The Hotel Lutetia in Paris made its grand reopening last week after a four-year period of renovations and restoration. Now a part of The Set Hotels, this historical landmark overlooking Le Bon Marché, has been reshaped and reimagined for the Paris of today, restoring its place as the only luxury hotel on the Left Bank.
To allow for more spacious suites, the number of rooms in the hotel was reduced from 233 to 184—now including two penthouses with a 360-degree view of Paris via private terraces. Alongside the renovation of the beloved Lutetia Brasserie (reopening in September), the hotel is now home to Bar Joséphine, the Salon Saint-Germain, the Salon Crystal, the Orangerie, and Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre, a 7,500 square foot spa boasting six treatment rooms, an infinity edge jacuzzi, a large fitness room, and a 17-meter swimming pool with all natural light.
Originally founded by the Boucicaut family in 1910, the hotel’s history—from guests like Samuel Beckett and Juliette Gréco to offering shelter to deportees at the end of the Second World War—remains an important part of its identity. “The challenge facing us was to breathe new life into an establishment while respecting its roots, its identity, and its personality,” said Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the architect entrusted with the project. Throughout the renovations, Wilmotte focused on maintaining the original spirit of the building, while calling on natural light, a new layout, and a little technology to restore the hotel to modern luxury standards.