Birthday weekend in Paris with Hotel de Sers

Birthdays abroad are always special. You’re a bit melancholic, as you’re away from home and your loved ones, but excited. As you know this is a birthday you’ll never forget. 

This year I happened to be in Paris for my birthday during the work trip. I was really looking forward to the day, as back in 2016 I have celebrated my birthday here and it was spectacular. Here’s how things went down in the City of Lights. Perhaps my adventure will inspire you to spend your birthday somewhere exciting this year!

Day One. Staying at Hotel de Sers

There were three of us for this memorable trip, and I was in charge of making sure everything went smoothly. Of course, I booked two rooms at one of my favourite stays at the 8th arrondissement, Hotel de Sers. You’re a few blocks south of Champs-Élysées and a few others north of the river, right across the Eiffel Tower. You’re at the heart of Paris. 

With forty-five rooms and seven suites, Le Sers is a private mansion. Once home to the Marquis de Sers, the five-star hotel perfectly combines classic French decor and modernity. I knew I made the right choice when they greeted us with Champagne in the room; thank you, Le Sers!

A Birthday Lunch to Remember

We had such a morning exploring the timeless hotel that we decided to stay in for lunch — another excellent decision. 

The warm staff at Le Sers presented me with a beautiful flower bouquet during lunch, only eclipsed by the extraordinary food coming from the hotel’s homonymous restaurant. The afternoon started with L’Œuf Parfait, or the perfect egg — a poached egg with a light cream sauce, olives, matchstick fritters and tender cod. So pretty! Then came an equally tasty crab starter, and unctuous pan-fried foie gras, the highlight of the day.

The main courses were equally impressive. We all had something different, but I managed to try everything, a creamy truffle risotto, roasted lamb and a delicate bar fish filet. And it wouldn’t have felt like a birthday lunch in Paris without a thoughtful selection of desserts. We enjoyed the Citron Destructuré and Le Chocolate Comme un Snickers — the most interesting Snickers Bar interpretation I’ve ever tried. 

We chilled in our rooms for the rest of the evening until we all got together in the hotel’s Eiffel Suite for a Champagne Celebration. We had a beautiful postcard of the tower in the background. 

Day Two. Breakfast, Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower

The second day of my birthday weekend in Paris started with breakfast in the room. But after being spoiled by the staff at Les Sers, it was time to walk around town, and our first stop was Trocadéro.

The Trocadéro Gardens were created for the World’s Fair in 1937 and complement the Eiffel Tower experience on the other side of the river beautifully. Sculptures, fountains, museums, there’s lots to see and do in Trocadéro. Go past the Eiffel Tower, and you’re now in Champ de Mars. You can spend all day in the area, and in fact, we did. You’re so stimulated in every corner you don’t even realize how much you walked!

Thank you, Paris, for a wonderful birthday, and thanks to all the friends that enjoyed it with me. On our last day, we had breakfast on Les Sers’ Eiffel suite for a final view of the tower that kept an eye on us during the entire stay. Now, this was a happy birthday!

All images are taken by Oleg Tarasenko.