the bars of the Marais and within stumbling distance of Saint Paul to catch a cab.

Jefrey’s

The next evening, Maxime took us to Jefrey’s, a small but sophisticated bar in the fashionable Montorgueil neighbourhood, on the same cobbled street as Experimental Cocktail Club (and hipster burger joint Big Fernand for pre or post-cocktail munchies).

The speakeasy bar takes inspiration from the Prohibition era and is furnished with comfy purple velvet and and brown leather armchairs, silver tray tables and dimmed lighting. The mezzanine level features a vintage gramophone and a cabinet storing premium bottles bought by regulars.

Mixing at the bar is Guillaume Bisiaux, formerly at luxury hotels Prince de Galles and Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme. His innovative cocktails (many with American-inspired names) include the the gin-based Colline de Portland, an El Rey made with Tio Pepe sherry and a Bubble Cup made with Mamont vodka, Pimms Cup, raspberry cordial, rose and Champagne.

Another cool touch is Jefrey’s DIY Martini, offering a wide selection of spirits and mixers for a custom drink.

I loved the refreshing, smooth Bonne Poire – Grey Goose La Poire vodka, liqueur de Poire Bierce, Alain Milliat Summer Pear Nectar, lime juice and home-made vanilla syrup. We accompanied our drinks with some light bar plates of scrumptious Pata Negra ham, Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella and Cheese Straws.

Back to Le Bar du Bristol

To round off a splendid evening in Paris, it was then back ‘home’ to Le Bar du Bristol. By night, the bar has a warm glow and buzzing atmosphere with well-heeled guests sipping cocktails on the plush sofas. A cool Parisienne DJ plays sexy French disco and soul and the enormous screen behind the bar shows contemporary art videos by a different artist each month (during our visit, Corsican artist Ange Leccia’s work was shown).

On arrival we were presented with a sweet and fruity welcome cocktail while Maxime talked us through the bar menu. I started with a zingy, aptly aptly named So British – Earl Grey infused Beefeater 24 gin, Monin elderflower syrup, freshly squeezed lime and and fresh grapefruit juice.

The cocktails are creatively presented, particularly the 365 – a limited edition cocktail made to celebrate the bar’s first birthday – served in a tall, elegant coupe and finished with a colourful peacock feather. I also loved the warm, spicy Hot Punch, which was an excellent night cap.

Tapas are by the hotel’s Executive Chef Eric Frechon and we munched on a luxurious selection of Gambas Tempura with ginger and coriander mayonnaise, Maki Rolls with king crab and vegetables in spicy ketchup, Pata Negra ham and Crudités. To end the night on a sweet note, we enjoyed a plate of exquisite mini pastries, a selection of macarons and hand-made chocolates.

Le Bar du Bristol is open until 1.30am and it is a rare luxury to simply wander back upstairs after a night out in Paris – hotel bars are perfect for that.

Breakfast

The next morning, I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of Eggs Benedict with shaved black truffle, viennoiserie by Laurent Jeannin, fresh apple juice and a pot of English breakfast tea, served in my room. A stay at Le Bristol isn’t complete without a relaxing swim in the hotel’s glorious rooftop pool with a great view over Paris.

We finished our stay with an indulgent lunch in the hotel’s Michelin star brasserie de luxe, 114 Faubourg. I took a reflective pause in the hotel’s beautiful, peaceful garden before we headed back to Gare du Nord to take the Eurostar back to London without even the slightest hint of a sore head – it must be the magic of Le Bristol.

Rates at Le Bristol start from €830 per night on a room only basis. For more information and booking, visit: www.lebristolparis.com

Chérie City was a guest of Le Bristol and Eurostar

Photos by Chérie City, Le Bristol, Le Mary Celeste & Jefrey’s

Competitions

Flowers and Friendship

April 5, 2014 by cheriecity

In the springtime, I love to take long walks in the park and pick up some blooms from Columbia Road Flower Market to brighten up my home.

Flowers are such an instant mood lifter and it’s such a lovely feeling to give or receive a beautiful bouquet. Peonies are my favourite flowers, but I also adore hydrangeas, vintage roses and sunflowers.

The Flower Council of Holland invited me to take part in their challenge on Facebook to guess a friend’s favourite flower and have the chance to win a bouquet of flowers.

