Citytrip – The 3 Must-See Destinations

Cultural or foody, lazy or sporty, as a couple or in a group, there’s a city trip for everyone. Why venture far or head off on a long road trip when a change of scenery, oodles of charm and exoticism await you just a short train journey or an hour’s flight away? Take a weekend break for just a few days, without jet lag, to get away from it all. A chance to (re)discover the heart of a city, a museum, a buzzing young scene or, quite simply, breathe in the zeitgeist. Not to mention that planet Europe has its fair share of hidden, often unsuspected, beauties. With the right addresses, a good dose of imagination and a decent map of the city, you’ll feel like you’ve pushed back your horizons no end. And when the sun comes along on the trip, what more could you ask for?

Paris

La Réserve Hotel, Spa and Apartments

In Paris, there are traditional five-star hotels, and there’s La Réserve. A (very) special hotel, between Avenue Montaigne and Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which is part of this new generation of small urban luxury establishments, where the atmosphere is so lived-in that you feel at home or as if you’re staying with good friends. For the decor, Michel Reybier chose Jacques Garcia and his knack for combining historical sensitivity with a mastery of styles. We love the blend of splendour and intimacy, and the unadulterated comfort of the 15 rooms and 25 suites. Other attractions include the Nescens Spa (Swiss Anti-Aging Science), with its swimming pool and brand new ‘Punch, Flow & Balance’ sports programme (booking required).

And then you have the restaurants at La Réserve: chef Jérôme Banctel’s dazzling culinary journey at Le Gabriel (2 Michelin stars), or a tantalizing escapade ‘on the spice road’ at La Pagode de Cos. Other options are a more intimate meal in La Bibliothèque du Duc de Morny or lunch on the terrace at Le Gaspard. The must: cruise the waters of the Seine aboard a Riva to admire Paris’ most stunning monuments. The ultimate in glamour!

Paris in complete privacy

With this intimate hotel concept that is innovative in the French capital, La Réserve Paris redefines the notions of comfort and luxury. It’s the ideal setting to experience one of the most beautiful cities in the world in complete privacy. Going on a business trip,  a cultural getaway, or a shopping trip? And why not simply mix business and pleasure, like in real life?

lareserve-paris.com – michelreybierhospitality.com

 

Venise

Il Palazzo Experimental

There are cities that shine and then lose their luster and return to oblivion. Others never fade from memory, because they are the past, the future and the present. Venice is one of these, especially so with the illuminations of the Biennale of Contemporary Art. Within the walls of a 600-year-old palazzo, this boutique hotel has opened its doors on the banks of the Grand Canal. Stage left, a breathtaking view of the world’s most famous lagoon. Stage right, a garden offering a haven from the hustle and bustle of the centre, yet just 15 minutes (on foot) from Piazza San Marco. Founded by 4 Parisians with impeccable taste for historical chic and transgression, the Experimental Group is the driving force behind this unique project. The hotel’s decor (designed by Dorothée Meilichzon) is sober and chic, with references to the great Venetian architects Palladio and Carlo Scarpa: traditional terrazzo, marmorino walls, carved wooden ‘torchon’ columns, titanic ceiling heights and red and white stripes have been rolled out in force. Another highlight is the iconic rooftop cocktail bar (the best negroni in Venice!) overlooking the ever-changing spectacle of the Serenissima.

palazzoexperimental.com – experimentalgroup.com

 

Copenhagen

The Radisson Collection Royal Hotel

Cradled between the North Sea and the Baltic, Copenhagen is a city bathed in a bracing saline air and that always seems to be wavering between cool avant-gardism and hot cosmopolitanism. The other “capital of design” unashamedly embraces “hygge”, a typically Danish notion that defines a cosy art of living that comes from spending time within the warmth of the family circle. In the Central Station district, The Radisson Collection Royal Hotel has dominated the city since the 1950s. It was the first design hotel in the world and the only one designed by Arne Jacobsen himself. In 2010, it was renovated by the design duo Space Copenhagen, inspired by the hotel’s archives. This is an opportunity to (re)showcase the iconic furniture designed by Jacobsen for Danish furniture manufacturer Fritz Hansen (the Egg, Swan, Drop and Serie 7 collections). While the famous Suite-Musée 606 has retained its modernist vintage feel, the other rooms and public areas flirt with the latest trends.

In 2010, the hotel was renovated by the creative designer duo Space Copenhagen (Signe Bindslev Henriksen and Peter Bundgaard Rützou) inspired by the hotel’s archives. It was an opportunity to re-accentuate the iconic furniture designed by Arne Jacobsen for Danish editor Fritz Hansen with pieces of furniture selected, for example, from the Egg, Swan, Drop and Series 7 collections. If the famous Room 606 is still in its original state, in a vintage-modernist style, the other rooms and public spaces flirt with modern trends. Re-interpreting the interiors with a palette of materials that go hand in hand with the spirit of the place, like maple, aluminium, and granite, and without forgetting the stunning glass mosaics in the bathrooms, the décor respects the design imagined at the time by Arne Jacobsen. The rooms and suites are spacious and bathe in beautiful light with an unobstructed panorama over Copenhagen, just like Alberto K, the Italian restaurant on the 20th floor.

radissonhotels.com