From stylish assemblages of Art Deco glory to velvet-fringed corners of playful optimism, this suave curation of Parisian hospitality offers a masterclass in modern luxury.
The City of Lights has long been admired for its abundance of sophisticated nesting places. But with Airbnb, VRBO and other community-based hospitality sources on the rise, traditional hotels have fallen by the wayside… and with it, we fear, a loss of the luxury pampering and done-for-you service that romantic getaways have developed a reputation for. While we love feeling like a local in a favorite city as much as the next person – it’s true you’ll often find us stealing glances of the city from our temporary offices à la Haven In appartement – we can’t help but sound the trumpet for l’hôtel classique in this instance.
It’s the ability to saunter down to the hotel spa at a moment’s notice. It’s the live musicians that serenade you during your nightcap. It’s the omnipresent concierge who secures those last-minute reservations or takes care of your dry cleaning so you can spend your days enjoying other things. When you’re traveling for a destination wedding scouting trip, a honeymoon or even a humble weekend getaway, the benefits of an established hotel will always trump the alternatives.
We could spend eternity chatting about our favorite Haussmann haunts – And if you’re considering a destination wedding in Paris, our soon-to-launch master guide to the city from a planning point of view may prove exceptionally useful – but we’ll spare you the diatribe for now. Peruse a handful of our top recommendations below, in no particular order, to begin planning your next romantic escape today!
Saint James Paris
16th arrondissement
Haute off the press! The newly renovated Saint James boasts the distinguished claim of being the only chateau hotel within Paris. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the 16th, just steps away from the upper-crust shops of the Champs-Élysées, this Neoclassical palace boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by Julien Dumas, a subterranean Guerlain spa reminiscent of Greco-Roman thermal baths and an English-style library bar with rich wood paneling a soaring coffered ceiling and double-height bookshelves. Our hearts simply leapt out of our chests when we first glimpsed the richly layered interiors courtesy of architecture-rooted designer Laura Gonzalez. Every room is this 51-room boutique hotel imparts a unique, playful and ultimately maximalist vibe to the grandeur of the building’s stately bones through artfully blended styles + textures, Versailles parquets, Art Deco touches, nature-inspired wallpapers, ornate chinoiseries and moldings, plush fabrics and custom-designed carpets. Bathed in atmospheric color schemes like hazelnut + cream or olive green + mustard, this bucolic escape is a harmonious medley of works from Iksel Decorative Arts, Pierre Frey, Sofrastyl, Pinton and Patrice Dangel to name a few. As much as we adore the City of Lights, we could hole up here for weeks without putting up any kind of fuss.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée
8th arrondissement
The elegant grande dame has been associated with the fashion world since the days when Christian Dior would name collections after the hotel. The famous Bar suit was one of them! Of course, the Plaza’s glamorous reputation is deserved even without continued endorsements from the likes of Carrie Bradshaw and Miranda Priestly. The irresistibly ritzy gem has boasted its signature red awnings since 1913, and today, the sumptuous rooms are the epitome of charm with classic French or Art Deco interiors. Even your choice of pillow is an on-the-menu luxury that reinforces the Plaza’s unparalleled service in their commitment to comfort. Our favorite suites feature spectacular terraces overlooking the tree-lined Avenue Montaigne (and all the quotidian moments of everyday Parisians that take place within), but even we can’t deny the allure of Eiffel Suites 361 and 878, which continue to be the most requested for their unparalleled Eiffel Tower views. The lobby buzzes with chatter from fashion editors, design house execs and movie stars bathed in glitzy light from opulent chandeliers above, while the hidden vine-encrusted courtyard, La Cour Jardin, invites guests to take their pick from a classically French menu with a dash of Mediterranean + Middle Eastern influence. Before you leave, make sure you indulge in the spa’s Dior Prestige Grand Facial, starring heavenly aromatic products centered on Dior’s signature Rose de Granville.
