A Left Bank hotel, opened in 1910
The Lutetia stands at 45 Boulevard Raspail, on the corner of Rue de Sèvres, in the 6th arrondissement. It was conceived in 1910 on the initiative of the Boucicaut family, founders of Le Bon Marché, to house the wealthy clientele who came to shop in Paris. Its architects were Louis-Charles Boileau and Henri Tauzin.
The hotel closed for a long restoration from 2014 and reopened in 2018. It now appears as Mandarin Oriental Lutetia Paris, including on the 2026 list of French palaces. When booking a chauffeur, always give the full name and the address.
A history you can read in the neighbourhood
Between the wars the hotel welcomed writers and intellectuals passing through Paris. During the Occupation the German army requisitioned it; after the Liberation it served as a reception centre for deportees returning from the camps. These episodes explain the Lutetia's place in Parisian memory and the attention visitors give it.
It faces Le Bon Marché and is close to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, among cafés, bookshops and publishing houses. For a guest, it is a district for strolling and for literary or commercial appointments, where finishing the journey on foot can be a pleasure.
Drop-off and access: a matter of side and timing
The building occupies a corner, with two façades: Boulevard Raspail and Rue de Sèvres. The question for the hotel is therefore which side to arrive on. Access, drop-off and waiting rules are set by the property and the street authorities; we do not invent them, and we build them into the transport plan.
The chauffeur arrives with the stay name, a phone number to call and an identifiable vehicle. For pick-ups, a precise time window avoids waiting on the roadway. For dinner, the end of the evening is arranged on the night, without repeated calls, and the chauffeur waits nearby as instructed.
In case of rain, a delayed train or a dinner that runs long, the chauffeur adjusts the pick-up time and tells the assistant or the guest. That flexibility is part of the preparation: it spares the hotel from managing a waiting vehicle, and it leaves the traveller in control of the schedule.
- Choose the arrival side with the front desk
- Give the stay name and the Mandarin Oriental name
- Plan luggage before the drop-off
- Fix a precise pick-up window
From the station, the airport or another meeting
From an airport, the chauffeur tracks the flight and meets the guest at the agreed point. Our airport transfers cover Orly, Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle and Le Bourget; for trains, see the transfers from Paris stations, with a name-board welcome.
The Lutetia is also well placed for a day's Left Bank shopping around Le Bon Marché, or for a series of meetings: a chauffeur at your disposal keeps the same driver from morning to evening, without calling a new car at each stop.
Choosing the time and the vehicle
For a guest travelling alone or as a couple, a Mercedes S-Class or an electric BMW i7 suits most arrivals; a Maybach is available on request. For a family or small group with luggage, a V-Class avoids separating passengers between several cars.
The departure time is set by the occasion, not by the address: a dinner, a meeting, a train. The chauffeur is available 24/7 on request, speaks French and English, and other languages if needed. The firm quote states the vehicle chosen before any confirmation.
For those organising: assistants, concierges, family offices
What an assistant needs fits in a few lines: address, stay name, arrival time, chauffeur, vehicle. We send a firm quote before confirmation and invoice according to the needs of the company or family office. See also our page for family offices.
To compare other addresses, browse the Journal's 5-star hotels and palaces: the guide to La Réserve Paris describes, on the Right Bank, the same method for preparing a drop-off.
Book a chauffeur for Hôtel Lutetia
To get to Hôtel Lutetia, booking takes only a few details: pick-up address, date, preferred time, number of passengers and bags. IKIGAI Limousine replies with a firm quote, issued before anything is confirmed, then gives the chauffeur a clear brief including the entrance to use, subject to the hotel’s own instructions.
Whether you arrive from an airport, a station or a meeting in town, the journey to Hôtel Lutetia is best planned as a whole. A chauffeur briefed on the address, the entrance and the arrival time avoids last-minute hesitation, especially for a guest discovering Paris. Our VIP chauffeur service and chauffeur at disposal cover these journeys; to send your request, use the quote form.
Sources consulted
- Sortir à Paris – histoire du Lutetia
- Wikipédia – Hôtel Lutetia
- France.fr – Distinction Palace
- Journal du Luxe – palaces 2026
IKIGAI Limousine is independent and is not affiliated with any venue, brand or organisation mentioned. Names are cited for information only.
