The history of France shines at the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand
By Nicolas
With eight kilometres of carpeted hallways and ten categories of rooms and suites, there’s no shortage of choice and space at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand by IHG.
Next to the historic Opéra Garnier, this 458-room five-star hotel also offers a central location for exploring the City of Lights, including the nearby Galeries Lafayette and Louvre.
As I passed within a few meters of the sumptuous opera house, the largest theater in the world when it opened in 1875, I had a clear idea of what this iconic hotel could offer in terms of opulence, located in the architectural heart of nineteenth-century Haussmannian Paris. It did not disappoint.
Beyond the open-plan lobby and reception area with its intricate floral arrangements and polished marble floors, my partner and I entered the Salon Verrière, or grand conservatory, a classic Belle Époque world topped with a tall metal dome resembling that of the Grand Palais or the Musée d’Orsay. This expansive living room is a resting place for guests, adorned with palm and citrus trees, brass railings, richly textured carpets, gold-leaf-framed mirrors, chandeliers, ornate pillars, and stucco on the ceiling. Groups of lamps hanging on the walls, more like nineteenth-century lanterns, are a strong reminder of this past glory era. We felt like royalty.
Later in the evening, we headed to the unforgettable Café de la Paix, a restaurant where nothing is ordinary, a bit like a step back in time, yet another exuberant tribute to the golden age of the belle époque, well illustrated by its intricately designed ceiling.
Dining in Paris without enjoying the classic French dish of escargots would be sacrilegious, so my partner opted for this as a starter. Twelve plump and tender Burgundy farmed snails came out of their shells and quickly arrived to her, which she enjoyed with a homemade brioche.
I chose another classic French dish, onion soup, attempted after our server, Antoine, said the recipe was from the 1800s. Described briefly, it provided bites of umami taste. Our main courses came from both land and sea, steak tartare and Dover sole, chosen in part because they are both created at the table, making for an even more memorable dining experience.
My fish was so generously big, shame on me, I found it impossible to finish it, much to the concern of the attentive manager of the restaurant, Paul Lescureux. I showed my belly. He understood and nodded with a smile.
We chose a bottle of Provence Whispering Angel rosé wine to accompany our dishes. Other options on a wide range included appetizers such as smoked Norwegian salmon, baeri caviar, duck pate, and burrata and main courses such as tuna tartare, sea bass, Canadian lobster, ribeye, roast duck, veal chops, and, for vegetarians, eggplant confit.
For a memorable stay in the City of Lights in a glamorous hotel that opened its doors nearly 200 years ago, in 1862, the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is certainly a wise choice.
