Le Bristol Paris

Hotel Le Bristol in 2024

In 2024, Don and I had our second dining adventure at the elegant Hotel Le Bristol.

I'm cheating a bit. Our "dining adventure" within the grand hotel, consisted of drinks and complimentary appetizers. And it wasn't even in the hotel's well-mannered Epicure Restaurant. We weren't seated in the dimly lit Le Bar du Bristol, either. More on where, later.

Le Bristol in 1999

25 years earlier we didn't cheat. We had an elegant meal at Le Bristol's Epicure. It cost us more than any meal we've had since. 

At the end of that memorable meal, I did the unthinkable. I asked the waiter to take our picture. In '99, I didn't hand over a cellphone and I didn't hand him my 35mm Canon, because it broke the day before. I handed him a tacky disposable camera, with TOURIST written all over it! 

1999 Journel

This is how the festive entrance looked when we arrived on a chilly November evening, in 2024. 

Beneath the holiday decorations, it looked much as it did when we dined a quarter century before.

I have no other photos from our 1999 dinner, but it was easy to remember. Especially with the help of an old journal. I remember being slightly intimidated when our cab pulled up to the busy entrance.

A doorman quickly greeted and ushered towards the revolving doors. 

My journal describes the start of our evening. "Suddenly our table was quietly swarming with perfectly choreographed service... one server lit our candle and another offered puff pastry hors d'oeuvres... a sommelier rolled over a large cart with various champagnes on ice... a woman carried a basket of bread sticks, covered in herbs... a sliver tray holding a bottle of Evian water was placed on our table..." 

​Famous Guests

​This image from the hotel's website, shows a table that could have been ours. I remember sipping champagne, while enjoying our view of the garden, with soft evening light. I felt slightly frustrated that our chairs were facing away from the room. How could I see if someone famous was dining?  Le Bristol has attracted the rich and famous since its opening in the roaring twenties. From Charlie Chaplin to Rita Hayworth, to Marilyn Monroe and then Woody Allen in 2011, when he filmed scenes for Midnight in Paris.

I tried to contain my giddiness, but I'm sure my face was grinning with the impeccable service. I postponed my gleeful comments, when a large wagon of cheeses was rolled to our table. I halted my giggles, when I realized my menu had no prices, but Don's did. I stifled my gasp when Don whispered that the lobster appetizer we'd just ordered cost $75.  

Chef Frechon

What I don't remember about our evening, was that Epicure had just taken on a new chef. Chef Eric Frechon arrived in 1999 and spent the next 25 years overseeing the kitchen. He brought Epicure its third Michelin star in 2009. It was named the World’s Best Restaurant, three years in a row.

Who knows if Chef Frechon was in the kitchen the night we dined. I like to think he had something to do with the exceptional French cuisine we enjoyed. I wish I could remember more details. I absolutely do remember the glorious chocolate mousse and the miniature pastries.

Early Evening in 2024

​In 2024, Don and I planned a 4-night trip to Paris over Thanksgiving. We didn't budget in an evening at Le Bristol. Our bill in 1999 came to roughly  850 American dollars! What would that be 25 years later?

-Instead we decided we would just visit the bar for drinks. We walked a mile from our hotel and figured out our strategy. 

​We hoped we could just enter the hotel and head confidently towards the bar. We were feeling a little concerned after reading an article about some ritzy hotel bars in Paris, turning non guests away.

We passed a decorated window on our way to the entrance. I could see a lobby desk, so I guessed we should turn right, once inside.
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We paused a moment so Don could remove his knit hat and I could snap a touristy photo of the 5-star hotel. 

I sloppily captured the cream colored Art Deco exterior... and Don. The fabulous building overlooking rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, was once a private mansion. It didn't become Hotel Le Bristol until 1925.

In We Go

Don wasn't wearing designer shoes and I wasn't carrying a Gucci handbag, but we strutted inside with purpose. As if we were returning to our $2,000- a-night guest room. Or $14,800 for the Azure Terrace Suite!

Piano music and a red carpet greeted us. So did a nicely dressed woman who looked very much in charge. She greeted and offered guidance, but we kept moving down the stairs. We acknowledged with a "we-got-it-wave" and continued past the piano player, hoping we'd guessed right. 
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I pretty much gave myself away as an American tourist, when I snapped a cellphone pic of the stairs and elevator. Couldn't resist.

