La dolce vita in Paris – how Castille Paris blends Italian hospitality with French flair
By Robin Sanderson
Upon entering Castille Paris – part of the Starhotels group – for the first time, you immediately perceive that special mix of Italian elegance and warmth, where classical style and contemporary flair are combined with truly timeless charm. However, as the name of this beautiful luxury hotel would suggest, this particular Castille is not in Italy, but rather the capital of France.
Discreetly tucked away in a street of exclusive fashion boutiques, the hotel’s central location within the 1st arrondissement, close to the Chanel flagship store, where Mademoiselle Coco opened her first atelier, as well as all the key sights on the travel itinerary – such as the Champs-Élysées, the Louvre, the Place de la Concorde and Notre-Dame Cathedral – makes it the perfect starting point for those wishing to explore the city on foot.
Sat at the concierge’s desk, you’ll find Capucine, a gentle Chartreux kitten, who greets guests, carrying on the legacy established by Héliot, the Castille’s former resident cat and de-facto mascot, who spent 10 years prowling along the hotel corridors in search of cuddles. Despite being quite an unusual presence in a five-star hotel, Capucine greatly contributes to the Castille’s warm and relaxed atmosphere. Perhaps not so surprising that the late, great Karl Lagerfeld chose to stay at Castille Paris in his lifetime, accompanied by Choupette, his pet Birman cat.
The hotel consists of two wings, each with a character of its own: the Opera wing boasts beautiful views (some rooms even have views of the Eiffel Tower), while the décor is sophisticated, with vintage black and white photographs of Paris on the walls. Meanwhile, the Rivoli wing oozes classic 1940s French style, inspired by Coco Chanel, with a chic monochrome design. Whichever wing you stay in, the rooms are all an oasis of calm after a day spent exploring the city, and each has been curated down to the smallest detail, including the soft, ergonomic mattresses and pillow menu, that allows guests to curate their own perfect sleep experience.
If you can bear to tear yourself away from the cosy confines of your room, a fine dining experience awaits at L’Assaggio, the hotel’s restaurant, which serves up dishes as delectable for the palate as they are for the eyes – each is a feast of ingredients, aromas, and flavours. L’Assaggio offers an intimate and sophisticated atmosphere in which you can indulge in great food, surrounded by discreet luxury in an intimate space. The highest quality ingredients are used in the restaurant’s traditionally modern cuisine – which is Italian and Piedmontese in style – washed down with a delicious range of Champagnes and wines.
The restaurant overlooks a bright courtyard patio, which really feels like a hidden slice of Italian paradise – albeit under the Parisian sky. The Castille courtyard’s atmospheric open-air dining space displays a mural of Columbus’ departure in 1492 to the New World, and it is elegantly decorated with a fountain, statues and an ornamental scene reminiscent of the Jacquemart-André Borghese Museum on Boulevard Haussmann.
I was privileged to taste the three exquisite varieties of buttery and refined Kaviari Caviar, available in the hotel and in twelve delikatessen across Paris; one even sourced from the Amur River flowing between China and Russia.
Also on sale in the hotel is a range of stunning jewellery pieces from Maison Karloff, renowned for their black diamonds and indeed their legendary Karloff diamond. In collaboration with Castille Paris, an extraordinarily delicious Black Karloff cocktail has been created – a blend of gin, sweet red vermouth, crème de mûre, bitters, coffee and even a splash of octopus ink, together with a mysterious secret ingredient. The cocktail is as stunning as it is delicious!
When visiting Paris, you can be assured a very special stay in this fine hotel, where delightful and attentive staff are on hand to make your holiday here a very memorable occasion.
For further information about Castille Paris, or to make a booking, click here.