Hôtel de l’Abbaye Paris
6th arrondissement
Conveniently located in the 6th, this 18th c convent turned hotel feels a bit like Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline. An “old house that is covered in vines”, the comparisons end there – though I must say, we wouldn’t be surprised to find twelve girls in two straight lines walking out the ornate iron gates. After all, Hotel de l’Abbaye is trés photogenic and thus a magnet for the younger, upscale set. Don’t be fooled by its Instagram allure though. You won’t find irritating crowds of influencer-wannabes vying for their moment in the courtyard spotlight here. It’s still rather undiscovered, making it a tranquil hideaway that’s thankfully not too far from the action. Café de Flore and Square Saint Sulpice are just around the corner! You can expect to find interiors with Old World charm across the hotel’s 44 rooms + suites, darling tea salon and Edenesque garden courtyard. And my goodness are these uniquely designed spaces an oasis of serenity cloaked in a Diptyque scent!
Hotel Les Deux Gares
10th arrondissement
Few things make me want to stay in a moment forever like a Luke Edward Hall design. And Hotel Les Deux Gares is full of them! After all, he led the project that transformed this forgotten two-star, five-story establishment into its current revitalization. With a newfound bravado and smashing design forte, this new kid on the {Little India} block overlooks the tracks connecting Gare du Nord to Gare de l’Est. In fact, it’s less than a 5-minute walk to the latter. The location is just the beginning of our long list of accolades for this spirited masterclass in maximalism… hardly surprising once you witness the audacious color combos throughout the Haussmann-style corner building’s interiors. Chintzy wallpaper and leopard print furnishings can be expected alongside candy-striped beds and Greco-Roman style doodles from the maestro himself. The 38-bedroom hotel is instantly identifiable in its joyful, welcoming and positively flamboyant presence. Did we mention its sister café across the street is also a colorful riot of unexpected pairings? Merci au bon Dieu! Self-declared by Hall as “classic, but a little bit bonkers”, this chic stay is truly an eccentric wonderland in all the right ways.
Hotel Rochechouart
9th arrondissement
Like a miraculously preserved time capsule for the Jazz Age, Hotel Rochechouart possesses all the fixings of Gatsby-era decadence: velvet, brass, alabaster, marble, and burl wood to name a few. Echoes of the past linger throughout the historic townhouse facing the Sacré-Coeur and can be felt from the floral wall moldings, mosaic floor, and wrought iron lift, all restored to their former glory. We feel especially fond of the cozy autumnal palette – a hearty blend of ochre yellow, bronze-green, faded white, terra cotta and glossy black rooting the hotel in the refined elegance of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Straddling the line between Belle Epoque femininity and Art Deco masculinity rather comfortably, the 106 rooms and suites are complemented by a classic brasserie and rooftop bar which make it a frequent cocktail hotspot for the Pigalle quartier’s own Grand Tour.
The Hoxton Paris
2nd arrondissement
From the moment The Hoxton opened its doors on Rue du Sentier, the world of hip Parisian hotels was shaken. Known for its refreshingly modern and uber-original style at affordable rates, the Hox has shimmied its way up the totem pole of elite stays at an alarmingly effortless rate. Boldly carrying the torch of its East London legacy, the Hoxton is one of the few places in the city where young creatives gather to work, study and rendez-vous, be they locals or tourists. C’est la vérité! The recent renovations made good on their promise to honor the building’s history as a textile factory, as contemporary up-leveling of sophisticated design moments are peppered throughout the public and private spaces. From bespoke herringbone floors and elegant copper bath fixtures to velvet lounges and an indoor/outdoor winter garden, the mood is convivial, the decor is dynamic and the cocktails are first-rate. What more could you ask for in a home away from home!
Hôtel Particulier Montmartre
18th arrondissement
Montmartre itself is like a secret passageway revealing one hidden splendor after another, and this lovely little townhouse surrounded by a garden courtyard is arguably the best-kept secret of all. The treasure lies in the aesthetics, for sure, but also in the fact that you’re made to feel like a local when you stay in this unmarked 1871 mansion. Bejeweled with white garden tables + plush red cushions, the verdant courtyard is a delightful setting for petit déjeuner. Expect buttery croissants with Alain Milliat jams, eggs cooked to order and toast drizzled with honey from local bees… they’ve recreated Eden, it’s true! In a moment of creative ingenuity, Oscar Comtet (current owner) commissioned a melee of contemporary artists to design one suite each, permanently imprinting the hotel’s 5 suites with their unapologetically vivacious styles. The result is a thrilling collection of dramatically different interiors – this one inspired by 70’s films, that one inspired by ‘poems and hats.’ These are the details that make this secret pied à terre in Paris such a beloved hideaway!
