A Return to a Storied Home: Heartfelt Days at the Ritz Paris
I was recently a guest of the Ritz Paris, where I was welcomed with a warmth so sincere and a distinction so effortless that it felt less like checking into a hotel and more like being gently ushered back into the embrace of a familiar and storied home. From the moment the doorman greeted me to the gracious attention of the concierge, from the kind acknowledgments of the General Manager to the thoughtful presence of the Head of Corporate Affairs and Heritage, I felt as though a quiet love letter to the past was unfolding around me, one written in the Ritz’s unmistakable hand.
At Bar Hemingway, time seemed to soften its pace. Head bartender Sophie and Samantha Graham, the extraordinarily thoughtful Assistant Manager, curated evenings that felt less like cocktail hours and more like intimate conversations with memory itself. There was a tenderness in the air, a sense of stillness that allowed me to imagine, if only for a heartbeat, that Ernest might wander in with his unmistakable stride or that Jack might pull up a chair beside me as he once did. The team’s grace created an atmosphere where nostalgia and presence intertwined, and those moments will stay with me always. I share glimpses of these cherished hours: photographs with the Bar Hemingway team, with Glen Charles, and a cozy tableau with Bettina Klinger and Christophe Bony, along with a treasured image alongside Arnaud Leblin and Arnaud De Saint Exupéry.
Across the way at Vendôme, the experience was no less poignant. Roman DeVaux, the head bartender, welcomed me with a warmth that felt both elegant and deeply personal. He remembered seeing me in 1998 with Jack, many years ago, and even recalled the exact table where we sat. That memory, offered so gently and without prompting, struck a chord in me that words struggle to capture. It was as if he had opened a door to a moment I had tucked safely away, allowing Jack’s smile to step forward once again. I was delighted to reconnect with Roman, to reminisce, and to share a photo that now joins the constellation of memories this visit gifted me.
To the entire Ritz Paris family, I offer my heartfelt gratitude. Your care, your elegance, your unfailing attentiveness, all of it created a stay that will forever live in my heart. You managed to weave together the present with threads of long held memories, creating a tapestry of moments that felt both restorative and quietly profound. I left with a sense that Ernest and Jack were with me in spirit, lingering softly in the corners of each room, in the warm flicker of candlelight, and in every gentle word exchanged.
Thank you for giving me not just a visit, but an experience filled with grace, remembrance, and love.
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Angela Hemingway
Founder & Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
Hemingway, LTD
