A few years ago (when my legs were somewhat skinnier…) Mr S and I stayed a the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris for his birthday…
We had the dreamyist day ever, with a trip down the river in the hotel’s private boat…drinking champagne and eating cakes from a world-renowned pastry chef…
The wonderful experience culminated in a romantic dinner at Le Jules Verne, the Michelin-starred restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower with the glitter and sparkle of the City of Light shimmering beneath us…
With our trip to Paris coinciding with our five-year anniversary of meeting, a return to Hôtel Plaza Athénée seemed the perfect way to celebrate. 
Four years, and approximately half a stone, later we were back in this beautiful shimmering palace of a hotel, probably my favourite luxury hotel in Paris. 
Celebrating here was all the more special as Hôtel Plaza Athénée is owned by Dorchester Collection, and Mr S and I had our wedding reception at The Dorchester Hotel in London. As a hotel, the Plaza has always been a diamond but it’s shining even more brightly now as it has just been refurbished and is once again the very pinnacle of luxury. With a history of over 100 years behind it the hotel has seen many starry guests, legends and fashionistas such as Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner. Plus it was where Carrie laid her head in the episodes of Sex in the City set in Paris….
Tonight for our special dinner we booked into Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, the hotel’s signature restaurant. The restaurant has two Michelin-stars and is considered one of the best restaurants in the world.
The restaurant dining room was modern luxury at its very best; it sparkled, it glittered….chandeliers rained down and reflected in the large gilded mirrors, the ceiling was glamorous and theatrical and the tables and chairs were in modern geometric shapes without a single white table-cloth. Everything about the place was so gorgeous and elegant…
Aperitifs, bread and amuses were bought to the table but I’m afraid I’d removed the blogger hat slightly for the night and I didn’t note down what most of the extras were…
The menu was given to us, and with it all being in French, we relied on a translation from the maître d’. Alain Ducasse needs little introduction, being one of the world’s most decorated chefs with over thirty restaurants worldwide and twenty-one Michelin stars throughout his career. His restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester is the very best restaurant that I’ve eaten in London. At Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Ducasse focuses on healthy food and a respect for nature with a menu that is made up entirely of fish, vegetables and cereals.
For his starter, Mr S chose a beautiful rainbow lobster salad with smoked cabbage complimented by zesty preserved clementines. 
I loved my equally luxurious starter of langoustine with golden caviar. Plus it’s good to know that all the fish used at the restaurant is sustainable and purchased from cautious fisherman.
Our main courses, Atlantic sea bass with Jerusalem artichoke and Sole of Groix Island with pumpkin and crayfish, both came with a generous shaving of heady truffle…
A perfect play of sea and earth on a plate, these wintery dishes were simply divine. There is also strict quality control when it comes to the vegetables and everything is organic and from small farms.
Service was perfect with each course evenly spaced out and all the usual attention that you’d expect from a restaurant of this calibre. Now as usual at a very fancy restaurant after a few nibbles and two delicate courses…I still felt hungry but they always get you on the desserts and afters…
Beginning with a complimentary cheese plate and crisp slices of toast…
Followed by the main dessert, a totally delicious concoction of coffee and chocolate.
Followed by a little soufflé…
Some palate cleansing kiwis…
So that by the time we got to the chocolate, I was definitely full.
And then like a kid that doesn’t want the party to end, we were presented with a going home present of this incredible pastry.
Mr Silver and I had a totally spectacular night at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, the perfect venue for our wooden (spoon) anniversary, hopefully we’ll be back in another five years.
Hotel Plaza Athénée
25 avenue Montaigne
75008 Paris
France
+33 53 67 66 67
Edit: Shortly after I published this post, Alain Ducasse at Hôtel Plaza Athénée was repromoted back to three Michelin stars.
