Lunch at Le Lutetia

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Le Lutetia has become, over the years, the place to meet for writers and publishers but also to give interviews for actresses and producers. It is conveniently located at corner of Bd Raspail and rue de Sèvres, one block from the Bon Marché and Hermès, and it is the only five star hotel in the Latin quarter. So as soon … Read More

Summer treats in Paris

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Paris can become pretty dreary in August when everything closes down but there are also special summer treats to be found. I went to the “Palazzo“, the terrace in front of Palais de la Porte dorée which features a great exhibition of photographs of gipsies (until August 26) and on Wednesday nights you get a free drink and a guided tour … Read More

Maison Astor, a discreet hotel with history

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The new Maison Astor, on rue d’Astorg in Paris has a motto. Friendliness and  charm. The bar is called the “club” and serves real food and cocktails at a reasonable price, the dining room has special lunch menus for 39€ and a glass roof open on the 131 rooms of this Haussmanian house built in Proust’s times across the street … Read More

A classical bistrot with charm

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I was complaining last week end to members of Club des Cent, a very exclusive French association of gourmets founded in 1912, that there were no real bistrots left in Paris, when one of them told me about Café Max. A place where you can bring anyone, for a confortable dinner with good service, nice white tablecloth and traditional cooking … Read More

The “Ryokan collection” or 39 small Japanese hotels to dream of!

parisdiaHappy moments, Restaurants & Hotels1 Comment

Japan exudes poetry and mystery (largely due to the language) like no other country I know and when I received the invitation to discover the Ryokan Collection, a sort of Japanese Small luxury hotels group, I rushed to a funny little house on avenue George Mandel where four Ryokan owners had gathered. There are 39 members of this very exclusive group … Read More

Galerie Templon makes a move

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It was a very festive and family like evening, for the opening of Daniel Templon’s new gallery near Beaubourg. Now partners with his son Matthieu, he has given up his first name and redesigned a logo for the fabulous three floor 660 square meter building conceived by his old friend Jean Michel Wilmotte on rue du Grenier Saint Lazare. Jan … Read More