Hôtel Plaza Athénée

A tradition in bloom

The return of the iconic red geraniums at Plaza Athénée is not only a cherished tradition, but also a reminder of the timeless elegance and romance the hotel inspires.

The tradition dates back to the 1940s, when French actor Jean Gabin met the legendary Marlene Dietrich a dinner at the Relais du Plaza. The couple fell in love, regularly staying at the hotel together. 

When Marlene bought an apartment across the road, Jean asked the concierge to festoon the balcony of the room they shared, visible from Dietrich’s apartment, with 100 red roses to commemorate their love. 

Due to the difficulty of sourcing such a large quantity of roses, the hotel opted for vibrant red geraniums instead, which would endure much longer. Ever since, the hotel has continued the tradition by adorning all of its balconies with red geraniums, now a permanent feature of its iconic façade.

 This year, the geraniums are once again blooming on our balconies, heralding the arrival of warmer seasons. There’s no better way to enjoy them than from the comfort of one of our newly renovated suites, where you can take in the view of this beautiful tradition in full bloom.