The rooms of Crillon Le Brave have a view over olive groves © Mr. Tripper

Just over ten years ago, an ultra-luxurious retreat quietly and unpretentiously joined the ranks of the high-end alpine ski resort of Courchevel: L'Apogée is located directly on the slopes, has a breathtaking view of the valley, two first-class restaurants and a spa for tired muscles. The hotel is one of the few in France to be awarded the prestigious Palace distinction. It's run by the Oetker Collection, which means it belongs to a family of heavyweights such as Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes or Le Bristol in Paris. But hardly anyone knew the man behind the hotel: Patrick Pariente.

From fashion designer to hotelier

Vincent Leroux

Pariente is no stranger to fashion. In 1973, he founded the Naf Naf label with his brother, which soon became a favorite of stylish Parisian women. When he sold his shares in 2007, he switched to the real estate business - and found the property in Courchevel. His experience with "L'Apogée" encouraged him to enter the hotel business operationally. With Maisons Pariente, the entrepreneur and his two daughters have built up an exquisite hotel collection over the last six years, whose properties are among the most exciting (and beautiful) in France's vacation regions.

The “Crillon Le Brave” in the municipality of the same name, half an hour from Avignon, offers one of the best views in the south of France. © provided

First, the family bought Crillon Le Brave in Provence, a row of stone houses in the foothills of Mont Ventoux. Then, they brought back the Riviera glamor of the 1950s and 1960s to Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez, far removed from the bling-bling of the coastal town. In the same year, they built Le Coucou, a warm and unagitated ski-in/ski-out hotel in the shadow of the snow-capped peaks of Méribel. Since 2023 there's Le Grand Mazarin in Paris, including Boubalé restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Assaf Granit. "Chopped liver is my favorite dish," says Leslie Kouhana, Patrick Pariente's daughter.

The “Grand Mazarin” in the Marais district of Paris is as eclectic as the area in which it is located. © provided

“It reminds me of the food at my grandmother's house.” Kouhana began her career at an international real estate company, while her sister Kimberley Cohen studied fashion production in Los Angeles. “Working as a family is an art. Everyone has to find their place,” says Kouhana. While Patrick Pariente mainly develops new homes, Kouhana takes care of building the teams and running the homes. “Kimberley has a strong artistic flair,” says Kouhana. Cohen takes care of the furnishings, right down to the small details, making the houses noticeably different.

The pool at “Le Coucou” in Méribel is simple but beautiful. © Hotel le Coucou

In a world where everything looks more and more the same, the family relies on strong solitaires. Thanks in part to the help of renowned designers such as Pierre Yovanovitch, Charles Zana and Martin Brudnizki. Pariente and his daughters also lend a hand: When the furniture was still missing in the rooms of Coucou shortly before the opening because the elevators were not working, Pariente dragged the armchairs, sofas and beds through the stairwell himself without further ado.

Martin Brudnizki is responsible for the design of the "Grand Mazarin". © provided

This hands-on mentality of the father-daughter trio is one of the secrets of Maisons Pariente's success. No chichi, first-class service, a family atmosphere, just not too stiff: "The hotels should feel good," says Kouhana, "the way we would like to go on vacation ourselves." Despite the shared DNA, each hotel tells its own story, its own je-ne-sais-quoi. And more openings are on the horizon; in 2027, where it all began: Pariente recently acquired the five-star hotel Saint Roch in Courchevel. 

The hotel "Lou Pinet". © provided

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