Weekend Away - Hotel Rochechouart
Daniel Khan spent a weekend at the newly revamped Hotel Rochechouart in the heart of the vibrant Montmartre district of Paris
With a destination restaurant serving imaginative takes on French classics, a rooftop bar open late for cocktails and cinematic views over Paris, plus a newly opened oyster bar and nightclub with a speakeasy vibe, this is a hotel with one foot in the flamboyant past and one foot making bold moves in the present.
Location
Set in the artistic Pigalle neighbourhood, this Art Deco beauty from Paris-based boutique hotel group, Orso Hotels, has now revived Le Mikado, the capital’s much-loved nightclub with a bohemian history
History
Opened in the atmospheric Pigalle district as The Charleston in 1929, within sight of the Sacré Coeur, this hotel has a colourful history with a soundtrack that runs from Jazz Age dance tunes and Creole beguine to tango and French pop. Toasted by the intellectual and creative names of the day – from Maurice Chevalier to Josephine Baker – it was revived and reimagined by the Orso Hotels group, working with Festen interior design, before reopening as Hotel Rochechouart in October 2020.
Style
Throughout Hotel Rochechouart’s eight floors, original features set the tone, with the Art Deco staircase, blue-tiled mosaic and glass elevator sparking a contemporary response by interior design duo Festen. Wood, brass and marble create a classic ambience, matched with terracotta, bronze and green paint colours. Most of the 106 bedrooms conjure a sense of stylish nostalgia, with vintage brass lamps, alabaster sconces and parquet floors, while guests can rendezvous in the sitting room and library. Walls are lined with a curated collection of black-and-white photography, landscapes sketches and sculptures, reflecting the artistic energy of Pigalle. These are joined by contemporary watercolours by Tiffany Bouelle, a Franco-Japanese painter and visual artist who was inspired by the Art Deco shapes of the building.
Food & Beverage
The menu at Rochechouart Restaurant features many French classics along with signature dishes such as duck and foie gras pithiviers and sole Mikado in a caper and lemon sauce. The Citron et Huîtres oyster bar next to the hotel was designed by interior architect Marion Mailaender. Pull up a stool at the counter and order platters of seafood and crudos with a glass of Champagne and natural wines on the side.
The Rooftop Bar at the Rochechouart offers a 360° view across Paris, a well-considered menu. In the four corners of this beautiful space, plants bloom between the wrought iron tables and the cosy benches. In this garden, aromatic herbs such as rosemary, lemon thyme, hibiscus and lavender bloom for a bit of fresh country air in Paris!
Le Mikado Nightclub
The hotel’s legendary nightclub reopened its doors in November 2022, ushering in a new era for an address once graced by Maurice Chevalier, Jean Gabin and Josephine Baker. Edith Piaf’s mother sang here several times, Johnny Halliday frequented the club in the 1960s and Brigitte Bardot’s designer ran soirées here. The tradition continues with a lively programme of DJs and live music playing disco, funk and house music from Thursday to Saturday, reflecting the club’s history and an opium-den-style design that features Japanese lanterns, disco balls and lounge sofas.
Personal Note
Hotel Rochechouart’s is hotel time travel at its best – a direct link to the Paris of Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes and Edith Piaf, with oysters and Champagne on tap and dance music to stir the soul. Reinventing the belle époque for 2023.
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