Lifestyle

Blending 19th-century grandeur with modern artistry, Le Meurice Hotel is a sanctuary of elegance where Salvador Dalí once roamed and Michelin-starred cuisine continues to evolve.

By Florence Sutton

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For nearly two centuries, Le Meurice has epitomised Parisian luxury, drawing royalty, artists and discerning travellers into its world of refined splendour. Nestled between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, this legendary palace hotel blends 19th-century grandeur with contemporary artistry, all while upholding the highest standards of service. Deputy general manager Christophe Chopineau offers a glimpse into the hotel’s unique character, from its ties to Salvador Dalí to its Michelin-starred dining experiences and commitment to sustainability.

 

 

Tell us briefly about the history and specific DNA of Le Meurice?

Le Meurice is strategically located opposite the Tuileries Gardens and has held its sway as one of the first Parisian luxury hotels dating back to 1835. Reflecting its uninterrupted attachment to the French art of living, Le Meurice is a magical, serene and elegant place, where the refined splendours of 19th-century architecture meet the design of Philippe Starck and Charles Jouffre, the French artisan-designer who created the sumptuous drapes and hangings of the Grand Foyer at the Opéra Garnier. It is also where Alain Ducasse, the most Michelin starred Chef in the world, celebrates the seasons with his culinary creations. His heavenly cuisine elevates Parisian gastronomy to the rank of art. He brings past and present together with flavour and flair. As for Cédric Grolet, elected the world’s best Pastry Chef in 2018, the lines in front of his shop within the hotel speak for themselves!

In the heart of Paris, a minute’s walk away from Place Vendôme and Rue Saint-Honoré, where luxury stores and boutiques showcasing young designers flourish, Le Meurice gradually unveils its secrets, as a haven of peace where you can truly be yourself.

 

As the deputy general manager, what is the first thing you notice when you enter a hotel and which details do you pay particular attention to?

 

This is difficult to explain as it is all about feelings and perception. When entering Le Meurice for example, you immediately feel a sense of belonging. You get like magically attracted by every place and the warm welcome of the people. That’s what it is all about! Each palace has its own story and Le Meurice, which is part of the iconic hotels of Dorchester Collection, has always stood out as the jewel among French palace hotels since 1835. It reflects elegance and stays true to its philosophy of the art of living à la française. It is also the place where you can be yourself, where there are no dictates. Maybe it is because since its creation, it has nurtured intimate links with artists leaving behind wonderful stories, all witness to its legendary extravagance.

 

How do you maintain consistent service standards at the property?

 

 

I would say that our profession is made of passion and transmission, both of which have always been of paramount importance to us. They have undergone a vertiginous evolution in recent years, not only in terms of service excellence, but also in terms of guest experience and staff development thanks to cutting-edge training initiated by Dorchester Collection. Training is consistent throughout your journey with the Collection, internal promotions are frequent and encouraged, and there are several programs tailored for junior staff to help them evolve within the Collection as well as for more senior staff members to allow them to become inspirational leaders and/or ambassadors to the Collection.

 

Le Meurice is only a short stroll from Le Louvre, which to most visitors is the must-see Paris art institution. Do you have other favourite cultural destinations close by?

 

 

The Museum of Decorative Arts (MAD) is right across the street in the northwestern wing of the Louvre. It is the largest museum of decorative arts in continental Europe and its collection is primarily composed of French furniture, tableware, carpets such as those from Aubusson, porcelain such as that by the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, and many glass pieces by René Lalique, Émile Gallé and many others. It includes numerous works in the Art Nouveau and Art Déco styles and modern examples by designers like Eileen Gray and Charlotte Perriand.

A short 2 minutes’ walk away from the hotel, on place de la Concorde, is the Hôtel de la Marine, the former ministry of the French Navy. The building was entirely renovated between 2015 and 2021 and displays the Al Thani Collection presenting international and inter-cultural works of art from the extraordinary collection of Sheik Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, representing civilizations around the world. The building is absolutely stunning and the exhibition art at its finest.

 

Tell us more about the unique art collection at Le Meurice?

 

 

As soon as you enter the lobby, you are in front of “The Kiss”, a monumental artwork by Zoulikha Bouabdellah who was awarded the very first Meurice Award for Contemporary Art in 2008 and which is now part of the hotel’s artistic DNA.

 

Salvador Dalí is very present of course, the Suite he occupied for at least a month every year still displays some of his original furniture he brought by himself.

 

 

In almost every corner of the hotel, you will be discovering smaller or larger artworks and it is a real pleasure sitting in one of our restaurants or in the bar and let your eyes stroll through the room, coming across so many features and spotting some hidden secrets!

 

What can visitors to Le Meurice expect in terms of dining experiences?

