Martin Simolka

Molitor, the iconic Parisian five-star hotel, is pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Simolka the new Chef at Brasserie Urbaine.

Originally from Germany, Chef Simolka has always had a passion for food, as a child he cultivated his own small vetagable garden and baked cakes for family birthdays before undertaking a bachelors degree in economics. After his studies, Chef Simolka devoted himself to the art of cooking, developing his skills throughout a diverse range of restaurants such as, Adlon Kempinski - Berlin where he worked with and was inspired by renowned Chef Thomas Neeser.

Chef Simolka went on to refine his taste and knowledge of good produce alongside Chef Philippe Labbé at the Shangri La before moving to the legendary George V followed by 5 years as First Sous Chef alongside Chef Raoux at the Peninsula, "an extraordinary experience, accompanied by a Chef and a wonderful man"comments Simolka.

Chef Simolka brings with him a wealth of experience in menu development, designing unique dining experiences and training and mentoring teams. By becoming Chef of the Urban Brasserie at Hotel Molitor, he accepts a new challenge where his cuisine will be raw and authentic with a twist of modernity, bringing with him a new menu inspired by Paris and based around locally sourced, organic produce.

Molitor opened its doors in 1929 and became an iconic Parisian property, primarily thanks to its 60-year reign as the most popular swimming pool in the city. The building closed in 1989 and was classed as a listed historic building; it was then occupied by artists who transformed the space into an immense art space. In 2014, the building reopened as Hôtel Molitor Paris, part of the MGallery Hotel Collection, which is a collection of boutique hotels around the world dedicated to lovers of life, literature and culture.

Today, Molitor is an iconic hotel located in Western Paris, 25 minutes from the city-centre, adjacent to the world-renowned Roland Garros tennis courts and 10-minutes from the Eiffel Tower. Contemporary in design, Molitor has 124 minimalistic rooms including 7 suites. Facilities include a 46m outdoor pool, 33m indoor pool, Molitor's Spa by Clarins - the largest spa in Paris - and a seasonal roof-terrace and restaurant.