Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris:

The Icon of Luxury

First opened in 1928, Hotel George V has been known as one of Paris’ most luxurious icons. World-famous celebrities, movie stars and renowned businessmen such as The Beatles, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Gene Kelly, Vivien Leigh, Liza Minelli, Sophia Loren, The Rolling Stones and Sylvester Stallone amongst others, are known to make this hotel as their favourite while in Paris. Even the legendary Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor stayed in the Penthouse Suite of the hotel with her second husband Conrad Hilton.

French architects Lefranc and Wybo, under the direction of American owner and architect Joel Hilman, designed the original George V in the 1920s. The hotel immediately set a high standard amongst the hospitality industry and its luxury shareholders. The hotel originally had nine floors with an exterior done in the style of the 1930s on the site of former stone quarries. These quarries gave shape to the hotel’s wine cellar where one enormous stone slab forms the ceiling, and a stone wall provided solid anchors for the deeply riveted wine racks. The George V was initially designed to be a temporary residence for visitors of Paris and not a traditional hotel. The hotel was therefore designed to be used for a residential purpose and was intended to bring comfort, prestige and elegance to a sophisticated clientele.

Located just off the Champs-elysées, the hotel was designed around an interior courtyard fronting on Avenue George V, where the structure was kept to a single story; eight stories were created on the other three sides. At that period, even in the most luxurious hotel in Paris, having a bathroom in your own bedroom was uncommon. In 1996, the hotel was bought by a Saudi businessman Al-waleed bin Talal and he spent US$120 million renovating the hotel. It was re-opened in December 1999 and is managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Since then, the new era of George V started and was voted as “Best Hotel in the World” by a number of publications.

The current George V is a collaboration of great taste in design, art, culinary and service excellence. The experience starts in the lobby that is adorned by a flower that changes its colour every month, an impressive creation of the famous artistic director and world-renowned florist Jeff Leatham.

The hotel is also known for its beautiful suites (ranging from 190 sqm to 250 sqm) designed in the style of a private Parisian apartment. The glamorous collection of rooms and suites are constantly growing with contemporary art and craftsmanship. The entirely redesigned spaces are flooded with natural light to illuminate the modern and classical materials.

The world-acclaimed Pierre Yves Rochon has selected renowned craftsmen to create customised furniture and refurbish historical pieces anew: Pierre Frey, Manuel Casanova, Veraseta for the fabrics and silk products, Taillardat for the “style” of furniture, also Midavaine for the lacquers, Tisserant, Yann Jallu, and more. The dining rooms of certain suites can welcome up to eight guests, providing an intimate atmosphere. The mini-bars have become personal wine cellars filled with the most prestigious bottles of wine and champagne. The vast dressing room was designed with the best fashion “haute couture” brands in mind. In the grand bathroom, rare marble, Baccarat crystal fittings, rain shower, steam bath and fountains of ice come together to offer a full wellness experience. The Penthouse Suite boasts the most breathtaking view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower becoming a beacon in the background.

Four Seasons George V is also known as a gastronomic institution, housing three Michelinstar restaurants with a total of five Michelin stars. The fine dining Le Cinq arranged in a classic Francoanglican style, has a beautiful design that features pieces of French furniture, including two Louis XIV cabinets, and gold-plated Louis XIV medallion chairs. Rich, soft lighting bathes the room in a warm and intimate atmosphere. The second restaurant called Le George is the art of the convivial Mediterranean cuisine experience. Pierre-yves Rochon created a timelessly chic and relaxed atmosphere drawing on modern influences, and the room has a distinctly Parisian vibe. Historical French companies were sought: Baccarat for the chandelier, Lalique for the consoles, tables and the restaurant’s doors, Bernardaud, Raynaud and Jars for the dishes. A splendid canopy extended by large windows lets the outside lighting in and offers a breath-taking view of the Marble Courtyard. The last dining institution, L’orangerie is an atmospheric spot overlooking the famous Marble Courtyard. It took six months to build the sevenmetre-high glass-and-steel structure, which blends seamlessly with the Art Deco style of the hotel.