Hôtel La Bourdonnais in Paris has unveiled its newly designed interiors by interior architect Oscar Lucien Ono, founder of Maison Numéro 20, with the hotel’s cocktail bar, Minuit Express, taking inspiration from the golden era of long-distance train travel.

Across the property, the decorative language plays constantly on the meeting of two worlds – East and West, near and far. The refined elegance of the Parisian Left Bank enters into dialogue with influences drawn from Asia, Africa and the ancient maritime trade routes.

Art Deco lines give structure to the architecture, while exotic wood essences and richly patterned fabrics – from houses including Rubelli, Lelièvre and Casamance – introduce a more far-flung dimension, heightened throughout by copper and burnished gold tones.

The imaginary journey continues into the cocktail bar, Minuit Express, where compartmentalised alcoves furnished with enveloping banquettes and armchairs evoke the slow, sociable rhythm of the great international trains.

The bar’s backlit alabaster surfaces and églomisé glass back bar catch the light with quiet drama, as though time itself has paused.

“The inspiration comes from the golden era of long-distance train travel,” Ono confirms. “A time when you crossed landscapes for days, encountered strangers and wrote postcards. Minuit Express recapturesthat lost sense of slowness.”

Photography: © Philippe Garcia