Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe opens

The Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe which opened in May, combines an ultra-modern design by renowned Paris architect Christian de Portzamparc with the best of the Renaissance brand experience. The 118-room hotel offers an incomparable and historic location, contemporary and comfortable guest rooms, chic public spaces and an innovative restaurant pairing French and Indonesian cuisine.

“The Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe is our latest gem in a global portfolio of more than 140 hotels and resorts” said Tina Edmundson, senior vice president, lifestyle brands and Renaissance operations. “Set in the heart of Paris, the hotel provokes the guests’ sense of discovery, offering cutting-edge architecture, intriguing interiors and a restaurant and lounge that is undeniably Parisian – all with a touch of the exotic. Matching up nicely with Paris is our equally exciting and highly distinctive Renaissance New York Hotel 57 — two major openings in two fabulous cities.”

Built on the site of the famous Theatre de l’empire, the hotel is already causing a buzz in Paris design circles. Portzamparc materializes values of modernity as well as comfort and quality. The hotel’s signature wavy, all-glass exterior pays homage to the historic architecture on the Avenue Wagram. Ground-floor retail shops, selling modern home furnishings, fit perfectly with the location which is quickly becoming a design hub in Paris. The hotel also has direct and exclusive access to Salle Wagram, the famous banquet and event venue built in 1865 that has been fully restored according to Portzenparc’s design.

Just steps from the Arc de Triomphe and Avenue des Champs-Elysees, the Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe has spectacular views of Paris from its top floors. The hotel’s guest rooms and 22 suites are classically styled with touches of whimsy and warm, vibrant colours, artfully balanced with just the right amenities to accommodate both business and leisure guests.

Technologically advanced, the hotel offers wireless Internet access throughout the building,and guest rooms are fitted with VoIP telephones, wired and wireless Internet access, high-definition, LCD televisions and digital connectivity panel allowing guests to connect their laptops, camcorders, digital cameras, video games and more. Opening rates begin at € 289 per night.

Makassar Lounge & Restaurant, a new dining concept in Paris, combines the exotic with the familiar, blending French Provence bistro flavours with authentic Indonesian dishes, such as Be Pasih Mepanggang (marinated and grilled sword fish, sweet potato with shallots), Satau Ayam (brochette of marinated chicken, yellow rice) and Gendag Mekuah (papaya Soup, gambas, mussels and spices). The Sulawesi chef’s table is an intimate private dining space.

The word Makassar derives from the name of a precious wood and from the harbor of the Indonesia archipelago, once a hub of the world spice market trading in pepper, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg. This heritage inspired the general tone of the simple but creative menu created by Executive Chef Jose Bangard in collaboration with Consultant chef Heinz von Holzen, resident of Bali for more than 15 years and a recognized expert and author on Indonesian cuisine. Open all day and evening, guests can easily enjoy a drink, a snack or a full meal.

The restaurant design, by Henry Chebaane, mixes a sense of relaxation and discovery with an exotic tone, while maintaining a very Parisian spirit of the place where the Theatre de l’empire once stood. Velvety indigo blue mixes with bronzed buffalo leather, dark wooden floors and silver curtains with provocative leather glints, and a shadow theatre brings life to the restaurant’s main wall, with a sequence from “Ramayana,” an epic of love, good and evil.