Location and Decor
Proudly towering above the heart of the Golden Triangle of Paris, in the uber chic 8th arrondisement, this art deco gem was built in 1928 and reopened as a Four Seasons Hotel in 1999, after an extensive 2-year renovation.
Steps away from the most elegant couture ateliers and Parisian landmarks, its location satisfies well heeled tourists as well as business people and shopaholics.
The Decor is a painstaking study in beauty, dreamy Parisian aesthetic intertwined with contemporary class. Pierre-Yves Rochon’s vision of big, grand spaces adorned with Louis XVI and Napoleon I furniture, 17th century flemish tapestries and the 18th century florentine chandeliers are wonderfully paired with the mind-blowing flower arrangements done by Jeff Leatham, the Artistic Director that singlehandedly changed the way we see flower design with his wild, daring creations that earned him the devotion of clients from all over the world and the distinction of being made Chevalier of the French Légion d’ Honneur.
His never ending creativity allows him to change the flowers installations every three weeks without ever repeating himself and made the hotel also known as “the flower hotel” also for travellers who aren’t lucky enough to stay at the George V.
Rooms
Accommodation at the Four Seasons Hotel George V is bound to awe even the most demanding Lux Traveller, with a sophisticated palette of pale, serene colours – soft whites, delicate greens, yellow and baby blue, not to mention the surprising space with the “smallest” guest room starting at around 40 square metres up until the Royal Suite with its impressive 245 square metres.
This Lux Traveller treated himself with a romantic, long weekend for his birthday, luxuriating in one of the wonderfully appointed premier rooms with high ceiling and extra space everywhere covered in the best textiles imaginable.
Service
Attentive, caring, unobtrusive yet exacting in time and manners. I have the pleasure of saying I visited the hotel various times over the years and every member of the staff, as always maintained a jaw dropping level of class, professionalism and niceness, contributing in an extraordinary fashion to the pleasantness of the time spent at the hotel.
Ambience
Romantic, exquisite , pristine indulgence with charm in spades seduces a varied public from UHNW families from all over the world, supermodels and many Parisians that regularly hang out at the Hotel for purposes such as work meetings, treatments at the spa, etc.
The magnificent ambiance make it a perfect destination for romance with even the notoriously stylish Gwyneth Paltrow spending part of her honeymoon at the hotel.
Food
The first hotel in Europe to have achieved a total of five Michelin stars; one for the art deco inspired L’Orangerie, that serves a menu of traditional french cuisine made new again; another star for Le George, with its light, contemporary mediterranean cuisine designed for sharing and bursting with freshness; and three well deserved stars for the masterpiece that is Le V by Christian Le Squer, pinnacle of sophistication thanks to the combination of classic ingredients with ambitious new techniques… A veritable triumph and the gastronomic experience of a life time.
Spa
The breathtaking 720 square metres spa, recently unveiled after a two-year-long renovation by Monsieur Rochon, is serene and stunning with the palest silver and greys and features a massive swimming pool, a vitality pool, two hammams, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a hair salon.
Never one that shies away from extreme pampering, Yours Truly spoiled himself with a Kobido face massage. This ancestral tradition dates back to 1472 and has been created for the Empress of Japan that was looking for a whole new way to preserve her beauty. The treatment has been exclusively reserved for centuries for empresses and members of the nobility and has been passed on from master to disciple throughout the generations.
So peculiar is this treatment that it can only be practiced by skin care experts trained directly by Dr. Shogo Mochizuki, master of the 26th generation of kobido, who flew all the way from Tokio to share his expertise and savoir-faire of this ancient art with the spa team.
Perfectly performed by the talented Melodie, not only did it lift and tightened my neck and face muscles providing me with a healthier complexion and a sensationally firmer tone, but it also transported me to such a state of relaxation that I don’t remember being able to achieve in quite a while.
Insider Tips
-Enjoy a tour of the magnificent Hotel cellar, one of the greatest treasures of the Four Seasons Hotel George V, that houses something like 50.000 bottles, with vintages from the entire world and centenary bottles, like the 1795 madeira as well as a Magnum of Petrus from 1959;
-Bathe in comfort even before your arrival at the hotel booking an arrival transfer. At the airport an agent will meet you as you disembark the aircraft and will escort you through the terminal and customs to retrieve your luggage and introduce you to the driver for a smooth journey to the property;
-By any means do not miss a mouthwatering dinner at Le Cinq, followed by a nightcap at the plush Le Bar;
-Make the effort to save some time to shamelessly indulge yourself with a treatment (or 10!!) at the Hotel Spa.
