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Maison de l'Amerique Latine & Hotel Banque BUZZ
Not a lot of people know Buenos Aires is called the “Paris of South America”. Avoid the 15-hour flight and head for Boulevard Saint Germain and La Maison de l'Amerique Latine, it's muy caliente carino. MAL may be lacking in pampas but makes up for that with the elegance of the 18th century architecture, culturel exhibitions, musical evenings, a restaurant and bar and stunning gardens, complete with colvert ducks. They know a good thing when they see it do the ducks.
They have General de Gaulle to thank, on his initiative, in 1946, the Hotel de Varengeville and Hotel Amelot de Gourney became La Maison de l'Amerique Latine to nourish and encourage cultural relationships between the 20 Latin American republics and the republique of France.
The interior is decorated in perfect Franco/Spanish empire style, oil paintings of the likes of General Jose G. Artigas and the Duque de Caxias O Pacificador punctuate the walls.
Most of the salons overlook the above mentioned jardins. You'll want to move in, it would make an amazing hotel. The bar is packed at lunchtime, no wonder when they do a menu at 16€ including a boisson. You can book, for a voyage vers le sud. Tacos salade and fri fri. Salade Amérique Latine, Assiette de fromage and salads. Parillada de volaille au citron vert et poivrons doux. Drink Casilero del Diablo or get the lovely barman to mix you a margarita.
The main restaurant is in the garden, there you can play spot the ducks. Choose from chef Vincent Limouzins' light dishes, the menu changes weekly. Cannelloni de courgettes et chair de tourteau à la coriandre. Stuffed sea bass, fricassée d'artichaud and freshly podded peas. Tartelette aux fraises Gariguette en fine gelée d'abricot au thé “tchai”.
Drink Bodega Lurton Mendoza white or red Malbec 2007 (29€). Or by the glass Casillero del Diablo red or white (10€). This is the best kept secret in Paris.
Maison de l'Amerique Latine,
217 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 7th (Metro:Solferino)
T: 01 40 49 03 94
Shut Sat-Sun for private fiestas
Lunch 40€ Dinner 55-79€ + wine
www.mal217.org/commercial-restaurant.php
Show me a serious shopper who doesn't want to tumble out of bed and into Galeries Lafayette? Within a minute of the store with more, in a vast converted Credit Commerciale bank, Banke Hotel, transformed by architects Paul Friesse and Cassien Bernard.
Not sure if they give samples
of moolah with turn down service. If you like to be ahead of the crowd Hotel Banke is for you. The magnificent building has a classical “bank” exterior and contemporary interior, heavy cast iron grills protect the doors, the 94 rooms, including 17 suites have magnificent marble bathrooms and picture postcard views of Sacré Coeur and Opera Garnier.
The entire privately owned project, part of Small Luxury Hotels, is by the Clos family Derby Hotels Collection who have addresses in Barcelona, Madrid, London. The concept is that each guest is “un invité personal” of the family. Lots of Egyptian and Indian influences, Turkish kilims, African sculptures and contemporary art are on exhibition in the hotels' public and private rooms, all part of the Clos family collection. Expect Wi-Fi, excellent safes (well it was a bank darling), small spa and fitness centre, a convivial bar area and 2 restaurants. Watch this space for news of chef George Pierres' Mediterranean style dishes.
Banke Hotel,
20 rue Lafayette, 9th (Metro: Chausee d'Antin)
T: 01 53 33 22 22
