Emily and I travelled to Paris last week for the launch of Juniper Sling in the stunning Hôtel Plaza Athénée. High profile journalists from publications such as Le Monde, Crash, Madame Figaro and Paris Match were invited to discover more about the inspiration behind the fragrance by master perfumer Olivier Cresp.
Located on arguably one of the most beautiful streets in Paris, Hôtel Plaza Athénée is housed amongst such prestigious fashion houses as Dior, Bottega Veneta and Chanel on the avenue Montaigne. The avenue des Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower are within spitting distance. Beautifully decorated, the hotel embodies Parisian elegance. Vivid red geraniums shield the exterior of the building whilst inside you are greeted with traditional yet chic décor.
At the launch, guests arrived at the opulent Bar du Plaza Athénée to the gourmand aromas of Juniper Sling. During their time there, they were treated to cocktails and a delicious selection of traditional French pastries and sandwiches (I can personally vouch for the croque monsieurs which were exceptional!) The cocktails were created exclusively for the launch by perfumer Oliver Cresp and the director of the Bar du Plaza Athénée, Thierry Hernandez. Inspired by the fragrance, the drink included ingredients such as gin, cherry brandy, bitter rhubarb, cranberry, ginger and ginger beer.
During the rest of our time in Paris, Emily and I spent most of our time stuck in traffic or sweltering in the overcrowded carriages of the metro. Ironically it took us the same amount of time for us to arrive at our hotel from Gare du Nord as our Eurostar journey over there! However we did find some time to pop along to Penhaligon’s on the rue Saint-Honoré. The boutique maintains the traditional British ethos of the brand, but has a sophisticated French charm to it. A Penhaligon’s concession will also be opening in Printemps Haussmann on the 11th of July so if your ever in the area do pop in and see our lovely team there!
Located adjacent to the Louvre and the Tuileries gardens, rue Saint-Honoré is jam packed with luxury stores and quaint Parisian cafes. Just before we left, Emily and I ordered some steak frites at a traditional French restaurant, sat on the pavement and watched the world go by. Arguably the perfect ending to a magical day in Paris!
So there you go – a brief outline of our whirlwind visit to Paris. What would you choose to do if you had 24 hours to spend in Paris?
- Lauren
The architecture when you walk into the building is breathtaking isn’t it? I love that it used to be a mailing centre and film set before it’s conversion into a museum! Do you have a particular favourite you could recommend?Anyways, thanks for sharing this.
Concerning the museums in Paris, I recommend :
- Orsay museum, (Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh). It is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station.
-The Louvre (next the “jardin des tuileries”) and biggest museum of the world.
- “Grand and petit Palais”, I’m really fan of photography and I will remember for the rest of my life this exibition of Patrick Demarchelier.
But for 24 hours :
Breakfast in front of the cathedrale Notre-dame
Shopping in Av Montaigne – Place Vendôme – Champs Elysée
Lunch at Montmartre
Afternoon nap in the jardin des tuileries
Then visit of the Louvre or Orsay museums
Red wine and dinner in “the Marais”
Hi Vincent,
I too am a massive fan of the Musee d’Orsay. The architecture when you walk into the building is breathtaking isn’t it? I love that it used to be a mailing centre and film set before it’s conversion into a museum! I’ve never heard of the Grand and Petit Palais but I’ll be sure to look it up next time I visit. Thanks for the tip.
Lauren
The museums, any and all of them!
You’re right Liam! When time permits I always visit the Musee du Louvre – the biggest museum in the world (we’ll just have to plan another trip soon!). Do you have a particular favourite you could recommend?
I think I’d be doing something very similar to yourselves, sans the perfume launch
I think though I’d be hitting the museums. My favourite thing to do anywhere I go. I could spend months no doubt in Paris doing just that alone