A visit and dining at The Lancaster, Paris
Lancaster exterior
I was invited to discover a great little luxury hotel in Paris by PRCo recently. It’s called The Lancaster and although it might not be as well known as the Ritz or George V, it’s worth considering when you’re looking for a more intimate lux experience.
Lancaster salon
The hotel is part of the Spanish group, Hospes Infinite Places which is known for it’s outstanding yet personal and intimate hotels. The Lancaster fits into that category nicely, having once been a private mansion located just off the Champs Elysee. It’s but a stones throw from the Arc d’Triomphe and the shops of the Champs Elysee.
Lancaster Room
The hotel has played host to many famous folks and Marlene Dietrich lived here for 3 years. She even had a favourite piano in the hotel which is still there and can be found in the Dietrich suite. The decor of the hotel is rich but at the same time, minimally appointed and when I entered, I immediately knew I was in a fine Parisian hotel with it’s unique collection of antique, paintings and carefully restored 18th century furniture mixed in with Art Deco touches. That’s not to say they have abandoned the modern world. Each room has an iphone docking station, hi def TV and all the modern amenities.
The Lancaster also has a one Michelin starred restaurant, Le Table du Lancaster, headed by Chef Michel Troigras. I dined in the restaurant and the menu was an intriguing blend of classic French cuisine with some surprising twists. Celery Cannelloni with caviar and smoked ells, scallop melba flavoured with bergamot, lobster plins with black truffle, pan fried foie gras and preserved grapefruit, turbot poached in pineau broth, saddle of venison with caper and grape, these were part of the 7 course tasting menu I enjoyed. Each dish was a delighful culinary mouthful. The sommelier had also paired each course with wine and the selections were just as interesting as the cuisine. The following are my gastronomic highlights of the evening…
celery cannelloni w/caviar and smoked eels
smoked eel
turbot
saddle of venison
We started with the 2009 Moreau Naudet chablis and finished with a 2008 Jurancon Domain de Souch. We also sampled a Savennieres 2009, the Le Bel Ouvrage, Damien Laureau among other fine wine choices. If you don’t know this white wine, you should find out more. Savennieres is a fantastic food wine from the Loire and is considered by many to be the best example of dry chenin blanc. The 2009 pinot gris, Patergarten Domaine Paul Blanck was another stellar stand out and again such a fantastic food wine. The sommelier certainly did not let the food down with his wine choices.
chablis more then ok!
pinot gris, fantastic with the meal
La Table du Lancaster is open to both guests and non-guests of the hotel. If you are staying at the hotel, though, you should not pass up the opportunity to dine there.
delicacies
All in all, a beautiful, intimate luxury hotel in the heart of Paris that would be easy to overlook. However, once you find it, you’ll be glad you took the time to discover The Lancaster.
Location: 7, rue de Berri,
Champs-Elysées75008 – Paris
T +33 1 407 64076