Hotel National Des Arts et Metiers
3rd arrondissement
You wouldn’t expect your stay in Le Marais to feel like science fiction, but at the Hôtel National des Arts et Métiers, that’s precisely the vibe. The elements used in the construction of this project are hardly ubiquitous – oxidized copper tubes, wild fern stamp, scorched wood, self-illuminating glass – but these unfamiliar materials have worked together to create the most intriguing spaces. There’s a futuristic, almost cinematic, quality to the nooks + crannies of this distinctive hotel that makes you wholly conscious of every breath you take. Don’t miss a nightcap at L’Herbarium, which features a menu created from scratch by talented head barman, Oscar Quagliarini. One might wonder if he apprenticed with Buly 1803 before finding his stride in cocktails. After all, mixology itself seems like it might have roots in perfumery. Quagliarini’s unique approach leads with the nose – each seminal creation delivering a memorable olfactory/gustatory identity designed to awaken all the senses of whoever drinks it. All in all, this tactile escape will certainly check all your boxes if you delight in sensory-forward design and experiential architecture.
Hotel Lutetia
6th arrondissement
Once the stomping grounds of the creative elite – Pablo Picasso, Josephine Baker, James Joyce – Hotel Lutetia is a verifiable artifact… without the decay. We can thank its recent $234 million restoration for that! With an iconic facade, this Leading Lady of the Left Bank is as grand as they come. And the facelift bears all the hallmarks of its time-honored traditions: 1910-style furniture nodding to the hotel’s maiden year, a strong wooden theme paying tribute to the transatlantic adventures that were the hive of activity at the time and a painstakingly restored fresco for Bar Josephine painted by Art Nouveau artist Adrien Karbowsky to name a few. A whole series of friezes and bas-reliefs were unearthed and resurrected in the lobby, while modern interpretations of the Salon Saint-Germain’s 100 sq. meter glass roof meant that artist Fabrice Hyber was granted carte blanche for his fantastically psychedelic watercolor scene featuring astronauts, teddy bears and Pac Man as unlikely neighbors. Should the mood strike, Le Bon Marché is just across the street!
Le Bristol Paris
8th arrondissement
The crème de la crème of high society hotels, Le Bristol has been a fixture of the fashionable rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré since 1925. Situated within walking distance of the Presidential House, the Champs-Elysées, the Louvre and the Grand Palais, and thus overlooking the most iconic sights in the city, these palatial digs taste like “countryside in the city.” At least that was the aim of Lady Arabella Lennox-Boyd, the Italian-born landscape designer behind Le Bristol’s swanky new courtyard garden. Glorious, elegant and infused with warmth, the hotel’s decade-long restoration features a cast both familiar and fresh – Louis XV- and Louis XVI-era furnishings, storied antiques, cheery chintz fabrics, Persian carpets, original paintings…. Soft pastels and refined woodwork are woven throughout the understated luxury designs of the 190-room hotel, while Goliath-sized windows beckon natural light to flood the public spaces + private rooms, accentuating the exquisite quality of the furnishings and architectural embellishments along the way. The Saint-Honoré suites are exactly our cup of tea – enveloped in breezy floral wallpaper that has every patron drinking the Impressionism Kool-Aid. You can see why some of the rooms were featured in a little film called Midnight in Paris back in 2011. To top it all off – the spa is exceptional, the Michelin-starred dining is abundant and the panoramic indoor pool featuring wall-to-wall teak feels like something out of a luxury Victorian yacht.
Soho House Paris
9th arrondissement
A private cosmopolitan hub for the members-only set, Soho House Paris is tattooed with avant-garde influence from former resident Jean Cocteau. Through textural depth and maximalist patterns, this five-storied 19th c townhouse is like the seedy boudoir scenes of Paris personified… only fitting considering its anchor in the Pigalle district, steps away from the Moulin Rouge. Every detail of this creative scene is wrought with intention. Just look at the subterranean Cabaret Room, dressed up in velvet from floor to ceiling with plush banquette seating, a brass + timber bar, low-glow table lamps and intimate jazz club vibes so reminiscent of the can-can days. We can’t imagine experiencing concerts or film screenings any other way after one immersive event in old-world Parisian decadence at its finest.
