The Marais continues to reinvent itself. A year after welcoming the SO/Paris, this historic Parisian district, which attracts tourists and artists alike, continues to expand its hotel offering with the long-awaited arrival of the Grand Mazarin on the corner of rue des Archives and rue de la Verrerie. This new hotel, designed by Maisons Pariente, is the culmination of five years' work and many challenges.
Far from Paris
Opening a hotel in Paris has always been a dream, but for Leslie Kouhana and Kimberly Cohen it was by no means a foregone conclusion. Following a collaboration with Oetker Collection and L'Apogée in Courchevel in 2018, the two young sisters, accompanied by their father Patrick, got into the hotel game and decided to set up their own establishment with a simple idea: to welcome customers as guests in "family hotels" designed like holiday homes.
As she told the Journal des Palaces, their aim was "to attract a younger clientele looking for unique, ultra-personalised experiences". A 5-star proposition far removed from the stilted habits of the big palaces". It was in this spirit that Crillon Le Brave in Provence, Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez and Le Coucou at the foot of the slopes in Méribel were created. Three hotels offering "simple, warm luxury under the banner of authenticity and excellence", far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities and in keeping with the philosophy of Maisons Pariente.
Between private mansion and cabaret
Nevertheless, the idea of a Parisian address was gaining ground, and when the opportunity arose, the two sisters didn't hesitate. So they had to rethink their approach to suit the Parisian setting and "rethink the DNA of the collection".
"When we design our homes, we always put ourselves in the customer's shoes so that we can understand their expectations and create an authentic place. But for Paris, the exercise was more complex. Being Parisians, it was difficult for us to put ourselves in the customer's shoes", explains Kimberley Cohen. So she and her sister called on Swedish architect Martin Brudnizki"to write a story and a common thread".
The team found this thread in the history of the capital, and more particularly that of the Roaring Twenties at the beginning of the last century. "We thought of the hotel as a private mansion, as if it had belonged to a great lady who held a salon there to receive friends, artists and writers who came to chat and exchange ideas. It's as if her house was very classical, but her ideas were avant-garde and innovative...", she reveals of this new address, where artists and craftsmen have been called on to give it a unique identity as a holiday destination, an ode to art in all its forms and a meeting place for the whole of artistic Paris.
With this in mind, the hotel has been equipped with a stage. "The creation of the cabaret was an obvious choice," says the artistic director, before adding: "Chic and timeless, whimsical and creative, this venue reflects the image of the hotel and embodies the warm, cosmopolitan spirit that Le Mariais represents". A hidden space designed to shine a spotlight on the Parisian art scene with a veil of mystery, as mobile phones will be banned, leaving transformist Uriel free to feast his eyes on a discerning audience. "Art lovers and the curious who want to experience a typically Parisian stay are welcome at the Grand Mazarin," she adds.
Heading for Courchevel
In addition to the arts, the Grand Mazarin also caters for gourmets, offering a cuisine with an Israelite flavour. At the helm of Boubalé, Michelin-starred chef Assaf Granit will tickle the taste buds of Parisians with the Ashkenazi cuisine of his childhood, revisited with a modern twist. A culinary journey to the frontiers of Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean.
With Le Grand Mazarin, Maisons Pariente has allowed itself a city interlude on the frontiers of art and hospitality, a UFO in a collection destined to expand even further. After its Parisian extravaganza, the brand is now returning to its fundamentals and maturing its next project. "We are currently working on a project for a hotel in Courchevel 1850", Kimberley Cohen tells us, without elaborating. A second high-altitude address after Megève, like a return to their roots, to balance their offer between sea and mountains, and continue to develop their approach to simple, luxurious hospitality, in their own image.
A journalist with many skills and an ever curious traveller, Christopher has a great attraction for carefully refined hotels, where characterful gastronomy, impeccable service and sincere elegance go hand in hand. A discreet and gourmet pen at the service of a certain idea of luxury.
