From the Left Bank with Love – Paris Iconic Hôtel Lutetia Joins the Mandarin Oriental Family Andreas Augustin

From the Left Bank with Love – Paris Iconic Hôtel Lutetia Joins the Mandarin Oriental Family

( words)

By Andreas Augustin

3 April 2025.

Spring has returned to Paris. Temperatures oscillate between 5 and 20°C. The city begins to blossom: chestnut trees lining the boulevards push forth their first buds, café terraces bustle with conversation, and the sidewalks once again welcome the unhurried pace of sun-chasers. On this day, amid the seasonal reawakening, the Hôtel Lutetia at the Rive Gauche – the only Palace-designated hotel on this side of the Seine in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés — formally entered a new chapter in its already storied life—joining the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

The Lutetia has long occupied a singular space in the Parisian hotel landscape—not merely as a luxury destination, but as a cultural institution. The Belle Époque hotel, completed in 1910 along Boulevard Raspail, owes its existence to the entrepreneur Aristide Boucicaut, owner of the elegant Le Bon Marché department store just across the street. Boucicaut envisioned a residence that would suit the lifestyle of his wealthy provincial clientele visiting Paris to shop. That luxurious life was short-lived: in 1914, the Lutetia was converted into a military hospital for wounded soldiers; during the Second World War, the hotel was requisitioned by the German occupying forces and used to house their military intelligence services. In 1945, it briefly became a sanctuary for Holocaust survivors—a plaque near the hotel entrance still commemorates this moment. 

At the ribbon cutting: the Akirov family, Laurent Kleitman and Jean-Pierre Trévisan, General Manager of the Lutetia

Back to the present. Present at the inauguration were the owning Akirov family, Laurent Kleitman, CEO of Mandarin Oriental, and COO Amanda Hyndman, who had just arrived from Hong Kong—an old friend from our collaboration at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, where we co-created the first coffee table book on the Oriental's history in our Edition Raconteur and established the permanent history exhibition The Oriental Journey together. Isn’t it remarkable how every historic hotel worth its name these days has carved out space for its own exhibition on hotel history—visible, professionally curated, and proudly in-house?

A site of intellectual gathering, political symbolism, and artistic resonance, the Lutetia now dons the livery of one of the most internationally revered hotel brands, and with that transformation comes a recalibration of identity. Jean-Pierre Trévisan, General Manager of the Lutetia, expressed candid optimism: the brand partnership, he noted, would offer visibility in markets previously unfamiliar to the hotel, particularly in Asia. Laurent Kleitman, a master of the well-turned speech, remarked in his stirring address that it is the human values which connect the Akirov family and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

To Mandarin Oriental’s credit, the hotel’s Parisian soul remains unbroken. The architectural and atmospheric language of the Left Bank persists: the jazz still flows in Bar Joséphine, the worn floorboards still whisper of literary ghosts. There is a deliberate preservation of place here. Slowly, the Asian signature that defines the Mandarin Oriental experience, will appear. In the scent of the hallways, in the gestures of hospitality, in the cadence of service. In its finest properties across Asia, the group delivers hospitality as ritual. In Paris, these signatures are less overt. Yet! Though subtle traces emerge: an exacting standard of attentiveness, a floral choreography of cherry blossoms, ranunculus, and flamingo lilies artfully arranged throughout the bar, and a remarkable culinary presence displayed in the precision of the hors d’oeuvres of the flying buffet. The potential for a deeper cultural layering remains tantalizingly just beneath the surface.

The coming months will slowly transform the Lutetia into a true Mandarin Oriental. A hint at the refined stand-up collar of an elegant Thai suit, the shimmering silk dresses of Siam. Maybe the gentle “Wai” of universal Thai greeting fame—now a global ambassador since the pandemic’s polite reshuffling of gestures. The air infused with the delicate scent of orchids, perhaps grown in the inner courtyard. 

A whisper of the very enchantment that made the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok the spiritual flagship of the entire group will change it all. Because here’s the thing: when someone walks into a Mandarin Oriental, they expect an Asian experience. Otherwise—why not just go to the Ritz? 

bar Josephine with floral arrangements

Bar Joséphine — a floral choreography of cherry blossoms, ranunculus, and flamingo lilies artfully arranged for the ceremony.