The other common areas draw inspiration from Cocteau’s mythical Côte d’Azur villa, Santo Sospir. Whimsically painted murals and rattan-dipped accents are tinseled with zesty velvet furniture from the Jazz Age, while a parade of 150 paintings from French artists like Jules de Balincourt, Laure Provost, Emmanuel Van der Meule and Mel O’Callaghan remains the envy of every collector.
36 bedrooms are sprinkled across three of the floors, each one differing in size + design to reflect the specific area of the building it’s housed in. A few of the hallmarks of these varied hermitages include original wooden wall paneling, hyggelit fireplaces, fabric patterns from Pierre Frey’s archive collection, antique-glass mirrored walls, freestanding bathtubs, trompe l’oeil ceilings, hexagonal French terra cotta tiles, green and white marble showers and of course… cheeky Jean Cocteau style murals positioned behind beds. Dollars to doughnuts, we have no favorites, but we’ll be first to admit that Soho House Paris is the manifestation of all our edgy, seductive bourgeois Paris dreams.
Le Dokhan’s
16th arrondissement
You’ll often find patrons of the Parisian institution Le Dokhan’s raving about its champagne bar, rife with epicurean pleasures like caviar and foie gras among other acclaims. You heard it here first, fellow bon vivant – Le Dokhan’s retains bragging rights for the city’s largest selection of champagnes with up to 240 on offer. Inside the 1910 Belle Epoque building, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bland corner. Even the elevator gives us goosebumps with its Louis Vuitton paneled walls. The champagne bar (which conveniently metamorphoses into the breakfast room in the mornings) is a delectable shade of pistachio green reminiscent of Laduree’s iconic macarons, while the 45 guest suites hit the description of flawless right on the nose. Classic blue ticking stripe patterns for days! To boot, Le Dokhan’s walls are brimming with history. Where else can you stay in a historic Neoclassical building utterly frosted in original artwork from Matisse and Picasso?
Hotel Sinner
3rd arrondissement
As the name suggests, we were positively bedeviled to discover this irreverent hotel designed by the fabulous Tristan Auer for the Marais district. Vaulted ceilings, brooding corridors, towering columns, stained glass mosaics and antique wooden doors are a few of the hotel’s design trademarks, but our favorite features are the candle-bedecked crypt turned concept store and the red-velveted nightclub meant to keep us ever-mindful of the hotel’s hedonistic mission. Tantalizing us with sexy, mysterious and one-of-a-kind interiors, Sinner is a visual smorgasbord evocative of the 2018 Met Gala. If walls could talk, this historic drag of the Marais would surely whisper tales of evolution, for its transformation from a pious religious metropolis in the 14th century to a hippie haven for the glamorously optimistic in the 70’s has been emblematic in many ways. Auer didn’t miss a beat in his provocative retelling, immersing guests in a Knights Templar state of mind from the outset with the frankincense-scented lobby. Don’t worry, the theatrics are down-played for the guest rooms, which we can only describe as nonchalantly elegant and refreshingly airy. Clandestine in spirit, it’s no mystery that Hotel Sinner targets lovers of D&D (Design and Dionysos).
