Serena Williams recently recounted a negative experience at a Paris hotel restaurant while visiting the city for the Olympic Games. The 23-time Grand Slam winner claimed she was turned away from The Peninsula’s rooftop dining area while out with her two children. On Monday (August 5th), Williams tweeted, “Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to [a] rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places (melting face emoji) but never with my kids. Always a first. (rolling eye emoji).”
The restaurant responded on social media, providing their account and offering an apology. “Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight,” the post read. “Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked, and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved. We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be happy to welcome you again.”
According to the hotel’s website, L’Oiseau Blanc is a prestigious two Michelin-starred dining venue. Maxime Mannevy, a staff member, spoke to Variety about the incident, although they were not on duty at the time. “When she came, there were only two tables available, and they had been reserved by clients of the hotel,” Mannevy explained. “My colleague didn’t recognize her and feels terrible, but he told her what he would have told any other client, which is to wait downstairs in the bar for a table to become available. That was absolutely nothing personal.”
Williams had arrived in Paris in late July, just before the Olympic opening ceremony, where she served as a torchbearer. Having retired from professional tennis after the 2022 U.S. Open, she has been attending various Olympic events, including Novak Djokovic’s victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final.
Despite the hiccup at the restaurant, Williams continues to enjoy her time in Paris, immersing herself in the Olympic spirit and supporting fellow athletes. Her positive outlook and focus on the games highlight her enduring sportsmanship and love for the world of athletics.