It is an (almost) unique place in Paris, the bar of Hotel Concorde La Fayette has been given a new life, and has just reopened its doors after 6 months of renovation.
A change of name to begin with, Hotel Concorde La Fayette’s Panoramic Bar is still one, but is now called “La Vue” (The View). Farewell to 70′s interior design, it’s now a refined and trendy bar lounge, whose layout has been entrusted to Italian designer Luigi Copa, making way to a 2-floor bar with 180 seats and a 50 feet long tap-room.
The choice of drinks has been revisited too. It was the task of Stephen Martin, voted best mixologist of France in 2009, and has taken over the place as head bartender. This carte puts great emphasis on the imaginary, and has been inspired by the history of the most famous bars all over the world. Thus, for example, you may be tempted to try the Rive Gauche, a vodka and Sauternes syrup based cocktail, or maybe the Punch à la Romaine, a cocktail dating back to… 1889.
You can also eat at La Vue, with a choice of light snacks including sushis, Californian makis and even burrata… and also some sweet delicacies such as cheese cake, macaroons of fresh fruit salads. A bar it’s also an ambiance, and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, DJs will tack turns to offer an eclectic, festive and trendy musical program.
On the practical side, the lift will take you directly to the 34th floor of Hotel Concorde La Fayette, where La Vue is. The bar now offers access to disabled people, which wasn’t the case before as there was a mezzanine floor from where a small staircase led you to the bar itself.
La Vue still offers the same panoramic view as the former bar did. It’s a bit sad, but the building’s architecture is probably to blame for that fact : below there is the Porte Maillot’s traffic circle, in front the Bois de Boulogne, on the right the Charles de Gaulle avenue in Neuilly-sur-Seine with La Defense in the back, and on the left, the Arc de Triomphe, and a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower. Si it’s a pity that the view offered by the large bay windows is not on the Avenue de la Grande ArmÈe axis instead, as the view of the Bois de Boulogne can’t hold a candle to this axis going from the Porte Maillot to the Louvre – and you wouldn’t even have to loose the magic of the Eiffel Tower. Open from Sunday through Wednesday from 5pm to 1:30am, and Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 2:30am; the Concorde La Fayette’s bar is still a place you shouldn’t miss if you are looking for a bar out of the ordinary in Paris, and that will certainly leave a lasting impression on you.