The hotel's physical and symbolic transformation over the past decade has been significant. The Palace distinction, conferred in 2019, affirmed the Lutetia’s elevated status, distinguishing it as the only such designated property on the Left Bank. This accolade followed an ambitious four-year renovation (2014–2018), overseen by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and financed by the Alrov group, which acquired the hotel in 2010 for €145 million. The restoration, reportedly costing €200 million, revived original frescos and stucco, while reimagining 184 rooms and suites in an aesthetic of restrained elegance. A selection of these suites pays tribute to personalities such as Francis Ford Coppola and Isabelle Huppert, whose presence echoes the intellectual tone of the neighborhood.

The building rises majestically onto the boulevard. The corner tower, with its large rounded façade, gazes like the head of a cobra toward the Square du Bon Marché. Here stands a truly exceptional grand hotel — a magnificent edifice from the early 20th century. Opened in 1910, the Lutetia's founding connection to the oldest and most luxurious department store of the country – Le Bon Marché, established by the Boucicaut family in 1910, endures as both legacy and active collaboration. 

The media continues to dwell—somewhat wearily—on the Lutetia’s complex wartime legacy, particularly its role during the German occupation. However, more compelling perhaps is its post-liberation moment: in 1944, General de Gaulle requisitioned the hotel to accommodate thousands of returning deportees. Archival images from Agence France-Presse document emaciated survivors dining in the hotel's restaurant in May 1945, and others consulting bulletin boards listing repatriated names. And by the way, isn’t it time we talk about this recurring theme? No grand Parisian hotel without its Wehrmacht chapter, no wine cellar that wasn’t allegedly walled up to protect vintage treasures from the Nazis. National pride, it seems, lies in denying the enemy access to the Bordeaux

Jiasheng Wan, the hotel’s chef sommelier

Of the vintage bottles and the men who once knew them, none have survived the years. Today, the Lutetia’s ultra modern and elegant cellar holds some 20,000 bottles. The wine list spans 40 pages of selections. The original vaulted cellars from the early 20th century are under Jiasheng Wan, the hotel’s chef sommelier, who explains: „A 1997 Auxey-Duresses 1er Cru is our oldest wine.“ In-Cellar wine tastings are reserved for the in-residence clientele of the house. Wan: “Our most expensive wine is a Petrus 2014 at €7,800. I’m working on getting a Romanée-Conti.” The perennial bestseller, as expected, is the Chablis Village by the glass. 


Famous Partons or: How Legends Are Constructed and How Songs Become Testimonies

There is a story that circulates, whispered with a certain Left Bank reverence: James Joyce wrote parts of Ulysses at the Hôtel Lutetia. It sounds beautiful. Almost believable. The address fits, the aura fits, the timeline—more or less—could be made to fit. And yet, it isn't true. Not quite. Joyce did complete Ulysses in Paris. He lived on the Rive Gauche, not far from the Lutetia. He passed its doors, perhaps even sat there briefly. But no credible record—no letter, no note, no eyewitness—places him writing at that hotel. Still, the idea persists. Because it is convenient. Because it flatters both hotel and guest. Because it gives us something to sip with our Bordeaux.

It is said that Serge Gainsbourg’s nocturnal wanderings were immortalized in Eddy Mitchell’s smoky ballad Au bar du Lutetia. It sounds perfectly plausible. The bar, the mood, the man. One imagines him slouched in a velvet banquette, murmuring something indecent over a Gauloise and a glass of bourbon. But the song never mentions him. Au bar du Lutetia conjures ghosts, yes—but none are named Serge. No factual record ties Gainsbourg to that bar in song. Still, the myth survives. Because it fits. Because Paris runs on the fumes of poetic association. Because sometimes, legend walks in after closing time, orders a drink, and never really leaves.

And so we arrive at the Bar Josephine. A name that sounds, to the critical ear, almost too perfect. One could have doubts. One might suspect branding dressed as memory. But in this case, the myth meets the woman. The Bar Josephine—lavish, theatrical, Left Bank to the bone—is rightfully named. Josephine Baker was here. Often. Elegantly. In the years after World War II, when she returned not only as a star, but as a war hero, France’s adopted daughter.

