Maison Albar Hotels Le Vendome review: discover Paris’ hidden gems from a perfect base

Whenever I visit Paris one of my priorities is to have a good magret de canard for dinner. Duck tastes better in Paris: the atmosphere of the city permeates the fat; the nonchalant chic of her inhabitants is infused in the sauce.  

Despite this clearly being romanticised nonsense which I have completely imagined, when I explained it to Romaine – the friendly and knowledgeable concierge at Maison Albar Hotels Le Vendome – she did not bat an eyelid at my silliness. Instead she made a quick, discrete phone call and within two minutes informed me I had a reservation that evening to eat what she assured me was “the best duck in the city”.  She was right.

There are 51 rooms and suites at Le Vendome

Maison Albar Hotels

Why stay here?

In addition to the thoughtful personal touches and impressive local knowledge of the staff, the location of Maison Albar Hotels Le Vendome makes it an ideal choice for exploring Paris. Found in the heart of the 9th arrondissement, in the Opéra district, you are within walking distance of all the main tourist destinations. The hotel itself is set behind a wood-panelled façade dating from the late 1880s – a remnant of the building’s previous incarnation as Le Lyon d’Or, one of Paris’ original cabaret restaurants – but once inside the aesthetic is sharp and modern.

The Golden Lion homage continues throughout the décor, with sculptures in the public areas and motifs on each room door paying tribute to the legacy. There is a relaxed elegance to the lobby and lounge; plush velvet furniture makes for comfortable spaces to sit with a coffee and plan your day. Rooms are kitted out with opulent marble bathrooms and cutting-edge technology – they’re not huge, but generous by central Paris standards. Space is at a premium in this city, and many other hotels in the area have sacrificed an extra metre here and there to squeeze in more than the 51 rooms and suites found at Maison Albar Hotels Le Vendome.

Descending the stairs from the lobby to the lower ground – the stairwell itself is another restored period feature, with beautiful mosaic work originally installed when the property housed the Russian Bank for Foreign Trade in the 1930s – leads us to a fitness centre and spa. Parisian luxury cosmetics brand Carita provides the massage treatments, and the pool is set under a huge skylight. The ability to enjoy a swim under natural light is a rare treat in this part of town, and the perfect way to energise the body in the morning.

Yakuza Paris serves exciting Japanese cuisine blended with European flavours

Marco Strullu

Eating and drinking

At the heart of the hotel is Yakuza Paris by celebrated Portuguese chef Olivier Da Costa. The restaurant serves an exciting and intriguing array of Japanese cuisine blended with south European flavours. Guests are offered the option of sitting around the open kitchen, allowing them to marvel at the knife skills of the team as they prepare the fresh sushi as well as having their selections personally presented and explained by the chefs. This approach offers an interesting insight into the thought behind the pairings, making the dining experience feel a little more collaborative and personal. Highlights include the nigiri engawa and taco sakana.

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/travel/957769/maison-albar-hotels-le-vendome-review-paris