Review of Relais Christine, by Nadia Latif

St Germain was once the bohemian epicentre of Paris. These days much edgier districts have taken the crown, but what remains is a hotchpotch of art galleries, restaurants and designer boutiques that showcase St Germain's more mature side. The Relais Christine fits in perfectly with this grown-up incarnation; it is polished and pristine, housed in a building that dates back to the 13th-century and enclosed in its own private courtyard.

Inside, everything has been beautifully preserved and restored. The beams overhead still have original paintings on them, and many of the communal spaces have a lovely, medieval feel to them. Warm reds, creams and browns preside, with plenty of dark wood on show and squashy armchairs. This isn't a hotel for haute-design freaks, but what it lacks in cutting-edge style it makes up for with warm hospitality and a private, homely air.

A welcome surprise beneath the lobby and lounge area is the sophisticated fitness centre and spa. With a range of massages and beauty treatments, state-of-the-art equipment, a huge sauna and even a jacuzzi; unwinding after a hard day's shopping in the surrounding streets poses no problem.

There are 51 rooms, divided into seven room types. Newly renovated, they carry the same unoffending palette as the communal areas. Each room has a flat-screen television, DVD player and WIFI access. The fresh fruit basket on arrival is a lovely touch. Bathrooms are great, top-to-toe marble, spotlessly clean and with a generous selection of Molton Brown toiletries.

There's a small garden at the back of the hotel, which is accessed only by the two Garden Suites, a Deluxe Room (number 11) and a Superior Room (number 12). It is quaint, compact and sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the streets outside. The wooden terrace is a bonus, and perfect for a sunny summer breakfast in Paris.