Buddha-Bar Hotel Paris… The Exotic…

A… vintage Bentley…

Sent by… an old admirer…

Escorted… me…

To the new… boutique hotel…

Buddha-Bar Hotel Paris…

“Au Coeur de” Faubourg-Saint-Honoré… a short walk from the Palais de l’Élysée… an 18th century  “town mansion” in rue d’Anjou…

It is the latest five-star hotel… in this prestigious “quartier“…

Upon entering the hotel .. we were transported into a Parisian take on 1930’s Shanghai… reminiscent of a scene from the magnificent film “Shanghai Express“…

The exotic Far East has always been… a fascinating destination…

With its Far Eastern flavour… visions of concubines… its “opium den” architecture by the interior designer François Wepler…

The Buddha-Bar Hotel Paris… did not disappoint…

The exceptional cuisine at “Le Vraymonde“… (named by Tarja Visan, the blonde Finnish wife of Raymond, who came up with the Buddha Bar concept)… headed by chef Rougui Dia (previously of the Petrossian restaurant)… gives French dishes “an exciting twist with a hint of spice and unusual ingredients”…

The drinks at “Le Qu4tre“ lounge bar… which was “bathed in pink-tinged light, as though embalmed in the scent of the back-lit pink cherry trees”… were a delight…

The exotic lounge music… made the whole affair at this extraordinary boutique hotel bar… an intruiging experience…

Bidding… my charming admirer…

A warm… farewell…

I was whisked back… by the sensual whir…

Of the… delicious…

Grey… Bentley…

Bringing… me…

Back… to…

Reality…

a.