#Paris #hotel #extravagant #luxury #palace
“The George V is nestled in the Golden Triangle of Paris…” –Paul Ebeling
Setting the scene at the George V
An entourage of staff greet you by name every time you spin through the revolving doors into the lobby which is a flutter of pink ferns and chequer marble.
The lavish floral displays change with the season is the vision of star florist and artistic director Jeff Leatham, and bedrooms are a crush of gold fabrics and Louis XV Rococo craftsmanship.
The George V is one of Paris’s officially graded Palace hotels and it’s easy to see why.
This Art-Deco landmark was built in 1928 and named after the then reigning King of England. It was reopened as a Four Seasons hotel in Y 1999 and has since drawn an increasingly glamorous global crowd.
At breakfast, you’re bound to spot faithful’s who would never stay anywhere else.
Bedrooms are extravagantly upholstered: gold embroidered curtains are trimmed with cream tassels and thick carpets are a swirl of yellow and gold beneath elaborate chandeliers. Large marble bathrooms are stashed with Bulgari minis and the best suites have terraces overlooking the Eiffel Tower on the other side of the Seine.
The George V is the 1st and only hotel in Europe to be awarded 5 Michelin stars under one roof, the food is a massive draw, with Parisians booking months in advance to bag a table at 3-starred Le Cinq by Christian Le Squer. Here, he roasts blue lobster with salted French butter, tops wagyu beef with mozzarella and decorates a green salad with truffle vinaigrette.
There are 3 more restaurants with Michelin stars to choose from for those that cannot get a reservation at Le Cinq.
There is the Italian-style Le George for fluffy focaccia with peppery olive oil and crispy saffron arancini with tuna tartare or aubergine and burrata agnolotti.
And the other is at L’Orangerie, where the prettily plated tasting menu is pescatarian. Wedges of still-warm bread are served with a delicate whirl of seaweed butter on a pearly shell, crispy-skinned sea bream is perfectly cooked, and eggshells made from meringue are filled with frozen kefir.
For those just after an excellent Croque Monsieur, Madame or a burger and chips, room service is for you.
The basement spa is a serene enclave in contrast to the bustling streets above, complete with a slim pool as well as two swish hammams. Book in for the Ritual of Life, the hotel’s signature face and body treatment created by Olivier Claire uses massage techniques to re-oxygenate the skin and stimulate cell renewal.
There is always a queue at the Louis Vuitton flagship on the corner of Avenue George V, this is the place for those with an agenda that includes the designer megastores of the Champs Elysées. Head in the opposite direction, right out of the hotel, to reach the river – from here you can cross over and walk to the Eiffel Tower. View of it from the terrace at Chez Francis with a glass of rosé champagne
The service is personal and eager to please.
Four Seasons Hotel George V, 31 Av. George V, 75008 Paris, France
Enjoy your travels, the chaos is about over, Keep the Faith!
