Review of Hotel Ares Eiffel, by Hermione Cameron

Set in a beautiful Belle Epoque Haussman building, The Hotel Ares Eiffel is so discreet even taxi drivers and shopkeepers rack their brains to tell you where it is. Think of it as your secret address in the heart of Paris. It's hidden in a tiny, winding side street off Avenue La Motte-Picquet near the Champ de Mars. There's a charming florists on the corner, a covered art and antiques market at the end of the road, pleasant restaurants round about and it's only a stroll from the Eiffel Tower.

The facilities

This boutique hotel is the brainchild of Italian-born owner-designer Enrico Casimiri, whose family create wonderful fabrics for wedding dresses, so expect an impeccable finish and stylish fixtures and fittings. Blending baroque themes of light and dark, the lobby is light-filled with contemporary crystal chandeliers, while the library, with its rich leather armchairs and sofas, is stocked with newspapers and books on design and photography.

In the morning, petit déjeuner is available from 7am -11 am and includes sausages and scrambled eggs, cold meats, cheeses, croissants and pastries, juices and cereals, which can also be served in your room. There's no restaurant here but staff on reception are polite and attentive and always willing to make restaurant bookings, arrange excursions and book theatre tickets.

The rooms

The baroque theme extends to the forty rooms, totally redesigned in 2007. Silky wall coverings, sleek wood floors, velvet curtains and bed covers, crisp white bed linen, delicious lamp lighting, and a 'Do Not Disturb' sign at the touch of a button, all suggest an atmosphere of seduction and relaxation. The elegant Poltrona Frau furniture, Bang & Olufsen televisions, and complimentary Wi-Fi for all guests, completes the picture.

The bathroom features both a tub and walk-in shower with Versace-designed wall tiles in subtle shades. There are rich Hermès toiletries and a heated rail with fluffy white towels. Both the junior suites enjoy views of the Eiffel Tower across the rooftops of Paris but one suite also boasts a circular revolving bed from which to admire it.