Diana B.
Google
I rarely feel the need to write bad reviews but unfortunately I needed to say the following: from the moment my husband, my sister, and I arrived, we were warmly greeted by the hostess who was gracious, attentive, and set the tone for what we expected to be a lovely evening at Bar Joséphine.
Unfortunately, that first impression ended as soon as we sat down at the bar. The waiter and the man stationed near the hostess stand, who was also taking drink orders, began laughing and whispering while glancing at us it felt mocking, dismissive, and deeply uncomfortable. We were polite and kind throughout, yet their attitude shifted the atmosphere completely.
As a Mexican family who travels frequently and appreciates fine hospitality, we were genuinely excited to end our trip with a night at the Lutetia. We had even considered booking an additional night to experience the hotel more fully the next day. But this experience the rudeness, the lack of attention, and the sense of being judged or ridiculed left a sour taste that no luxury branding can erase.
The irony is not lost on us that we visited Bar Joséphine out of admiration for Joséphine Baker a woman who stood for inclusion, grace, and respect. The way we were treated runs counter to everything she represented. I can’t help but feel she would have been profoundly disappointed to see her name associated with that kind of behavior.
For a property of this caliber, and one that prides itself on representing the soul of the Left Bank, the experience was disheartening not because of a single bad interaction, but because of what it revealed about how some guests may still be perceived.