The New Hermès Installation Brings Luxury to Mystery

There’s something so romantic, so very French, about solving a low stakes mystery. From Hercule Poirot to Inspector Clouseau, there’s a long history of chic detectives, one in which Hermès is now taking part.

“Mystery at the Grooms’,” located at Pier 36 in Manhattan, brings visitors into the world’s most luxurious escape room. The premise: Grooms—the horse caretakers—let us into their residence, but disaster strikes shortly thereafter. All the horses have gone missing. Quelle horreur! It’s up to the “Hermès detectives” to solve the mystery by searching each of the installation’s six rooms.

Each of the rooms in “Mystery at the Grooms’” is theatrical and immersive—and features unique Hermès pieces. There’s a pantry, where Birkins and Kellys rest among carrots and corn on bales of hay. In the refectory, massive moving displays of food revolve around Hermès china, some of which is stacked high in an Alice in Wonderland-like fashion.