Paris’ first grand hotel reopens under new banner

i By June 10, 2019 No Comments

Originally opened in 1855 as the City of Light’s first grand hotel, the historic Hôtel Du Louvre has undergone a complete renovation, reopening last week as part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.

Described by general manager Fanny Guibouret as a “sanctuary of calm within the bustling city,” the 164-key property is located in the Palais-Royal district, surrounded by the Musée du Louvre, the Comédie-Française, the Palais Garnier and Palais Royal.

(Top of page) Exterior, Hôtel du Louvre. Photo © Gerrit Meier. (Gallery – all photos courtesy of Hyatt Hotels Corporation) 1. Lobby 2. Guestroom 3. Buffet breakfast in Brasserie du Louvre. 

Its redesign combines elements of its original second French Empire architecture with modern interior design. The 106 guestrooms and 58 suites have high ceilings, elegant mouldings, marble floors reminiscent of the Opéra Garnier and chic Parisian furniture. The lobby and dining areas, which have been reimagined by architect George Wong, feature colourful illustrations by Emmanuel Pierre. The eight meeting rooms (204 square feet to 1,474 square feet with state-of-the-art technology) are designed like studios, each themed around one of the famous personalities—Sigmund Freud, Arthur Conan Doyle, Victor Hugo, etc.—who added to the property’s storied past.

On the f&b front, the property is now home to Brasserie du Louvre, the first Parisian “Brasserie Bocuse” serving traditional French cuisine with recipes developed by Paul Bocuse, who is known as the “Chef of the Century.” The restaurant is part of Bocuse’s Restaurants et Brasseries de Lyon® which have been embodying Lyon’s gastronomy and French expertise for a quarter of a century.

In addition, the hotel bar—L’Officine du Louvre Bar—is located under the property’s glass roof. It serves unique herbal-based cocktails celebrating Napoleon III’s—the emperor of France until 1870—love of botany.

The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Hyatt’s portfolio of new and existing upper-upscale hotel properties with unique stories and storied pasts also includes Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix; The Confidante in Miami Beach, Fla.; Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.; The Eliza Jane in New Orleans, La.; The Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia, Pa.; Holston House in Nashville, Tenn.; The Driskill in Austin, Texas; Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos, British Columbia; Jinmao Hotel Lijiang in Lijiang, China; and Carmelo Resort & Spa in Uruguay.

The Hôtel du Louvre is the brand’s fifth property in Europe. It joins Parisi Udvar Budapest HotelHôtel Martinez Cannes, Hotel Sofia Barcelona and Nish Palas in Istanbul.