If the woman who greeted us was watching, she was probably amused. She probably detected our fake confidence when we entered. I'm sure she's observed all kinds of characters coming through the revolving doors. 

Hotel Bar?
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We turned the corner and followed our feet to a lovely space with comfy chairs beneath white clouds and crystal chandeliers. 

A different woman welcomed us. She ushered us to a cozy table for two and gave me a cushioned stool to hold my purse. I noticed 2 nearby women enjoying tea. Ladies' Teatime?

​Cafe Antonia

We were each handed a lovely menu with a blurry face. Cafe Antonia? Was this hotel's bar?  Were we being given menus for a high tea? 

The classy cafe did indeed have Tea Time from 3:00 to 6:00.  But the menus offered cocktails. We placed our order and relaxed. Then the server returned and apologized, "I'm sorry." She began. I tensed like a teen with a fake I.D. "I didn't get your room number." I explained we weren't guests and she seemed fine with that. But then another woman, (a manager perhaps) came over and asked if we would be ordering food. "Just drinks." I smiled. We waited for the hook... the big boot. But we were just paranoid. I believe she was just checking on us before the menu changed at 6:00. 

Ahh! Drinks and More
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Along with our drinks, we were given a tasty assortment of olives and nuts.

Complimentary treats always put me at ease. Unless I overthink it, like I do with palate cleansing sorbet. Do I politely put my spoon down before finishing? Or with decorative carved veggies and fruits, at some Asian restaurants. Is this edible or do they plan to reuse?!

Another little plate of goodies arrived after we'd taken a few sips.  We were no longer concerned. We were hungry.

Our photo op suddenly had discarded skewers. We were enjoying our nibbles as if we grew up in the Clean Your Plate 1960s. Which we did.

Cheers to Queen Antionette!

The welcoming goodies (and drinks) put us at ease. ​We sat back and took in our surroundings with all the French 18th century decor. A portrait of Queen Antoinette decorated one wall. Antonia is the name that Queen Antoinette's mother used for her daughter.

Don sipped a Manhattan. I sipped La Dolce Vita Champagne Cocktail. "Cheers to the Queen!"  We were no longer concerned that we looked touristy. We snapped photos of each other.

Powder My Nose

We had plans to only have one drink each, before heading to dinner elsewhere. My drink with tip was probably about $40 and I'd say it was totally worth it. 

Before we finished up, I made sure to get my money's worth with a little exploring. "I'm going to powder my nose." I told Don. Which always means, "I'm going to explore." I paused at a decorated tree.


I was very delighted when I found this stunning perched peacock. 

I walked closer for a photo and suddenly found the entrance to the hotel's bar. I chuckled to myself because just minutes ago, Don and I had strutted our way into Le Bristol and marched ourselves right up to the hotel's lovely cafe, not the bar. 

Le Bar du Bristol

The swanky, violet colored bar looked inviting at 6:30 pm. It had just opened and the music wasn't throbbing. No partiers beneath the disco balls yet. It was tempting to grab Don and head back for an early Le Bristol After Dark experience. 

But I was actually content just peeking in for a moment. I found myself chatting with 2 servers who welcomed me to look around. They seemed surprisingly curious when I told them I'd visited the hotel  25 years before. The young woman was eager to describe all the changes she'd notice at Le Bristol in recent years. Before I left, she pointed to the peacock and asked me the English word. I told her and then did my best impression of a peacock wailing sound. A hushed version. What a nice little visit.

Heading Off

Don was paying our bill when I returned. Antonia's was getting a little busier. 

I hated to leave, just as the place was getting livelier. Good people watching. I told Don about the bar that I discovered. We agreed, "Next time."
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Posing

I did some posing at the bottom of the stairs, before we headed out.

I didn't see the woman who greeted us again. It's amusing to think we had been so worried about being turned away. That article was clearly not talking about Le Bristol. Everyone we spoke to was gracious and welcoming. 

Good-Bye Paris

I'm so glad Don and I were able to visit the magical City of Light one more time.

The Eiffel Tower still impresses me and so does the glamorous Hotel Le Bristol. I'm dreaming of a future visit. I could go for a dinner and an overnight at the grand hotel! Next time!