Stéphane Durand
Tribe Saga: The Experimental Group’s Alluring Lifestyle
Discover the unique and original style of the Experimental Group in 3 signature hotels.
From childhood friends to hospitality experts
It was while traveling through Europe and the USA that Olivier Bon, Romée de Goriainoff and Pierre-Charles Cros, all childhood friends, decided in 2007 to open a cocktail bar in the heart of Paris to democratize a discipline still unheard of in France: mixology. Success came quickly, as did the plans of this ambitious trio, who in 2010 were joined by Xavier Padvonani, a connoisseur of the world of luxury, spirits and hospitality. After opening establishments in London and then New York, the four boys, with the wind in their sails, dreamed big and landed without warning in the hotel world: the Grand Pigalle was born in 2015, in Paris. Since then, this winning quartet has been no slouch when it comes to daring, as they always manage to surprise us, just like their 11 addresses scattered across the four corners of Europe, from the historic center of Ibiza to the English countryside, via Venice, Biarritz, London, Menorca or the Alps, and of course Paris, with just one guarantee: that our experience will be the best it can be.
Tribal attributes for demanding customers
Few hotel groups can boast of being as adept at catering as they are at lodging. In the space of almost fifteen years, the Experimental Group has succeeded in offering the world top-quality wine and cocktail bars, as well as original hotels that also play the good-taste card. It's a well-known fact, however, that behind every great man lurks one (or more) woman, and the Experimental Group is no exception to the rule. As often as possible, the group teams up with the genius of architect Dorothée Meilichzon, who imagines a contemporary, original and colorful design for these establishments that never goes overboard.
Who is it for? Discerning customers who like to save time and focus on the essentials: living in the moment with style.
Photo credits @Mr Tripper @Karel Balas ©Bett Wood
3 Experimental Group signature hotels
Viva España, L'Experimental Menorca in Menorca
Imagine a huge white house surrounded by pine and juniper trees on an island renowned for its calm and relaxed lifestyle. Welcome to L'Experimental Menorca, where you'll find the very best of the Balearic Islands. A finca spirit (as Spanish farming estates are called) inspires architect Dorothée Meilichzon to work with raw materials, using island craftsmen to create the rooms: terra cotta, wooden shutters and Marres stone blend with modern artwork and inspired graphic elements. Straw hats and pottery adorn the 43 rooms on this 30-hectare property. For the ultimate in luxury, you can also reserve one of the 9 detached houses, each with its own private swimming pool.
Menorca Experimental
Room from 260€
Camí de Llucalari, 07730, Illes Balears, Spain
Photo credit @Karel Balas
Experimental Chalet Verbier on Swiss time
A gigantic 1936 chalet has been transformed by architect Fabrizio Casiraghi into an incredible hotel with 39 rooms and suites and breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains. And there's no question of playing the Alpine cliché with an overdose of wood and other hunting trophies: here, the watchword is sobriety. The light-colored walls of this place of simple luxury are adorned with discreet wood panelling and paintings of mountain landscapes sourced from the four corners of Europe. In the bathrooms, the black-and-white checkerboard pattern is favored, while the tiles are tinted blue around the white bathtubs and basins. In the kitchen, chef Grégory Marchand takes great pleasure in playing with local ingredients, such as his homemade fettuccine (made with truffles and pecorino) or roasted salsify with Valais honey, served with confit pork belly and whisky sabayon. Just the thing to warm up winter!
Experimental Chalet Verbier
Rooms from €310
Rte de Verbier Station 55, 1936 Verbier, Switzerland
Photo credits: @ Julie Limont @Mr tripper © patrick locqueneux
Grand Pigalle Hôtel, the first in the collection, now a mainstay at SoPi
Forget the days of visiting "the little ladies of Pigalle." Nowadays, people prefer to hang out in a constantly changing neighborhood (known as SoPi, short for South Pigalle) where charming little shops and high-quality restaurants abound . The Experimental Group made the right move when it opened the Grand Pigalle Hotel here almost ten years ago. Since then, it has become one of the neighborhood's cornerstones, offering 37 rooms, some with geometric wallpaper and mahogany furniture, others with a bohemian and festive spirit. Golden pineapples are nailed to the walls, while the "martini" carpet, another work by interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon, adds a touch of madness to a neighborhood that already has plenty.
Grand Pigalle Hotel
Rooms from €200
29 rue Victor Massé, 75009 Paris
Photo credits: ©GeraldineMartens @Mr Tripper @Karel Balas