It’s often said that the friendships that you make at university are the ones that really last. I was lucky to have an amazing group of girls around me to experience the best and worst of uni life and among them was my best friend Coralie, who now lives in Paris.

We first met over lunch with friends from my French class at Glasgow University where Coralie was on her Erasmus placement and I was in my second year. Since then we’ve had all sorts of adventures including a fun trip to Barcelona and countless festivals, DJing together at our club night in Glasgow and spending hours just chatting away, whether in a restaurant or simply perched on a park bench.

A trip to Paris never feels complete unless we’ve had a catch up. Luckily for us last month it was over breakfast in the glamorous setting of Le Bristol, one of our favourite Paris hotels.

Here are a few questions I’ve answered about Coralie’s favourite things…

What is my friend’s favourite cafe?

Le Loire dans la Théière in Paris

What’s my friends’ favourite place to shop?

Small and trendy shops in Le Marais

What’s my friend’s favourite city?

New York

What’s my friend’s favourite movie?

Singin’ in the Rain

What’s my friend’s favourite flower?

Viola

What’s my friend’s favourite fragrance?

Frangipani flower

How well do you know your best friend? Could you guess their favourite flower? Enter the Flower Council of Holland Facebook challenge and if you guess correctly, you could win a stunning bouquet of flowers.

I nominate Hungry Becs and Cellophaneland* to do the challenge and see if they can guess their best friend’s favourite blooms.

Sponsored post

All photos by Chérie City

Hotels, Hotels - Luxury, Paris

My Midnight In Paris: A Stay At Le Bristol Paris

February 28, 2012 by cheriecity

There are few luxury hotels in the world that can match an exquisite setting with a family approach, but Hotel Le Bristol Paris is a five star palace hotel that enchants with its warmth.

I was delighted to make Le Bristol Paris my temporary home for one night and it was a rare experience to be welcomed into this dreamlike world, where anything is possible.

Opening as a hotel during the Roaring Twenties, Le Bristol Paris has played host to glamorous icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Grace Kelly, Rita Hayworth and Josephine Baker.

Named after the Count of Bristol, Le Bristol Paris was the named the first French ‘palace hotel’ and is now a member of the exclusive Leading Hotels of the World. Le Bristol Paris is part of the five star family-owned Oetker Collection, which includes Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and new addition, Palais Namaskar in Marrakesh.

The hotel is just a short walk from the Élysée Palace, rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré and Le Champs-Élysées and is in good company among the high end art galleries of the 8th arrondissement.

We arrived at Le Bristol Paris and were immediately welcomed by the attentive, enthusiastic staff, who knew exactly who we were. We were greeted and checked-in by the delightful Jeremy, who told me that ‘Chérie City is already very famous here’ and that we had been upgraded to a Junior Suite. Could there be any two better sentences to hear upon arrival at one of the most prestigious landmark hotels in the world?

As we arrived early, the finishing touches were being added to our suite, so we were invited to have a drink in the bar while we waited. The bar was elegant and beautifully-designed with antique tapestries and master paintings, but our interest was piqued by the comings and goings of Parisian businessmen, well-heeled guests and fashion PRs hosting lunch meetings.

We both chose a signature hot chocolate, which was brought to us on a silver tray and poured into dainty china bearing Le Bristol’s double unicorn coat of arms, served with a glass of Vittel water. In the winter, a jug of thick, Parisian hot chocolate is an absolute must and this was easily one of the best in the city.

The bar also plays host to Fashion High Teas, guests can enjoy an ‘English Tea’ with exquisite patisserie by acclaimed pastry chef, Laurent Jeannin. Meanwhile, models pass by, wearing looks by leading fashion houses that have included Céline, Stella McCartney, Chloé, Yves Saint Laurent and many more.

Innovative, formal dining can be experienced at Epicure, the 3 Michelin star gastronomic restaurant headed up by renowned head chef, Eric Frechon. In the summer, guests can also dine outside in the 13,000 sq.ft French-style garden, which had a light covering of snow during our visit.

Our Junior Suite was on the first floor in the new Haussmann-inspired Matignon Wing, occupying the corner of rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré and Avenue Matignon. Classic with a modern finish, our spacious suite was designed by Madame Maja Oetker herself. It was filled with Louis XV and Louis VXI style furniture, sumptuous heavy fabrics, mirror panelled wardrobes, original artwork and contemporary chandeliers.

