Strength points 9/10: The location and the “French touch”
Hidden in a majestic but low-rise building in burnt Sienna bricks, only a small external plaque shows its name. Le Fouquets Paris has therefore chosen TribeCa, the triangle located under Canal Street, to launch its American adventure. Once an industrial district, it is now a very trendy part of Lower Manhattan. This is where the new wolves of Wall Street live, but above all stars such as Leonardo di Caprio, Meryl Streep, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey or Roberto di Niro. At TriBeCa, the 31m2 studio sells for 1.4 million euros! It is also the district where per capita income is the highest in the United States, all states combined. For its first foray into America, the Barrière group (Fouquets Paris, Martinez Cannes, Normandy in Deauville) took its time: seven years to design and build this little art deco jewel that immediately ranks at the top of the galaxy of five stars (the term palace does not exist in New York) with a first price of 1100 euros per night. It is the Swedish designer Martin Brudnizki, one of the world stars of the design of places (hotels, restaurants, clubs) who invented this American version of Fouquets that mixes the modern industrialism of TriBeCa and the elegant classism of Paris. New York critics are already enthusiastic, comparing the arrival of the “made in USA” Fouquets as yet another sign of New York’s rebirth after the Covid years.
Rooms 9/10
Space and light, even through light, Le Fouquets New York stands out from most of the big hotels in the Big Apple. The smallest of the rooms measures 34 m2 compared to 20 m2 on average in New York for the five stars where they tend to sell a closet without light for the price of an ounce of fine gold. The colors are predominantly almond green, pale pink and lavender. On the wall,
a tribute to Toile de Jouy, cotton or linen printed with landscape motifs and characters for which the Jouy-en-Josas manufacture was famous at the time of the kings of France. The hotel has created its own canvas wallpaper, mixing iconic Parisian and New York landmarks and even a “taxi driver” scene with Robert de Niro The chic and cozy interior has been restored the enveloping look of a Parisian apartment, a bohemian, chic and ultra-comfortable side. The rosewood furniture, the marble bathrooms, or the small, very tactile lounges, give an impression of “like at home”. In total, the hotel has 65 rooms, 29 suites and one presidential suite. Particularly recommended are the “corner office” suites with their large terrace and views of the Hudson River or the lively “Greenwich Street”.
The jewel: the “Large Terrace Apartment”
This suite is located on the 7th and 8th floors of the hotel. Its colors, blue and soft gold, differ from the style used in the rest of the structure. It includes two bathrooms, reception and dining room, an executive office, a master suite with a private terrace, a king-size bedroom and three private balconies to the east and west of the hotel. The interior of the suite features antique mirrors, a huge chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling murals of exotic gardens and landscapes that line the stairs and entrance walls.
Dream price: 22,000 euros per night
Service 9/10
Flawless. The hotel has 200 employees for 97 rooms. The “French touch” is everywhere. From the “good morning” given by each member of the staff, to the “Emily in Paris” style beret of the hostess of the restaurant “Le Fouquets”, to the soundtrack that mixes the jazz style of Woody Allen’s films with the great classics of music French song. .
The table
Le Fouquets reproduced in an identical way but in a reduced version (only 19 tables) the famous brasserie located since 1899 on the Champs-Élysées. Same color code (red and black), same dishes, same bistro chairs. As for the stove, it is the multi-starred chef, Pierre Gagnaire, who has remained faithful to it. Only revisited classics: sole meunière, onion soup, steak tartare, Thermidor lobster … and fresh, organic and seasonal vegan ingredients from New York State farms A speakeasy, cocktail bar, the Titsou Bar, inspired by the bar Le Marta Paris, complete the system. During our visit, the hotel had not yet obtained the alcohol license, which prevents us from giving an overall rating to the gastronomic offer.
The little extras: spa and cinema room 9/10
With its indoor pool, the Diane Barrière Spa, named after the former president of the Barrière group, offers exclusive treatments with a strong focus on anti-aging. The tones are warm, the lighting soft: a real bubble of luxury. The fitness center is from Dog Pound, an ultra-chic custom gym founded by Kirk Myers in 2016 with custom trainers. The hotel also offers an extraordinary cinema room to host previews or private screenings: gold leaf ceiling, upholstered walls, soft armchairs that are declined in shades of green and gold, this room, called “Cannes”, is a tribute to the strong ties that Barrière has maintained for decades with, in particular, the Franco-American festival of Deauville.
Who can you meet there?
Former General Manager of Mercer New York, a very sought-after location by Hollywood or the world of fashion, the owner of the hotel Gilles Stellardo, former professional dancer and son of hoteliers in Nice, was hired for his great professionalism and his hyper address. VIP book. He wants to make Fouquets New York the place of passage for people who “travel a lot” and want refinement and discretion. The worlds of show business and fashion were the first to book their rooms in this new temple of French chic.
Price: Out of category
At 1100 euros for a standard room it is not cheap, but we are in New York where the club sandwich sells for 35 euros, including service.
We repented: Not being able to take advantage of it “ roof ”with panoramic views of the skyline and the Hudson River. It will open in the spring of 2023.
The instagram spot : Quick, this same roof of course!