 

 

As you know, we are working with Alain Ducasse and I would consider him as a pioneer and visionary. His culture and curiosity allow him to be always ahead of the curve. As a skilled and decisive captain, he federates our teams led by Executive Chef Amaury Bouhours who takes them constantly up to the next level proposing new challenges. His focus is on the product and those who provide it; he always would prefer seasonal culinary experiences to exotic creations and is adept of authentic taste while offering a global experience where every detail counts. Alain Ducasse and Amaury Bouhours aim to defend the culinary French heritage that is similar to the identity of Le Meurice where we strive to combine tradition and modernity.

 

 

The dining experience is of course about what is on the plate – and Chef Clémentine Bouchon from Le Dalí masters this art at its finest by sublimating and transforming the best ingredients into tasteful dishes – but also about the ambience. Whereas Le Dalí is the vibrant heart of the hotel and offers the guest a magnificent spectacle of palace life, the gastronomic restaurant elevates the dining experience to another dimension.

 

 

Of course, competition in this field is growing constantly in Paris, but I believe we have solid assets to be competitive. Our offers between the fine dining restaurant, the Dalí restaurant, the Bar 228 and the banqueting reflect a great variety allowing to meet every guest’s expectations. Cédric Grolet’s pastry masterpieces are another asset to the hotel and the Michelin Guide obviously plays an important role at Le Meurice, as we have always stood out among the best.

 

How important is sustainability in your culinary approach and how will you reflect this across the hotel’s dining venues?

 

 

At Le Meurice, every outlet – from the Michelin-starred Le Meurice Alain Ducasse to the staff restaurant – focuses on local and seasonal products. This is one of our top ESG priorities: we aim to be proactive in reducing our environmental impact as much as we can. We want to play our part in contributing to decrease noxious emissions.

 

Whenever we can, we process locally grown products. All of our suppliers are asked to sign our ESG charter to ensure our and their commitment to sustainability and responsible procurement and cultivation. We are also the first Palace hotel to be awarded three stars from the Ecotable label for our gastronomic restaurant, a French distinction for sustainable F&B management of which we are very proud.

 

How much of a focus has your spa product been?

 

 

We are having a strong partnership with Valmont since 2008, culminating in the opening of La Maison Valmont in 2020, the brand’s Parisian flagship retail store. Valmont are pioneers when it comes to continuous cutting edge training for their therapists, be it for innovative treatments such as Hydrafacial technology or the modern lympathic drainage by Renata França.

 

 

Our Spa has 4 treatment rooms, 2 of which are double rooms, and all benefiting from natural light.

 

The hotel has hosted many renowned artists in the past, most famously Salvador Dalí. Were any of the current staff around when he was still a regular?

 

 

Unfortunately not. The employees with the highest seniority – nearly 40 years – arrived just after Dalí’s last stay with us. However, when I arrived, there were still some people who had known him. For more than 30 years, he spent a least one month per year at Le Meurice, bringing his own furniture, sometimes his pet, an ocelot called Babou, or even a Harley Davidson motorbike into the living room! He always rented the same Suite, as he heard that King Alfonso XIII of Spain had been there once. In addition, Dalí was a monarchist. His excentricity was somewhat exhausting, but he turned out to be nice and friendly with the staff, even offering them lithographs he produced here. Today the Suite bears his name.

 

What makes a hotel stay an unforgettable experience?

 

 

Le Meurice has an amazing historical background anchored in art and culture. It is true to the 19th century French spirit with no display of style, but with true elegance and chic. It is all about sophisticated details that are skilfully arranged in each of the rooms and suites providing a very authentic environment. When you wake up at Le Meurice, you definitely know you are in Paris!

 

Ideally located opposite the Tuileries Gardens, between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre, Le Meurice provides a haven of tranquillity to countless important personalities since it opened in 1835. As for the distinguishing characteristics, it is not that much about the hotel’s material features, it is more about the staff!

 

Le Meurice is part of Dorchester Collection. What kind of value does this bring to the property?

 

 

Guests have references and they know in advance that the employees will take care of them, be always available for special requests and make them feel secure. Dorchester Collection focuses on the human dimension with our “We Care” approach, and our leitmotiv is treasured by guests, cherished by employees, celebrated worldwide. That says it all! The special way to create a home away from home for your guests can only consolidate your relationship and enhance loyalty. We have guests who have been coming to Le Meurice for more than 30 years, passing on their passion to their children and grandchildren.

 

What is your outlook on growth for the property and what is the key focus for the property in 2025?

 

 

2024 has been an exceptional year for Paris, the impact of the Olympics was very positive in terms of image (remember the great views of Paris’ iconic landmarks during the sport events!), organisation and security. Many of those who did not travel during the last summer and who saw the beautiful pictures of Paris and its surroundings on TV would now like to catch up their stays. The reopening of Notre Dame in December was another highlight: visits of the rebuilt cathedral are skyrocketing (I was lucky to be able to go and must admit that it is absolutely stunning!). Hence reservations increase steadily and I am confident that this trend will continue throughout the year. At Le Meurice, everyone is prepared and we are looking very much forward to welcoming regular and new guests from all over the world as we have been doing for 190 years!

 

For more information on Le Meurice Hotel, click here.

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