5 Cool things About The Latest Hotel In Paris – Molitor

An avant-garde atmosphere, two pools, two restaurants, an art gallery and a hotel, this is Molitor, the latest opening among Paris hotels. Inaugurated in 1929 and closed in 1989, it was about to be destroyed by the city, had been tagged by the most famous and underground street artists before reopening in May 2014.

With its Art Deco building in the most authentic cruise line style, it is today the latest place to show up in Paris. Molitor had always welcomed the best in society in the Golden Triangle in a private club spirit. Nothing has changed today. Well, almost. To have the privilege to swim here you’ll have to be either a client of the hotel (124 rooms) or one of the 1,000 members of the club – a kind of new private club with an arty and creative state of mind.This is the place where the bikini was launched on 5th July 1946!

Johnny Weissmuller inaugurated the pool in 1929

Before he became famous with the movie ‘Tarzan’, the 7 times Olympic medalist was also a lifeguard here. Today you can sunbathe here again, under the blue cabins and authentic mosaics, but also work out at the gym, get a massage at the Clarins Spa or get your beard trimmed at the barber shop.

Molitor is the first bohemian and artistic spirit hotel in the west of Paris

On the opposite side, there’s Mama Shelter, in the 20th, far east. Here too, you have a rooftop terrace with a full view of the Eiffel Tower and Bois de Boulogne, where you can grab a light fish grilled and served from an open kitchen. Our favorite rooms: number 124, for the biggest terrace you’ll ever have in a hotel, and 221, on the second floor, shaped like a boat, for its 360° view on the Summer pool.

You are now swimming in what was an ice rink

Molitor is an iconic building for Parisians as most of them learnt to swim here or used to party here in the 60s. The amazing thing is that the pool building was totally destroyed before being rebuilt entirely exactly as it was when it opened in 1929, supervised by architect Jacques Rougerie. Between the Winter pool (33m long), the original one, and the Summer pool that used to be an ice rink (46 meters long), you’ll be in shape faster than you think.

You’re two steps away from Roland Garros

And trust me, at this time of year, it is a nightmare to park around or reach (or wors, to leave) the famous tennis tournament. You can also walk to Parc des Princes to see a game starring the Paris Saint Germain football team, or walk to Auteuil for a very chic horse race.

One of the best French chefs is behind the menu

Yannick Alleno took the Meurice restaurant to foodistan heaven and took place in Courchevel’s Cheval Blanc before opening his own restaurants in Paris. Now he’s taking over the restaurant and the bar by the Summer pool. This is a great place to start or finish the day.

Contributed by Katia Kulawick-Assante , www.aluxurytravelblog.com

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