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Separated by greater than 6,000 miles and a language barrier, the connections between Paris and Kyoto may not be instantly apparent. But the Fauchon L’Hôtel Kyoto – sprouted from a gourmand grocery model that started life 130 years in the past on the City of Light’s Place de la Madeleine – provides an enchanting and engaging reminder of the ties between the 2 cities.
Joining Fauchon’s flagship lodge in Paris, the five-star property opened in March 2021, bringing its signature French aptitude, tea blends and pastries to Japan’s second metropolis. Located within the Shimogyo Ward, near the banks of the Kamo River, it’s in a chief location for exploring all of the sights.
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Kiyomizu-dera, a must-visit attraction, is inside strolling distance, as is the long-lasting Yasaka Pagoda (even in the event you’re unfamiliar with the town, you’ll simply recognise what’s undoubtedly Kyoto’s most photographed spot). For nighttime explorations, the district of Gion can also be inside a 15-minute stroll.
Across the 59 rooms, meals and beverage shops and the world’s first-ever Fauchon Spa, the boutique lodge provides an area to loosen up, recharge and revel in refined gastronomic experiences, whereas embracing the model’s ‘life in pink’ philosophy.
Middle East Traveller checked in to a Superior Room at Fauchon L’Hôtel Kyoto for a gastronomic keep mixing the most effective of France and Japan.
The Hotel
Much has been manufactured from the lodge’s Frenchness, however maybe not sufficient has been manufactured from its use of Japanese parts in celebration of each cultures. The model’s signature hue (a putting sizzling pink) options prominently all through, as does black and white. Yet it’s solely right here in Kyoto that you just’ll discover the addition of sakura pink, a nod to the cherry blossoms discovered blooming alongside the river banks every spring, in addition to imperial gold, a reference to Kyoto’s time because the nation’s capital.
The sakura motifs start as quickly as you step by way of the entrance doorways, with flower petals scattered throughout the partitions and painted on the skylight above the lodge’s grand foyer staircase. This extends to the furnishings within the eating places and the visitor rooms, with a number of items made with Nishijin textile, a heritage craft relationship again to the Edo interval, in customized shades of sakura and Fauchon pink.
Japanese ink works, or sumi-e, additionally characteristic in every of the visitor rooms. Every room encompasses a distinctive portray, whereas these within the Prestige Suites have been created by visible artist Kanako Sasaki and inform the story of the completely different seasons. Local photographers have additionally been tasked with showcasing the great thing about Kyoto, with the ensuing landscapes that includes in visitor rooms and corridors.
Le Spa Fauchon continues this theme with touches of pink, each vibrant and lightweight. Indulge in a shower ritual, or the signature physique remedy with a magnificence oil created completely for the model by KOS PARIS. There are three remedy rooms, with no restrictions on visitors with tattoos.
The Arrival
Guests arriving within the metropolis through Shinkansen from Tokyo, as we did, can hop in a taxi from Kyoto Station and attain the lodge in simply 10 minutes. Alternatively, take the metro to Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station and stroll for seven minutes, or take the bus to the Kawaramachi-Matsubara cease immediately outdoors the lodge.
After getting into the lodge and passing the picture-perfect grand staircase, we head to the tenth ground to verify in (though this has now moved to a distinct house). We are greeted with a tower of macarons and views over the town. Check-in is swift and paired with the macaron of the day (caramel, in our case), plus a really welcome iced tea.
The Room
More subdued than different areas of the lodge, visitor rooms are principally black, white and gold, with pops of pink. Little touches all through consistently remind you of the truth that you’re in a Fauchon lodge – from the branded mattress linens, to the lip-shaped cleaning soap holder within the rest room. Golden décor paying homage to bamboo subsequent to the TV and Nishijin textile above the headboard gives a way of place.
We’re significantly tickled pink by the Fauchon Gourmet Bar, a severely upgraded model of a basic mini-bar. Inside the pink cupboard, you’ll discover cookies, macarons, and conventional Japanese sweets given a French twist. A candy contact is the tote bag with a Parisian-style Kyoto scene that includes the long-lasting Yasaka Pagoda, which you’ll take dwelling as a memento.
The marble rest room is one other spotlight, with his-and-hers bathrobes, pyjamas and slippers (one with pink piping and one other with black) to luxuriate in after a shower. Alongside your customary toiletries, the room has face masks for the final word pamper session and a Dyson hairdryer for getting the glam on when you’re performed.
Every room boasts views of the mountain ranges surrounding Kyoto, whereas the Higashiyama Heritage rooms face in the direction of sights like Kennin-ji Temple and the Yasaka Pagoda.
The Service
Service is pleasant and environment friendly. Breakfast comes within the type of a set menu, and after I discover there are not any choices appropriate for my dietary necessities, workers are fast to supply me options (together with a extremely implausible French toast, which ought to undoubtedly be on the primary menu).
The Restaurants and Bars
For a boutique lodge, Fauchon L’Hôtel Kyoto provides a stunning variety of eating choices. Fauchon Pâtisserie and Boutique is essentially the most seen, tempting passersby with its delectable choice of pastries. Here, you’ll be capable of attempt (and take limitless photographs of) the model’s famed macarons, an ever-changing rotation of desserts, and the bisous bisous treats, formed like lips and obtainable in several flavours all year long.
Making the many of the views from the tenth ground, there are three eating choices throughout the house. The first, Salon de Thé, is thought for its afternoon tea, and provides the prospect to attempt Japanese matcha. Guests visiting the lodge’s tea salon can embark on a conventional tea ceremony which includes the Fauchon model by way of using a pink teapot in addition to a particular domestically impressed tea mix, One Night in Kyoto.
Le Bar Fauchon in the meantime serves up signature tea-based cocktails, draft and bottled beers, wines and champagne whereas signature restaurant Le Grand Café provides up gourmand bites plus seasonal native dishes by chef de delicacies Keiichiro Hayashi. Begin your day with contemporary yoghurt from Kyoto Clover farm paired with fruit, adopted by Kyoto Ohara Yamada Farm Heirloom eggs served your method.
Set menus crafted by chef Hayashi and Parisian chef Sébastien Monceaux can be found for lunch and dinner, showcasing Japanese elements served in a French model. We had the pleasure of making an attempt a vegetarian omakase menu throughout our keep, that includes dishes together with spring vegetable tempura, avocado babloua and tomato coulis. Chef Hayashi noticed this as a possibility somewhat than an inconvenience, and the dishes from the implausible set menu at the moment are part of the everlasting à la carte providing.
Why Stay?
It can be all too straightforward for the Fauchon model to have taken Fauchon L’Hôtel Paris and transplanted it into the center of Kyoto with no adjustments. But these considerate parts mixing each cultures, from the décor to the meals, make it all of the extra interesting.
A keep here’s a should for foodies, and by the top of your go to, you’ll surprise why extra individuals don’t embrace residing life in pink.
The Essentials
- Rates: Classic Rooms begin from AED 1,840 per evening in off-season
- Phone quantity: +81 75 751 7711
- Website: hotelfauchonkyoto.com
- Address: 406 Nanbacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto 600-8027, Japan