The Lutetia welcomed her, like so many others who had helped liberate the country—and in doing so, elevated its own story. Charles de Gaulle, however, did make history within its walls, spending his wedding night at the Lutetia on April 7, 1921, long before his rise to the presidency. Samuel Beckett, Gertrude Stein, Charlie Chaplin, Henri Matisse were all among its distinguished guests. Over the years, Pablo Picasso, Isadora Duncan, Peggy Guggenheim, and François Truffaut also contributed to the rich cultural tapestry that defines the hotel’s legacy. 

Because not every legend is invention. Some are tributes.  
And some stories are true. Take Juliette Gréco, for instance—the legendary chanteuse and muse of the existentialists, so intimately connected with the Lutetia. She was reportedly close to tears when, in April 2014, she bid farewell to the hotel before its renovation.

Today, the hotel’s gaze is fixed forward. For the Lutetia history I recommend to visit https://famoushotels.org/hotels/lutetia


And then there’s the pool. It was, after all, legendary — for over a hundred years a social meeting place for Paris’s refined bathers. Today, it has become an elegant spa where only hotel guests can relax, undisturbed by the ordinary bustle of the boulevard. Because, among the most distinguished additions in the recent renovation is the exclusive spa, all facilities including its 17m pool strictly reserved for in-house guests.

Not to forget a particularly exquisite creation: the hotel library. More than a functional reading room, it is a design statement—a tactile celebration of the printed word. Curated under architect Wilmotte’s direction, it houses 2,000 volumes reflecting the hotel's own history and its surrounding arrondissement. Yuval Noah Harari, author of Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks, was recently interviewed there by multiple international television outlets. It is not difficult to see why; the space is a sanctuary of substance.

Privacy, of course, is part of the proposition. With entry-level room rates beginning at €1,500 per night, the Lutetia ensures a deliberate exclusion of the merely curious. This hotel, like many of its calibre, functions as a cultural microclimate—exclusive and immersive. And yet, the ground floor remains in the hands of the Parisian intelligentsia—here, one is human, here, one is allowed to be. 

Situated in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, it is part of the area's vibrant history of artists, philosophers, and writers. Myriam Munnick, Executive Commercial Director, explains: The hotel has always been at the center of this intellectual hub, and we embrace that heritage, offering our guests an immersive experience that reflects the essence of the Left Bank. We are proud to be part of this artistic community and ensure that our offerings align with the creative spirit that defines this area.

The property’s cultural programming remains dynamic. Art and music are integral to its identity. Recent initiatives include a comic-style cocktail menu at Bar Joséphine by Serge Clair—an homage to the visual languages of the 20th century—as well as a photography exhibition by Philippe Carly. The hotel also features permanent works by prominent artists such as Arman, known for his striking sculptures and assemblages; César, a leading figure of the Nouveau Réalisme movement famed for his compressed sculptural forms; Philippe Hiquily, celebrated for his surrealist metal structures; and Mikhaïl Chemiakine, whose expressive pieces often engage with complex social themes. French painter Thierry Bisch has held a permanent artist-in-residence position at the Lutetia.

Strategically, Munnick explains, the future is global: "The hotel is expanding its commercial gaze toward Asia, the Middle East, and the MICE markets of North America. The ambition is to increase occupancy by 10% over the next year."

If Mandarin Oriental can truly weave its deeper brand ethos into the very fabric of the Lutetia, it may well succeed in creating something remarkable. Time will show.


This was no fairy tale wedding

Lutetia and Mandarin Oriental. No princess awakened by a prince. What we’ve witnessed is more akin to two royal houses joining forces, merging their legacies to chart a shared future. At present, the Lutetia is a compelling hybrid—still steeped in Parisian gravitas, now with a whisper of globalism. Mandarin Oriental, meanwhile, is on a shopping spree around the globe. With 42 hotels already in its portfolio—and more to come—one might wonder how many of the world’s great addresses are still left on the market.

At Paris, the Left Bank, adventurous as ever, awaits its next chapter.

 


Quick Facts

• Rooms and Suites: 184 total, including 47 suites

• Restaurants and Bars: 3 — Brasserie Lutetia, Bar Joséphine, and Bar Aristide

• Spa: Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre, exclusively for guests, includes a 17-meter pool, sauna, steam room, fitness area, and six treatment rooms

• Library: 2,000 curated volumes, conceptualized by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte

• General Manager: Jean-Pierre Trévisan

• Address: 45 Boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris, France