William Oliveri, Bartender
His domain is the muted décor of the Bar 228. "It feels like home", says William Oliveri, Bar Tender at Le Meurice for the past 28 years. Sicilian by birth, he speaks several languages – he is currently taking weekly Russian classes – and earned his reputation in Europe’s grandest palaces before being definitively conquered by the historic paneled bar at the Meurice. "Crowned heads from all over the world have stayed in this palace", he recounts. William Oliveri himself is the heir to a dynasty: "I am the fourth Bar Tender in the past century!". Although warm and talkative, William Oliveri is discreet when it comes to his loyal clients. He alludes to the eccentricities of "habitués" such as Salvador Dali and Richard Burton, without going into detail: "I am a confidant, a confessor and host all at once", he explains. He is also a true professional who considers that each client deserves a personal welcome: "We offer them custom cocktails", he notes. For him, the soul of Le Meurice is in the Bar 228, in the hollows of the leather armchairs and under the frescoes by Lavalley: "Here is where it all happens". The master has spoken.