The Ritz Paris
1st arrondissement
A happy tangle of gilt furnishings and designer fabrics, the Ritz Paris never fails to herald in feelings of awe-struck bliss whenever we pay a visit. Checking in to this fixture of the Place Vendôme means checking out of your everyday woes. It’s impossible not to feel like a descendant of royal pedigree here, for the liveried team standing by to serve you from red-carpeted entry to afternoon tea salon hold court with the highest standards of hospitality. The hotel’s grand escalier ushers in a sense of pomp and splendor that often seems reserved for the celebrity set, while Bar Hemingway stands ever-ready to whip up a martini shaken, not stirred. If you’re lucky enough to stay in the Chanel Suite, which Coco herself decorated during her 35 year tenure at the Ritz, you’ll find yourself sleeping in a decidedly beige and black lacquer oasis accented with the late Mademoiselle’s signature chinoiserie screens. Following a more traditional Louis XV opulence direction, the other 141 rooms + suites feature soft color schemes expressive of more pastoral sensibilities. A sweet concoction of creams and pale pinks or blues mingle with fancy brocades, scenic oil paintings, crystal chandeliers, silk lampshades, marble fireplaces and the Ritz’s signature golden swan bathtub taps. Slipping into your soft-as-a-cloud king-sized bed offers a moment of soulful reverie one can hardly put into words. But then again, so is the serene experience of an aromatherapy massage at the Chanel Spa – itself weaving in music tailored to the tranquil, nuanced affair. What can we say, you’d be hard pressed to find a romantic Parisian getaway as legendary as that of the Ritz.
Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel
8th arrondissement
There are three things in this world that we can always count on. 1) Rita Hayworth’s marvelous hair flip garnering audible gasps for first-time viewers of 1946 classic, Gilda. 2) Café au lait dipped sablés (butter biscuits) from renowned boulangerie Poilâne will always feel like food for the soul. 3) The pleasure of sipping bubbles + fizz on a private terrace over Place de la Concorde is an unrivaled thrill. Hôtel de Crillon can help you with the latter, for its ideal position between the Champs-Élysées and the Tuileries Garden is part of its allure… though the good gravy certainly doesn’t end there. Its history dates back to the 18th c, when King Louis XV solved the challenge of creating a “most impressive” backdrop for a statue of his likeness by enlisting architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel to create what is now the hotel’s facade. The guest list through the years has been rather illustrious. Sophia Loren, Peggy Guggenheim, Charlie Chaplin, Andy Warhol and Madonna to name a few. Marie Antoinette herself took piano lessons in her teen years inside one of the palatial apartments here. Lavish abundance is a stalwart force at the Hôtel de Crillon, yet the feeling is never gauche. Rooms are outfitted with antique + bespoke furnishings, Rivolta Carmignani Italian linens, hand-picked objets d’art, walk-in rain showers, heated bathroom floors, Buly 1803 products, televisions hidden within bathroom mirrors… even 24-hour butler service! From the solid, 2-ton Carrera marble bathtub of a Karl Lagerfeld-designed suite to the pool illuminated with over 17,600 gold scales, the luxuries don’t stop at this 124-room institution of Parisian history.
Hotel Madame Rêve
1st arrondissement
They say the color yellow has the power to affect your state of mind, spinning any hum-drum, gloom + doom spirit into a bona fide “yes man” – bright, cheery sunshine and hope-filled laughter leading the way. We have a feeling the experts are right after staying at the Samaritaine’s new neighbor, Madame Revê. The space itself isn’t new. In fact, it served as the post office for the Louvre in its not-so-long-off-the-slab past life. Utterly radiant in a palette of oak and goldenrod, if it were a drink, it’d be a Chardonnay. We can’t help but feel warm fuzzies inside + out when stepping into one of the 82 guest rooms the hotelier itself describes as urban cocoons. They’re not wrong! 53 of these sun-kissed spaces feature a balcony with panoramic views, and all of them are endowed with mid-century style furniture, plump king-sized pillows and the holy trinity of modern masculine materials (onyx, leather and brass) that would make any design-lover swoon. The on-site restaurants inspire confidence all their own, from the aptly “Golden Age” inspired Madame Rêve Café serving Mediterranean fare to the 3rd floor La Plume, which savvily elected Japanese gastronomy as its muse. Don’t even get us started on the spa – scrumptious treatment rooms, innovative therapeutic techniques and even more Paris skyline views. Et voila! We’d trade rose-tinted glasses for gold-hued sunnies any day.
