“A Negroni is a perfect drink,” the late Anthony Bourdain once said. Within the confines of the Logia, the Hotel’s intimate bar and lounge area, sommelier Erik Seillier serves a version that might have earned the culinary icon’s approval. Slightly tweaked, his take on the classic cocktail is elegant, balanced, and transporting—a drink that evokes the glamour of the Italian Riviera. The exact twist remains a house secret, but it’s arguably one of the finest Negronis in Paris.
Located on a quiet street near the Élysée Palace, Le Splendide Royal is Paris’s smallest 5-star hotel, with just 12 spacious rooms. Once the property of fashion legend Pierre Cardin, the building now belongs to the Roberto Naldi Collection and offers discreet luxury just steps from the Grand Palais, Place de la Concorde, and the Champs-Élysées.
The interiors feel more like a grand private residence than a hotel. The décor leans toward the classic and refined, evoking the atmosphere of a hôtel particulier, with the building’s British Racing Green façade providing a distinctive touch. Since opening in 2016 under its current ownership, the hotel has carved out a niche among travellers seeking high-end hospitality with a personal feel.
Dinner at Tosca, the in-house restaurant, elevates the experience further. Led by young but accomplished Chef Paolo Ambrogio—who has worked in top Italian kitchens including Frosio—the cuisine blends regional authenticity with creative finesse.
During a spring menu tasting, the meal begins with scallop carpaccio prepared in a ceviche-style with Italian accents, followed by carrot and cinnamon tortini, served with a cucumber-celery-kiwi cream that acts as both palate cleanser and unexpected highlight.
A standout main pairs line-caught sea bream with vignarola, a traditional Roman vegetable medley. The fish is grilled over binchotan charcoal—a Japanese oak wood known for its clean, smokeless properties—adding a subtle depth to the dish.
Tosca’s signature plate, fettuccine beurre blanc with poutargue and caviar, is rich and refined, balanced by a glass of Chardonnay Tormaresca 2024 from Puglia. The dish is already drawing attention and, alongside the restaurant’s growing recognition in the Gault&Millau guide, signals an inevitable rise toward Michelin consideration.
Le Splendide Royal and Tosca together offer something increasingly rare in Paris: quiet sophistication without pretence. For travellers seeking intimacy, authenticity, and a taste of Italy in the heart of the French capital, this pocket-sized palace is well worth discovering.
To find out more about Le Splendide Royal and book, visit the links below:
Le Splendide Royal
18 Rue du Cirque
75008 Paris
France
Web: splendideroyal.fr
Tel: +33 14387 1010
Email: welcome@splendideroyal.fr
Instagram: @splendideroyalparis
Facebook: @HotelSplendideRoyalParis