Woman in blue shirt and beige pants leaning on a balcony railing with lighthouse and sea in the background.

Woman in blue top and beige pants leaning on a stone railing with a lighthouse and ocean in the background.

MANIFESTO

A reference for hospitality,
a way of living through travel

Above all, Experimental is a celebration of place. Each address is conceived as an extension of its environment shaped by local rhythms, cultural nuances and the people who bring it to life. Rather than creating destinations apart from their surroundings, Experimental seeks to belong. To reflect the character of a neighbourhood, the energy of a city or the calm of a landscape. Hospitality becomes a bridge between travellers and locals, between familiarity and discovery.

Experimental was born from friendship and driven by a desire to revolutionise hospitality. It's a unique recipe that balances design, people, sound, lighting, food, and drink in equal measure, creating a celebration of epicurean spirit and entrepreneurial joy.

Experimental was founded by Olivier Bon, Pierre-Charles Cros and Romée de Goriainoff, three childhood friends from Montpellier driven by a shared curiosity and a desire to rethink hospitality. Inspired by the emerging craft cocktail scenes of New York and London, they opened the Experimental Cocktail Club in Paris in 2007, sparking a revival of cocktail culture in the city.

Joined in 2010 by Xavier Padovani, the group expanded its vision into a broader hospitality universe, one rooted in craftsmanship, seasonal sourcing and a constant spirit of discovery. Today, Experimental brings together cocktail bars, wine bars, restaurants and hotels across Europe and beyond, each shaped by its location yet guided by the same founding philosophy.

Group portrait of four men wearing dark jackets sitting and standing against a dark background.

A bespoke design, a consistent ethos

At Experimental, no two places look alike, and this is entirely intentional. Design is never imposed, but shaped in dialogue with architecture, history and context. From historic buildings to contemporary settings, each space is conceived as a singular project, mindfully crafted with care and restraint.

Materials, light and proportions are considered to create interiors that feel natural and lasting. A quiet elegance runs through every detail, not as a signature to be repeated, but as an attitude: design that serves atmosphere, comfort and a sense of belonging.

Cozy wooden desk and chair by a window with translucent curtains, overlooking snowy rooftops and forest.

Two raw oysters on ice topped with green sauce, with a savory pastry garnished with herbs on a white plate in the background.

Two oysters on a bed of crushed ice in a gray bowl topped with green garnish, with a round dish covered with yellow topping and herbs in the background on a brown marble surface.

An Epicurean Spirit

Experimental was born around the table and behind the bar. From cocktail culture to food and wine, the group’s approach has always been guided by curiosity, craftsmanship and pleasure. Menus are shaped by seasonality, technique and local culture, favouring generosity over spectacle. Whether in a cocktail bar, a restaurant or a beach setting, the experience is designed to unfold naturally encouraging sharing, conversation and moments that linger.

“True expertise is felt, not announced.”

Behind the apparent ease lies a deep respect for craft. Experimental values expertise that does not seek to impress, but to serve — knowledge applied with discretion and confidence.

From hospitality teams to chefs, bartenders and designers, each role is driven by the same philosophy: mastery expressed through simplicity. Precision, consistency and attention to detail form the foundation of experiences that feel effortless to the guest.

Bartender stirring a drink with ice in a mixing glass using a twisted bar spoon.

Woman in a beige turtleneck sweater sitting by a window, writing in a notebook with a wooden backgammon set beside her.

Woman in yellow pajamas sitting on a bed by a window, holding a croissant with breakfast on a tray nearby.

Woman in a red swimsuit standing in a clear blue pool, shielding her eyes with one hand while looking into the distance.

Woman in white ski sweater and helmet sitting on ski lift chair next to white jacket and ski poles in snowy ski resort.

Hand with a gold bracelet holding a cocktail glass with a yellow drink and a small black garnish on a wooden table next to a patterned upholstered bench.

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An Original Spirit, Unbound

Experimental has never followed a well-trodden path. Free from rigid categories, the group moves fluidly between hotels, restaurants, bars and destinations, allowing each project to find its own voice.

This freedom fuels creativity and keeps the brand alive, arriving with open arms to embrace new ideas, collaborations and formats. Experimental is not about trends or expansion for its own sake, but about choosing projects that resonate, places that inspire and stories worth telling.

Two women joyfully jumping on a bed in a cozy room with white pillows and a wooden headboard.

Man and woman sitting on a bed reading large illustrated books, smiling at each other in a stylish hotel room.

A man and a woman sitting on a bed with arched headboards, each holding an open book; the woman’s book features illustrations of jellyfish.

Born from friendship, rooted in hospitality.

A belief grounded in culture, experience, history and people.
An ethos that celebrates audacity, with humble undertones.
A bar elicits conversation.
A table fosters connection.
A hotel collects stories.
Experimental is the constant, a spirit that travels with you.
Often in your mind, always on the tip of your tongue, just within reach.
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Experimental.
A place where you come for the design and return for the experience.

LOCATIONS

A journey that started in Paris, in the summer of 2007. A bar on a quiet street, the start of Paris’ cocktail renaissance. As the years went on, new chapters turned, from new cities, to restaurants and finally hotels. Today, Experimental can be found across Paris, London, New York, Venice, Verbier, Val d’Isere, Ibiza, Menorca and out in the British countryside. Each location inspired by the world around it.