Big news from the City of Light, where the 268-room Hilton Paris Opera is set to debut in January 2015 following the completion of a $50 million restoration from the former Concorde Paris Opera.
The Rooms
Originally designed by architect Juste Lisch for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the updated 268 rooms (including 29 Suites) have some nice old-school touches: The entrance hall has frescoes, Corinthian colonnades, and original balustrades with chandeliers and mosaic flooring. Bonus: All rooms have complimentary Wi-Fi.
The Suites
We say the top pick at the of Hilton Paris Opera is the 900 square-foot Maria Callas Suite. Besides a living room with high ceilings (typical for a Parisian Haussmann building), this suite has a master bedroom with a king bed, and a second bedroom with twin beds, both with private bathrooms.
Other suite highlights are the hotel’s four Rotonde suites on both sides of the building, with round exterior walls opening up to private French balconies.
Hilton Paris Opera also has ten one-bedroom suites as well as 14 junior suites. Access to the Executive Lounge is included with complimentary breakfast and afternoon bites & drinks.
Dining and Meeting Spaces
The central archway between the two reception desks in the entrance lobby opens through to ‘Le Grand Salon.’ Open from early mornings till late evenings, this is a good spot for informal business meetings, light meals and evening cocktails. Off of the building’s grand front entrance is the intimate Le Petit Bar.
For meetings and events, the Salon Baccarat is a large function with vintage Baccarat crystal chandeliers. Six other newly refurbished meeting rooms are located on the Entresol and Mezzanine Levels. The breakfast lounge is also located on this floor, in the opposite wing with spaces that flow and wrap around the corner of the building.
Also as part of the renovation, Hilton Paris Opera has added an Executive Lounge and fitness center.
Location, Location, Location
The hotel is located in the heart of the city’s Right Bank district and close to the Champs-Elysées, Opéra Square and Rue de la Paix. Guests can explore the Opéra Garnier, try the delicatessen on Place de la Madeleine or go shopping at the Galeries Lafayette and Le Printemps Haussmann. Many museums are within walking distance, including the Musée Fragonard and the Musée de la Vie Romantique.
Getting there: The hotel is located close to Saint-Lazare Railway Station and approximately 17 miles from Charles de Gaulle Airport; 14 miles from Paris Orly Airport; and five miles from the La Défense business district.
Good name to know: Sofia Vandaele will be the new hotel's general manager. She joined from a similar position at the London NYC hotel in New York. Her previous experience includes roles with W Hotels in New York, the Sheraton Belgravia in London, and with Starwood Hotels in Brussels.
For more information, visit parisopera.hilton.com.