Hotel Des Grands Boulevards
2nd arrondissement
You’ve seen them on Instagram – the trendy jewel-toned canopy beds of this secret hideaway in central Paris. Petit fours are placed on the vintage linen pillows each night, which is precisely the kind of thoughtful charm this 18th c townhouse is known for. The beds themselves are impossibly cozy, but we’ve recently uncovered the mystery behind the supposed witchcraft. Designer Dorothée Meilichzon worked with an artisanal mattress maker in Brittany for all 50 rooms! As if to stave off the ubiquity of a Sun King inspired aesthetic in Paris, the hotel’s more regal touches are juxtaposed by rustic olive wood stools in lieu of bedside tables, considered splashes of coral marble and whimsical frills like bumblebee door knockers atop layers of glossy paint. While every room category boasts inexplicable country comfort vibes (perhaps the culprit is the discreet courtyard garden entrance with bubbling fountains and third-day-of-creation quality plants), the Parisian Eaves will always be our pick of the litter. Situated beneath the rooftop with exposed beams, it’s obvious this room shares our passion as event planners for maximizing space. Speaking of breadth, the bathrooms are notably generous in size and amenities – waffle robes, plumped slippers and, mon dieu, counter space, sweet counter space, at the ready! Enjoy breakfast in Eloise fashion – silver-tray service brought straight to your bed – but don’t miss a chance to gorge on French-Italian country fare at the hotel’s Grand Restaurant for dinner, followed by cocktails at crimson-walled watering hole for locals + tourists alike, The Shell. When all is said and done, you’ll be patting yourself on the back for betting on this affordably well-appointed sanctum.
Château Voltaire
1st arrondissement
The venerable art de vivre spirit of this season’s wunderkind of boutique hotels has marshaled in a cavalcade of five felicitous stars. Deftly combining the gracious virtues of neighborly hospitality with a design rhythm that honors exceptional craftsmanship, modern comforts and ghosts of its girlfriends past – chief among them, Sarah Bernhardt. Three grand buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries were contorted into this superior lover’s sojourn, where 32 rooms exhibit distinctive characteristics entrenched in gumption. From the 1940s-style carpets and handcrafted wooden light fittings to the bespoke Art Deco mirrors and fringed velvet chaises, you’re left pondering how bad it would really be to leave your room at all during your stay. While the in-room mini bars are souped up with details that have truly upped the hosting ante for hotels (fresh bowls of citrus fruits and artisan wood cutting boards receiving notable mention), La Coquille d’Or is the hotel’s surreptitious bar with clubby Golden Age vibes is not to be missed. Sip on negronis, mojitos, manhattans and other tried-and-true favorites beneath tailor made scallop shell lights with Rococo undercurrents that make sense of the original gilt carvings swirling above the bar’s entrance. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves… a dinner at Emil Brasserie should predate any third date banter at the historic brothel turned saucy black + gold bar. A rich dialogue of black + white floor tiles, solid oak banquettes, vintage Limoges crockery and copper pans exists in this old-school brasserie where the scallop carpaccio and mousse au chocolat practically leap off the pages of the nostalgic paper menu. In reluctant conclusion, you can file a stay at Chateau Voltaire under Mandatory.
Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
8th arrondissement
Consider us royally flushed whenever we encounter the famed Four Seasons George V, for this prima donna in the city’s golden triangle is excess personified.
- Excess in the design: 244 rooms and suites elegantly appointed with Louis XV-style furnishings, serene color palettes, dignified chandeliers and fabric-covered walls (and yes, this dazzling 1928 stronghold is home to the iconic terraced penthouse with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower)
- Excess in the service: Like Cheers, it’s a place where everybody knows your name… though they take it a step further by memorizing your preferences and schedule – don’t worry, their methods are entirely low-key… no-stalker vibes, we promise
- Excess in the gastronomy: Five Michelin stars exist under one roof – three of them for Le Cinq by Christian Le Squer alone, though you’ll agree it’s entirely deserved once you taste his roasted blue lobster erupting with molten salted butter
- Excess in the superfluous: Our heads initially spin with memories of the lavish floral displays by Jeff Leatham pervading every nook + cranny of the lobby, though another heavy-hitting contender as far as brownie points go is the 56-feet-long pool that lives within the newly renovated spa
You don’t have to be a genius to crack the code on why the Four Seasons George V is one of the few officially graded Palace hotels in the city. The wall-to-wall luxury speaks for itself!
