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A ROMANTIC ESCAPE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

by Madelyn Miller

Just as every piece of art bears the artist's signature, so it is with the luxurious seven-suite Hotel St. Germain.  Proprietor Claire Heymann's mark is found in every furniture finish, every bit of upholstery, each antique, every extra service touch, each menu, every gourmet muffin in the Hotel's continental breakfast. The Hotel St. Germain is the culmination of Ms. Heymann's talents and vision as well as a reflection of her Creole heritage.

Originally from a prominent Louisiana family, Ms. Heymann's mother, an antique dealer, helped her develop a taste for the finer things in life. As a young girl, she spent many of her days accompanying her mother on New Orleans" famous Magazine and Royal streets, searching for exquisite antiques and furnishings.

Her French heritage greatly influenced her selection of fine antiques, furnishings and features that all reflect late 19th century France and New Orleans. Many pieces of furniture came from her mother, and she carefully selected the rest through various auctions over the years. The name of the Hotel comes from three sources--her French grandmother Germaine, St. Germain the patron saint of Paris and the St. Germain area in Paris.

She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, and this European influence is reflected in her personal style. She has been involved in every step of renovating this historical home into a first for Dallas--a European-style boutique hotel. From the moment you enter, you step back in time to the Old World luxury of 19th century France with its 14-foot ceilings, lavish suites, sumptuous parlor, gracious foyer and stately library. The chandeliered dining rooms overlook a romantic New Orleans-style walled courtyard.

To complement its furnishings, the Hotel believes in the caring, pampering service of yesteryear as well. Each of the seven suites has 19th century French motifs, feather beds canopied from the 14-foot ceilings with lavish fabrics, wood-burning fireplaces, Jacuzzi/soaking bathtubs and Roger & Gellet amenities as well as signature robes.

Suite six is the premier suite in the house and consists of about 600 square feet of elegance. The 150-year-old Mallard bed is complemented with a Mallard dresser, Pier glass cheval mirror, carved wooden windscreen with glass insets, and a ball-and-claw carved table, all turn-of-the-century. The bathroom has a double pedestal porcelain sink and a large Jacuzzi bathtub.

A lovely breakfast is included each day and it can be served by the butler staff in each suite, or downstairs in the dining room or outside in the courtyard.(try a different spot each morning) The Hotel St. Germain breakfast is a perfect way to start the day and includes cafe au lait, fresh-squeezed juice, a fabulous assortment of pastries created by the hotel's chef and a fantastic fresh fruit compote.

In the evenings, the Hotel St. Germain has revived the days of genteel dining, by offering exquisite Continental fare. Guests are invited to sip any of a great selection of wines and spirits from Waterford and Schotts-Zwiesel crystal and to relish their meal on 75-year-old Limoges china. Hotel St. Germain chef de Cuisine William Gutherie designs a five-course menu of choices each month at a fixed price of $65 per person. Seating is limited to maintain the highest quality dining experience. With advanced reservations, you can dine by candlelight in the intimate Old world ambiance of the romantic Grand Dining Room that overlooks an ivy-strewn New Orleans-style courtyard.

In between meals, you can take a trolley to the Downtown Arts District or stroll to the shopping, dining and entertainment areas of McKinney Avenue. Think of yourselves as guests, rather than natives, and see our city through romantic eyes while you enjoy a private interlude.

The Hotel St. Germain, named one of the top 12 inns in the nation in 1993 by Country Inns Magazine, has earned a four-diamond rating from AAA and a four-star rating from Mobil Travel Guide. Plus lavish praises from everyone who stays there.

What began in 1980 as one woman's vision is now a fully-operational seven-suite property filled with beauty and fine service. "Some dreams really do come true," believes Ms. Heymann. And your wish for a fabulous honeymoon certainly will be granted here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION;214-871-2516. 2516 MAPLE AVENUE, DALLAS

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