VIVRE LA ROYAUTÉ À PARIS
The Splendide Royal Paris belongs to the Relais & Châteaux association and is a palace in miniature. Located in the 8th arrondissement, more precisely in the Madeleine district, this royal oasis is just steps away from the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysée. Within the Roberto Naldi Collection, the Splendide Royal Paris with its 12 rooms is the „little brother“ of the group. This is how Benoit Saudemont, the Maitre de Maison, whom I meet for a coffee in the cozy foyer on the morning of my departure, describes it.
I ask him to describe the hotel to me in three words: „Intimacy, warmth and luxury.“ In my opinion, very apt words for this refuge of sensuality within a city of 11 million people.
The boutique hotel pays homage to Italian palaces, yet blends in wonderfully with the Parisian flair. As soon as I arrive, I am overcome by this very special feeling: a feeling of immediate arrival and of being at home for a while. It is evident in moments when you always carry the sweet smell of home with you as you tour the city. When you automatically sit up straighter because you want to do justice to the beautiful things around you. When you’re already relaxed as you stroll through the day, looking forward to the incredibly comfortable beds by midday.
The hotel is dedicated to the beautiful things and the special moments in life. There is a loving detail in every corner, everything seems well thought out and dedicated solely to creating unforgettable memories for its residents. We sleep in the smallest of the 12 rooms, but if we can trust Benoit, with the most beautiful view. Standing on the narrow terrace of a Haussman building with the Eiffel Tower in the background: You can’t get more Parisian than that.
We dine at Tosca Ristorante, the Italian restaurant next door. Seven courses of pure passion, traditional Italian dishes of the highest quality for the palate and the eye. Unexpected dessert courses demand the last free space in your stomach. The limited number of tables allows the staff around restaurant chef Stéphane to cater to every guest, turning dinner into a free French lesson. Magnifique!
Chef Raffaele de Mase doesn’t miss the opportunity to make an appearance. The Italian speaks French but struggles with English. No problem, I assume this is also part of the French lessons and can only praise him: Splendid!
Back to the late morning in the foyer talking to Benoit. Even a place of beautiful things faces challenges: as in most parts of the economy, it is difficult for the Splendide Royal to find new, competent staff. So they get inventive: instead of five days, the restaurant is only open for lunch on two days. This is to avoid a strenuous schedule for the staff, who arrive for breakfast service, go home after lunch, and open the doors again before dinner.
Instead, the foyer is to be converted into a small bar to provide a transitional service. This shows not only an inventive spirit but also a focus on the employees. Benoit often emphasizes this in our conversation, and you can feel it in the extremely attentive yet relaxed staff. In a small boutique hotel like this, there is no dedicated porter or foyer service. Everyone here wears several hats and helps out where they can. This creates an extremely informal atmosphere within the team, which guests can also sense. So much for intimacy.
I slept so well in these heavenly beds. I’m convinced it’s because of the bed linen. We lose ourselves in a conversation about fabrics and dreams when Benoit disappears into his office and returns with the new bed linen from next week, proudly showing off the sample. „I don’t even know why I’m doing this and showing it now. I think I’m just so excited about it!“ he grins, and I realize once again that being a host is a vocation.
One last question: your absolute favorite spot in Paris? „Montmartre. These little alleyways create a magical and cozy atmosphere. Just like the Splendide.“
Well then, on y va!
