I Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra

By Claudine Coletti

• HOTEL REVIEW •

Deep in the heart of the Opera district in Paris sits one of the city’s most historic hotels. Sofitel’s Hotel le Scribe is set in a building more than 160 years old yet is fresh from a 2019 makeover that makes many nods to its legacy while also drawing in modern elements that epitomize subtle Parisian glamor.

The 5-star hotel was where the first paid public screening using the Luminaire brother’s Cinematographe device took place in 1895. Ten films were shown in what was Le Salon Indien in the Grand Café at the time. Today, that same room is used for breakfast, with an original Cinematographe displayed at the entrance. The rest of the hotel has a fashionable and minimalist style, with pale walls and colorful furnishings against copper and black fittings. The overall feel is serene and chic, much like the city.

Accommodation From the outside, considering it’s a grand building, Hotel Le Scribe is not imposing. The entrance is nestled between shops and cafés and can be easy to miss, but although it blends in with its surroundings, it is very much a presence on its namesake road. As I enter the lobby, the first thing I notice is a piece of art above the concierge desk: a back-lit white townhouse façade with a female silhouette at the window. It somehow feels very Parisian. The reception, concierge, bar, and café all feed off the foyer, and while the modestly-sized area can feel bustling with just a few guests, the team is warm and friendly and speaks multiple languages, quickly attending to queries and visitors.

While the 213-room hotel is too large to be called boutique, it feels homely. However, once you enter the suites, the size of the property becomes apparent. I stay in a Prestige Suite, which has a living room, bedroom, ample wardrobe space, bathroom, and separate WC. On another floor, I view an Opera Suite, which has a vast living area with tall ceilings and plenty of floor space. Connecting doors mean that neighboring guests can choose to link up multiple

rooms, easily making the accommodation the size of an apartment suitable for a small family or group of friends.

Each room features a large wall-mounted mirror, which doubles as a television, so if you choose not to switch it on, it blends in seamlessly with the décor, which is contemporary and stylish. The walls are light, with bursts of color provided by purple armchairs, tinted light-fittings, and patterned cushions. And despite the hotel being on the corner of two busy roads, the rooms are quiet and the beds high and comfortable, guaranteeing you a peaceful respite from the lively city outside.

Activities Although Paris is a sprawling capital, many of its most famous landmarks sit centrally and are walkable from each other and the hotel if you enjoy a stroll. If you prefer a taxi, they are easy to find, with public transport also widely available.

Hotel Le Scribe is just moments away from the Palais Garnier opera house, a stunning 19th-century building that offers tours and regular performances. And if you’re a fan of shopping, the striking glass-domed Galeries Lafayette Haussmann mall is just a few minutes up the road. If you’re looking for a memorable cultural experience, the hotel is less than a 20-minute walk away from the famous Louvre museum, which I spent an entire afternoon exploring. It’s worth noting for the Louvre that tickets must be booked online in advance, with specific time slots allocated to manage the flow of visitors.

Within the hotel, if you feel like treating yourself, there is a full spa and wellness area offering a range of treatments. True to the overall boutique feel of the property, the spa is built for exclusivity and can be hired out in full for guests that value their privacy or are looking for a more personal experience.

Something to remember if you’re in Paris for the weekend is that some restaurants and landmarks are closed on Sundays or Mondays, so if you’re hoping to visit somewhere in particular, it’s worth checking opening hours before setting off. The more popular and trending restaurants also get booked up well in advance, so be sure to call ahead to guarantee a table.

Dining Aside from the breakfast room, which is below ground, Hotel Le Scribe has three dining options off the lobby: a café, which can also be accessed from the road and is open to the public, the main restaurant, and a bar/lounge that offers drinks and light bites.

The Rivage restaurant is open for lunch Monday to

Friday and dinner Thursday to Saturday. The menu offers a modest selection of seasonal Mediterranean dishes, with tapas-style appetizers designed for sharing. We choose to dive into the fish, sharing Tuna Carpaccio and a unique tiramisu-style shredded crab to start, followed by a tasty roasted Hake and a large portion of saffron risotto. As the restaurant is closed on Sundays, we also checked out the room-service menu, which largely mirrors the lunch/dinner menu, plus some extra staples such as sandwiches and pizza.

Le Bar du Scribe in the evening is a cozy and exclusive setting, with a classic design and crescent-moon-shaped bar. It’s an easy place to sit privately or with friends and enjoy cocktails, soft music, and mood lighting.

Final thoughts The environment in the Sofitel Le Scribe Paris Opéra is very much in tune with the style of the city. Comfortable and unique, if you’re looking for a genuine Parisian vibe, it’s definitely one to explore.

On April 17, 2022, Forbes Middle East hosted an event to celebrate the most prominent Egyptian companies and business leaders helping to shape the country’s growing economy. The glamorous Suhoor event held in Cairo recognized the contributions of Egypt’s success makers who have featured on Forbes Middle East’s coveted lists. The evening brought together public figures and top CEOs of companies and public and private institutions from across all sectors in Egypt.

“Our celebration of Egyptian business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs stems from our appreciation for the individuals who have made achievements in the financial and business sectors, and affirmed Egypt’s position as a role model in adopting and encouraging innovation and creativity in various economic sectors, thanks to the attractive investment climate in the country,” said Khuloud Al Omian, Editor-in-Chief at Forbes Middle East. “On this occasion, we congratulate and thank the leaders who have contributed to promoting comprehensive development in the country.”

The awardees honored at the suhoor had all been featured in Forbes’ lists and rankings during the previous year for their contributions to their respective industries in Egypt, the Middle East, and across the globe. On the night, awards were handed out to leaders from a diverse mix of sectors and categories, including healthcare, real estate and construction, investment banking, listed companies, businesswomen, startups, and more.

Addressing an audience of decision-makers and top businesspeople, Al Omian took the opportunity to draw attention to another much-anticipated event to be staged in Egypt. “The Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit will be the most significant gathering of entrepreneurs and young leaders ever in the Middle East. Youth is the future of our planet and an essential pillar of any economy,” said the editor-in-chief.

The inaugural Forbes Middle East Under 30 Summit will be held in El Gouna, Egypt, from November 24 to 26, 2022. It will host entrepreneurs from across the region as well as global Under 30 alumni to establish the forum as a knowledge and experience sharing platform.

THOUGHTS “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” —Helen Keller

“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.” — Salvador Dali

“The ambition and focus that propel you to success can also be your downfall.” —Judy Smith

“Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them.” —Napoleon Bonaparte

“Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” —Barack Obama

“Ambition is pitiless. Any merit that it cannot use it finds despicable.” —Eleanor Roosevelt “We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents and interests.” —Sheryl Sandberg

Salvador Dali

“Ambition is a very dangerous thing because either you achieve it and your life ends prematurely, or you don’t, in which case your life is a constant source of disappointment. You must never have ambition.” —Jeremy Clarkson “To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labor tends, and of which every desire prompts the prosecution.” —Samuel Johnson

“If you have got a dream and you’ve got ambition, then go for it. You know, unless you try, you’ll never know.” —Eddie the Eagle

“Bullies will attack your confidence, but you cannot let them kill your ambition.” —Whitney Wolfe Herd

“It’s good to test yourself and develop your talents and ambitions as fully as you can and achieve greater success; but I think success is the feeling you get from a job well done, and the key thing is to do the work.” —Peter Thiel

“Five enemies of peace inhabit with us - avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.” —Petrarch