The four corner windows allowed plenty of natural daylight, which complimented the light shades in the room and the French flag could be seen gently waving from the wrought iron Juliette balcony.

On the table waiting for us was a bottle of Alfred Gratien Champagne on ice, two slate dishes of handmade petit fours and chocolates and a bowl of fresh fruit. A hand-written note welcomed us to the hotel and I received a beautiful home perfume as a memory of Le Bristol, which I now remember fondly, like Proust and his madeleines.

It would be easy to spend a lot of time relaxing and preening in the spectacular bathroom, designed entired in white Carrara marble. It boasts a double sink with a large mirror, a deep bathtub, a shower cubicle, separate toilet and powerful heated towel rails. The generous selection of bathroom amenities were by Anne Sémonin (one of my favourites) and Hermès and even more bottles were added at turndown. We also had use of fluffy embroidered bathrobes, slippers and plenty of large Egyptian cotton towels.

Usually our Paris trips are spent walking around the city until we almost collapse, but this time we stayed in the comfort of our room, drinking Champagne and working our way through the sweet treats. Tomorrow would be the day for exploring and walking off the excesses.

In the afternoon, we took a dip in the relaxing rooftop pool, shaped like the inside of a boat, with a quaint maritime wall mural. The pool area offers splendid views over the rooftops Paris and plenty of natural light. Swimming past the French flag was an experience I’ll never forget!

For the ultimate indulgent stay, visit the sleek Spa by La Prairie, designed in neutral colours by Pierre-Yves Rochon. The highlight of the spa is the Russian room – a heated marble table with an affusion shower, the first of its kind in Paris. Each treatment room has access to its own private terrace for relaxing in the fresh air and sipping tea or having a quick snack. The spa uses products by niche luxury brands such as The Organic Pharmacy, Russie Blanc, Maison de l’Argan, Les Thermes Marins de Saint-Malo and By Terry.

That evening, we dined in 114 Faubourg, Le Bristol’s casual restaurant in the Matignon Wing, overseen by Eric Desbordes. Mentored by Epicure’s Eric Frechon, Desbordes may be a young chef at just 30 years-old, but he has secured a strong reputation in Paris and the staff at Le Bristol spoke about how proud they are to have such a talent at the helm. But more about our magnificent meal at 114 Faubourg later…

If it’s too cold to wander the streets of Paris at night, or like us, you’re too full after an indulgent dinner to go dancing at Le Montana, you can play ‘spot the hotel’ with a special complimentary movie – Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris.

The whimsical film based on the revivial of luminaries from the Jazz Age, was shot in the Paris Suite and stars Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams, with a cameo role from the First Lady of France, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

But our stay would have been incomplete, without meeting Le Bristol’s majestic ’empurrer’. Fa-Raon is hotel’s fluffy Birman cat, the playmate of the children and guests at Le Bristol. An unapologetically pampered and polished cat, Fa-Raon plays in the lobby and has free reign of the garden, although we believe his favourite spot could be perched on the information desk, accepting the attention of the doting staff and guests.

Fa-Raon’s official home, however, is in the children’s room, Les Amis d’Hippolyte, named after the hotel’s mascot, a white garden rabbit. Children staying at Le Bristol can play games and even use the Nintendo Wii in their own games room or take part in a treasure hunt around the hotel. Other sweet touches include rabbit-shaped cookies strawberry water in the room, a welcome card written by Hippolyte, tiny bathrobes and slippers and Hippolyte-themed bed linen. They are even sent a birthday card from Hippolyte as a memory of their stay at Le Bristol Paris.

Our stay at Le Bristol Paris was truly magical and went beyond any possible expectations. The exquisite design, refined atmosphere and prestigious location charmed us, but it was the warm, caring staff that made the hotel come to life. They went beyond the usual politeness and engaged in conversation, speaking openly about what they loved about the hotel. This human approach is what gives the hotel its unrivalled reputation as one of the best hotels in the world.

Le Bristol Paris, if you are ever looking for a ‘writer in residence’ to chronicle the adventures of Fa-Raon, I’m your girl!

Superior rooms are priced at 850 Euros per night and a Junior Suite is 1250 Euros. For more information and booking, visit: www.lebristolparis.com

Chérie City was a guest of Le Bristol Paris

Photos by Chérie City and Le Bristol Paris