Relais Christine
6th arrondissement
Heaven can wait, but I can’t say the same for Relais Christine – a 17th century house tucked away in a leafy pocket of Saint-Germain-des-Prés that’s remained rather hush-hush for reasons we can only imagine are selfish. After all, the regulars have reason to want the place to themselves. Designed by Laura Gonzalez, the same prodigious force behind the bone-chillingly fabulous Saint James Hotel we gawked over earlier. Clearly, Mademoiselle G. is not just on the cusp of genius. She’s been producing it for a longggg time. Known for her inviting, maximalist style that boldly mixes genres, she imbued Relais Christine with the same sense of artistic eclecticism that we’ve happily encountered elsewhere. This time, the muse was the mansion’s own DNA – unsurprising once you realize it roosts upon the old stone ruins of a 13th century abbey that was once inhabited by the Austin Friars. And so the story goes, Laura drew inspiration, quite literally, from the ground up. Classic French furnishings were antiqued from the Les Puces de Saint Ouen flea market, while modern design masters were tapped for the cherries on top – chandeliers from Dedar for Hermès, wallpaper from Ananbô, fabrics from Pierre Frey and Le Manach… the dam of creativity burst open in a manner that’s unmistakably Big Magic. Set aside plenty of time to linger in the communal spaces from the 18th c chinoiserie-wrapped fireplace lounge to the beguiling interior courtyard, veiled with a leafy canopy of greens. If the mission was to create the relaxed feeling of a private residence with effortless charm, then we wholeheartedly concur its pursuits were a success.
Cheval Blanc
1st arrondissement
Poise and finesse join forces as the front-line ensemble for this Pont Neuf facing edifice, which possesses just as much beauty on the inside as its dignified facade suggests. As any one of the 72 sleek rooms will tell you, the outrageously good views of the Seine are a prime reason to add your name to the guest list at Cheval Blanc, but discerning travelers will know that the perks don’t stop here. The Dior Spa, for example, emits a daily siren call for visitors to experience all 100 feet of its mosaic tile adorned pool – the longest indoor hotel pool in all of Europe as a matter of fact. In spaces minimalist, yet never spartan, with handsome stone floors, straw-marquetry walls and marble-inlaid installations, the feeling is unquestionably Architectural Digest. But these tone-on-tone stretches are oft interrupted by riotous moments of primary color. Consider the lobby, with its contemporary 12-feet-high renditions of the Eiffel Tower offset by print-happy sofas in chartreuse, mustard and cinnamon hues. Modern art, designer sculptures, tactile materials and sweeping views of Paris are central to the experience here. Then again, so is the food. Cheval Blanc is kitted out with four buzzy restaurants that the entire city has been talking about since the hotel opened its doors in fall 2021. In a word, the place is Utopia.
Hotel Providence
10th arrondissement
Chutzpah, spunk, the ole razzle dazzle… Hotel Providence has got ’em all. The 1854 building feels like a dimly lit Wes Anderson set with its smoky botanical wallpapers, vintage velvet sofas, sunburst headboards, fabric-cloaked lampshades and well-accoutermented bars in each room so you can try your hand at expertly guided mixology while overlooking the rooftops of Paris. In short, the darkly romantic ambiance has restored our faith in the enduring magnetism of bohemian brouhaha. While the 18 retro rooms are cozily snug, you never feel cramped. Perhaps its the rarified aesthetics in each, which perpetually feel like they have secrets to reveal (and moments of exclusivity to preserve). Then again, it could be the exotic scent of candied nectar and honey imbuing you with comfortable stillness. You wouldn’t be the first to ponder if a scratch ‘n’ sniff element is at play at the Hotel Providence, and indeed, it’s a harmonious medley of tuberose, wood fire, and warm mint tea you’re detecting throughout your stay. Equally euphoric is a dining experience at the hotel’s informal cafe-brasserie, whose generous terrace encourages long, lazy afternoons with two French traditions: unfussy fare and unabashed people-watching.
Boutique hotels and luxury digs are having the biggest comeback we’ve seen since Gen Z met crop tops. And while mining for diamonds isn’t such a cursed affair in a place like Paris, volume tends to override good sense much of the time. Rest assured, these vetted abodes are the City of Love’s bona fide crown jewels. Which one will be your pick?
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