First Look -- Prince de Galles to Open in Paris in May

 

Prince de Galles, an art-deco Luxury Collection Hotel in Paris is set to re-open in May 2013 following a two-year restoration. And from what we hear about that renovation, it'll be a property worth exploring in the City of Light.

The hotel's signature restaurant will be led by Executive Chef Stephanie Le Quellec, who is reportedly considered one of the most promising talents in the French culinary scene. We hear that "simplicity and authenticity" will be the defining characteristics of the restaurant's distinctive, seasonal dishes, which will focus on the flavors of the south of France.

Designed by Andre Arfvidson, Prince de Galles welcomed its first guests in 1929, during the peak of the Art Deco movement. The restoration of the interiors of Prince de Galles is led by two internationally acclaimed French designers: Pierre-Yves Rochon and Bruno Borrione.

Bruno Borrione, in close collaboration with Le Quellec, is remaining the hotel's signature restaurant and bar. A show kitchen, with a chef's table next to it, will be the center of attention in the restaurant, as guests dine at minimalist white marble tables. Good to know: We hear the hotel's patio, which has an extensive Art Deco-style mosaic, will also be re-designed.

Pierre-Yves Rochon, meanwhile, is leading the design for the lobby, as well as the hotel's 115 rooms and 44 suites, which have been reimagined as private apartments reminiscent of the Art Deco style from the 1930s. The rooms and suites will have accents like Macassar ebony wood, Saint Laurent marble floors and intricate mosaics artwork that are created by renowned luxury French 'maisons' and top craftsmen. The hotel's 1,776-square-foot penthouse has panoramic views over the City from a private terrace.

The renovation is part of a larger project undertaken by Starwood Hotels & Resorts and its owners to invest $200 million to renovate and restore some of its most emblematic European hotels under the Luxury Collection brand: Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville and Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian re-opened in 2012, and most recently, the Gritti Palace in Venice opened its doors on February 1.