L'Hotel, Paris, France
L'Hotel 4 Stars
"The small, Left Bank garret hotel of Oscar Wilde fame is filled with treasures and intimate details – ideal for romantic liaisons.”
The Press Say
"It is still as deliciously decadent...Fantasy-inspiring rooms, from Madame de Merteuil’s 18th century boudoir to the sensual Pondichéry room." Sunday Times 06Hotel Overview
Review of L'Hotel, by Nadia Latif
Oscar Wilde drew his last breath in the downstairs lobby of L'Hotel. It is certainly not your run-of-the mill Parisian boutique, for many more reasons than its famous former occupant. The history of this place is infectious - indeed the General Manager, the rather wonderful Caroline, is on a one-woman mission to uncover all the intricate details, from the 17th-century foundations up. It has become part of the fabric of bohemian St Germain and fits perfectly with its locale - affluent and opulent, without being stuffy.
Other than the fabulous suites, many people pay a visit for the fine French dining. The restaurant is run by Phillipe Belissent (who has worked for the three Michelin-starred Ledoyen), and is a warm, cosy space that opens out onto a chic little terrace, complete with antiquated fountain. The bar area is equally snug - think velveteen chairs and mismatched sofas, brightly coloured cushions and mellow lamplight; it was made after-dinner drinks and is a favourite amongst low-key artists and hip Parisians.
The most recent edition is the spa area, which is reachable only via a curling stone stairwell that leads off the main lobby. It has a gorgeously 'olden-time' feel, thanks in part to the preservation of the natural stone foundations it's built around. The absolute best bit is a petite splash pool, which hotel guests must reserve to use; any romantic encounters a deux are guaranteed privacy.
The twenty rooms are something special. Each leads off the famous spiralling stairwell that reaches the height of the building. Walls are swathed in heavy silk, or hand-painted with turquoise and gold peacocks. Mahogany furniture, massive beds with luxe-fabric throws and precious trinkets are a feature of every one. The bathrooms are sybaritic - top-to-toe marble, with C-spa toiletries courtesy of its sister hotel, Cowley Manor. For the ultimate romantic break in Paris, L'Hotel is pretty hard to beat.
Facilities
Hotel Policies
Rooms
20Awards
One Michelin star; "Best Urban Hotel in the World" Harper's Bazaar 08Who stays here?
Oscar Wilde, famously, died here; his last words were reputed to be, "Either that wallpaper goes, or I do." Since then, it has been the favourite Parisian bolthole of Jim Morrison, Mick Jagger and Johnny Depp.
Come for...
- Seduction
- Room 62's roof terrace
Not Suitable for...
- The unlucky in love
Children
Children are welcome to stay at the hotel. An extra bed can be provided for the Junior and Deluxe suites. The hotel restaurant can also prepare a special children's meal upon request.
Eating in
The seductive little restaurant is on the up after is was handed to a young chef who trained at the three-Michelin starred Ledoyen restaurant. The jewel-box of a bar is perfect for murmured indiscretions.
Reviews
Review of L'Hotel, by The TI Review Team
By TI reviewer Katie Thomas
L'Hotel stands out from the myriad galleries and art dealers along the Rue des Beaux Arts by an odd metallic ram's head perched nobly above its arched doorway. This gem of a Paris boutique hotel does not disappoint. Even the floor in the entrance hall demands attention. A marble sun motif is lit up by sunlight streaming through a window high above. Cast your eye upwards to see the six-floor high Grecian-frieze cupola. It's incredible.
Try not to spend too long in the entrance hall, as there's plenty to see in the rest of the hotel. The sexy bar area is decked out in plush velvets with swathes of aubergine and scarlet. It is dimly-lit and flanked by black and white photographs of its equally vampish visitors, like Johnny Depp, Mick Jagger and Winona Ryder. The lounge area is romantic and more feminine, with overstuffed settees, love-seats and a bookshelf stocked with antique leather-bound French classics.
A pair of green taffeta drapes, cinched coyly on one side, provides a peek into the intimate neo-Victorian restaurant. L'Hotel's glass-roofed eatery serves traditional French fare. At the rear, a set of French doors leads to a chic outdoor terrace. It's a charming spot with a scattering of iron-wrought tables for dining or daydreaming the afternoon away.
Downstairs, the hotel boasts a secluded indoor pool. Only two people are allowed into the candlelit space at any one time, making it a particularly romantic spot. A small sauna leads off from the pool area, too.
There are 20 rooms at L'Hotel, all individually decorated by famed interior designer Jacques Garcia. Each channels a particular person or theme from the Belle Époque. All are chic and well-proportioned, though a few are worth a special mention.
The infamous Oscar Wilde Room was in fact where the Irish novelist supposedly died. Nowadays, the room is a tribute to him, with a shrine-like writing desk, several handwritten letters, leather-bound tomes and quirky portraits. An exquisite Art Nouveau peacock mural is positioned just above the bed and a private terrace looks out over Parisian rooftops.
The Mistinguett Room, named after a 1920's French actress and comedian, is a homage to all things Art Deco. Burnt orange curtains frame, though rather eccentrically, the tall French windows. Flapper girls frolic across the neutral walls. The bed is pure Cubist, with a boxy, mirrored head and foot boards resembling a pair of metropolitan skylines.
Finally, there's the Oriental Room, which features heavy carved wooden furniture and silk-covered walls. Standing sentry by the elegantly draped window is an enormous blue and white porcelain vase, nearly a metre and a half tall. All in all, this boutique hotel offers a real twist of sumptuous originality in the heart of Paris.