Maison Albar Le Vendome, the five-star must-see hotel
Hidden behind a 19th-century façade, Maison Albar Le Vendome awakens memories of a legendary cabaret… and offers a luxurious interlude in the heart of Paris.
The Lyon d’Or’s flamboyant past resurrected
Before it became a refined five-star hotel, Maison Albar Le Vendome was one of Paris’s hotspots of the Belle Époque. The building once housed the Lyon d’Or, a cabaret-restaurant frequented by a wealthy clientele fond of art and performance. In 1884, Le Matin wrote of its grandiose luxury and renowned wines.
In 2024, architect Fabien Roque and Atelier COS breathe new life into the building. Without any kitschy nostalgia, they created a décor where every detail – from the resurrected lion sculpture to the ashen-toned corridors – seems to be in dialogue with the past. The result is a subtle tribute to history, far removed from tourist clichés.
Discreet luxury, suites designed as refuges
51 rooms and suites make up this intimate home, all carefully decorated to blend modernity with Parisian classicism. Parquet floors, white marble, gilded furniture, emerald accents: everything exudes elegance, without ostentation.
Two suites are particularly eye-catching. The Suite Vendôme, nestled under the rooftops, offers an urban interlude overlooking an interior garden. The Suite Opéra, meanwhile, offers a breathtaking view of the Opéra Garnier and the rooftops of Paris, perfect for admiring sunsets.
A secret garden in the heart of the 9th arrondissement
At the heart of the house is a hanging garden designed by Les Jardins de Gally. Wild and refreshing, this green haven contrasts with the bustle of the neighborhood. The interior façade, in white resin and black oriels, completes the duality between heritage and contemporary design.
Yakuza by Olivier: a special restaurant in Paris
Behind the hushed walls of the hotel, Yakuza by Olivier Paris reinvents the very idea of Parisian dining. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s a culinary theater where Japan and the Mediterranean merge in an underground setting.
Designed by Fabien Roque, the place opens with a street-art fresco and a subdued atmosphere that plunges visitors into an almost cinematic aesthetic. The open kitchen becomes a stage, and the sushimasters artists.
A private room can accommodate up to 15 people, while the bar overlooking the garden extends the experience in a lounge atmosphere.
In 2025, in a Paris saturated with unremarkable “fusion” addresses, Yakuza imposes a strong, assertive, almost narrative signature. The nod to the old cabaret is not insignificant: here, every meal becomes a show.
Spa Vendome: confidential well-being
The 350 m² Spa Vendome (open to Parisians only) is another well-kept secret. A glass-roofed swimming pool, hammam, sensory showers and La Colline treatments from Switzerland… Here, the word “treatment” rhymes with tailor-made sensory experience.
Even the old staircase leading to the vault of the Russian bank (which occupied the premises in 1930) has been preserved. It is now the threshold to an unexpected sanctuary of relaxation.
