HÔTEL PLAZA ATHÉNÉE, PARIS Since Hôtel Plaza Athénée Paris first opened its doors in 1913, it has seduced both the elegant Parisian and a discerning international clientele, firmly establishing its haute couture status. Located in Paris’s most prestigious avenue Montaigne, Hôtel Plaza Athénée is situated where fashion, entertainment, and business cross paths. In 1913, Hôtel Plaza Athénée was opened, just a short way away from the Champs Élysées Theatre, at N° 25, avenue Montaigne. It quite naturally became the favourite meeting place for the grand masters of music, composers and performers alike. Gobelins Manufactory, the “Relais” restaurant, and the lounges and suites housed the most popular stars of the time including Josephine Baker, Rudolph Valentino, Marlene Dietrich, and Humphrey Bogart, amongst others. When Christian Dior launched his couture salon on avenue Montaigne in 1947 it is reputed that he chose the location due to its close proximity to Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Soon afterwards Chanel, Prada and Louis Vuitton followed suit and today avenue Montaigne is a byword for luxury and haute couture.
In 2000, Hôtel Plaza Athénée was fully renovated. Alain Ducasse, world renowned Chef, set up his restaurant and made it one of the
major centres of Parisian cuisine. Patrick Jouin, a disciple of Philippe Starck, created the most daringly designed bar in the French capital. In 1936, the hotel was the first to open a restaurant in art deco style, equally, Le Relais was the first restaurant to serve people by plate due to its proximity to the theatre. In 2009, Hôtel Plaza Athénée became the first hotel to open a Dior Institut in a hotel in Europe, and in May 2011 the property was one of the first four Parisian hotels to be awarded the official “Palace” distinction.
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