Serena Williams and family denied entry to Paris hotel restaurant—hotel apologizes
Serena Williams, the retired American tennis star, was recently denied entry to a rooftop restaurant at a luxury Parisian hotel. The Peninsula Paris hotel later apologized to Williams and her family for the incident.
Serena Williams, 42, shared her frustration on social media, stating, “Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first.”
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Williams has been in Paris with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their two daughters, Olympia (6) and Adira (10 months), for the 2024 Olympics. She participated in the Olympic torch relay with other sports legends like Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comăneci.
The incident occurred after a week of Olympic events. Williams and her family tried to dine at the rooftop restaurant of the Peninsula Paris, which offers a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. However, they were denied entry despite the restaurant appearing empty.
Fans quickly expressed their support for Williams on social media, prompting a response from the hotel. The Peninsula Paris issued an apology, stating:
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“Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. 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.”
The hotel’s apology has received mixed reactions. Some believe the hotel should have made an exception for Williams, while others think she should understand the restaurant’s reservation policy. Williams has not yet responded to the hotel’s apology.
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