Tennis icon Serena Williams has taken to social media to express her frustration after being denied access to the rooftop restaurant at The Peninsula Hotel in Paris.
Williams, 42, who is in the city with her children Alexis Olympia Jr., 6, and Adira River, 11 months, shared her disappointing experience on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the incident with the hashtag #Olympic2024.
“Yikes @PeninsulaParis, I’ve been denied access to the rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first,” Williams wrote alongside a photo of the hotel’s sign.
The Peninsula Paris quickly responded with an apology, clarifying that the rooftop bar was fully booked and the available tables belonged to their gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was also reserved.
“We have always been honoured to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again,” the hotel’s statement read.
Further elaborating, the hotel mentioned that an alternative table was offered at La Terrasse Kléber downstairs. “We always try to make space for walk-in guests, but sometimes this is impossible,” a spokesperson told Metro.co.uk. The hotel has since reached out to Williams directly.
A staff member named Maxime Mannevy explained that Williams arrived with a stroller and was not immediately recognized, leading to confusion.
Mannevy said the staff member involved did not recognize Williams and treated her as they would any other guest, suggesting she wait downstairs in the bar until a table became available.
Williams arrived in Paris in late July and was later seen on a boat on the River Seine during the Olympics opening ceremony alongside notable figures such as Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci. Despite her grace in the spotlight, Serena struggled with her balance during the event.
Williams recently made headlines for her critique of Kim Kardashian’s tennis technique. Commenting on a photo Kardashian posted of herself on the court, Williams remarked, “Literally not how you hold a racquet. I have to give you lessons, lol.” Whether a coaching session will be arranged between the two stars remains to be seen.
