Festive Magic Awaits in Paris and Rome with Leitmotiv

La Fantaisie and Casa Monti Usher in the Season

Photography courtesy of Leitmotiv

As winter settles in across Europe, Leitmotiv’s two urban properties, La Fantaisie in Paris and Casa Monti in Rome, are gearing up to transform into a world of joyful wonder this festive season. Guests can revel in magic-themed activations, community spirit, and artistic collaborations from 19 November before ringing in the New Year.

La Fantaisie Paris

Illuminated Settings

Living up to its mantra, Home of Joy, every corner of La Fantaisie will glow with charm, promising to bring seasonal sparkle to the heart of the 9th arrondissement this winter. Gracing the front of the hotel, La Fantaisie’s Café will debut a side-street cart serving decadent Parisian hot cocoa, perfect for chocolate lovers and locals alike, with complimentary cups every Wednesday. Inside, visitors will be greeted by a giant Advent calendar in the lobby, designed to bring daily moments of joy throughout December. Each day, guests will be able to chance the key found in their room to unlock one of the advent boxes – with only one lucky key per day working. Gifts include treats from the hotel and its Wellness Club 9 partners, a collective of local innovators around Rue Lafayette spanning fitness favourites like Punch and Octane, as well as wellness destinations such as Aesthé and 48cc, all dedicated to redefining modern wellbeing through mindful living.

Festivities continue at La Fantaisie’s restaurant, which will offer a limited-edition “Magic Menu”, featuring unique appetisers and showstopping mains, available to order on Wednesdays and Fridays. The restaurant’s central olive tree will be adorned with hanging magic cards, adding a touch of seasonal enchantment to every meal. Meanwhile in the guest rooms, thoughtful festive touches will create moments of surprise and delight, from sparkling sugar candies and card shaped cookies to playful extras like custom card games and scratch cards offering the chance to win special treats, such as indulgent cups of hot chocolate or freshly baked goods. 

Magical Events

La Fantaisie’s busy festive programming promises to spark joy throughout the week, with a calendar overflowing with precious moments. Every Wednesday evening, guests will experience “Magic Evenings”, an intimate dinner experience surrounded by the resident magician where the art of illusion and cuisine meet. Each Friday, the garden will transform into a mystical haven for tarot and fortune readings beneath the winter lights. For moments shared with loved ones, Le Bar Sur Le Toit will transform into La Fantaisie Cinema on Sunday afternoons, hosting cosy screenings of classic and seasonal films, complete with themed drinks and treats – a delight for all ages.

To capture the magic of the festive season in every sense a celebration of light, laughter and community, Christmas week will kickstart with a festive treasure hunt around the hotel. Five hidden keys will be dotted throughout the communal spaces, and the lucky finders will unlock enviable prizes ranging from spa experiences and group dinners to exclusive hotel offers.

Celebrations will conclude with La Fantaisie’s New Year’s Eve spectacular on 31^st December, open to all to ring in the year ahead: expect magicians and fortune tellers, to live music accompanying joyful diners in the restaurant, and a rooftop DJ carrying the celebration into the early hours of 2026.

The Art of Christmas

At both properties, art plays its part, through collaborations and refreshed designs helping to bring the festivities to life. At Casa Monti, the festivities will begin with a celebration of creativity and craftsmanship, with the hotel unveiling its collaboration with Giotto Calendoli, the Milan-based Neapolitan visionary behind Handle With Freedom. Together, Casa Monti and Giotto present ‘Stolen at Casa Monti’, a playful project inspired by the feeling of when you walk into a place and you want to take every part of it with you.

The limited-edition collection of bespoke items is available exclusively in the hotel’s boutique. From a series of illustrated plates and matchsticks to cosy sweaters, bright slippers, and chic caps, the items emblazoned with the ‘Stolen at Casa Monti’ tagline and promise to carve a place in both the wardrobe and the home. This collaboration embodies the creative soul of Casa Monti and Leitmotiv, blending together art and luxury hospitality. Later in the season, Casa Monti will be debuting its collaboration with French illustrator and painter Pierre Emmanuel, who will produce 50 exclusive hand-painted ornaments for the hotel’s Christmas tree.

Meanwhile at La Fantaisie, art speaks through a plethora of spaces across the property. From starry lights adorning the hotel, trompe-l’œil sculpture, and the photo wall – a giant playing card on the rooftop, offering a playful frame for snapshots, or the softly illuminated garden offering intimate space for cosy gatherings. Each of the hotel’s spaces are reimagined into a dreamscape of light, laughter, and imagination. Whether you’re joining for an intimate dinner or a sparkling soirée, both La Fantaisie and Casa Monti promise to invite all to rediscover the joy of community this festive season.

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To book La Fantaisie: Rates at La Fantaisie start at €480/$560 for double occupancy on a B&B basis.

To book Casa Monti: Rates at Casa Monti start at €530/$620 for double occupancy on a B&B basis.