Montalembert, Paris, France
Montalembert 4 Stars
“Paris’s original boutique hotel is still setting trends after a recent refurbishment, in a discreet location on the Left Bank.”
Hotel Overview
Review of Montalembert, by Nadia Latif
The Montalembert was the first of its kind in Paris, the original boutique hotel. It attracts music and arty types in droves, and still manages to stand out from the crowd despite fierce competition throughout the city. This is helped partly by its fab Left Bank location, in the heart of Saint Germain; the Lourve and the Orsay museums are within easy walking distance.
The interior is a blend of sleek modern lines and a hint of Art Deco, which fits in perfectly with the beautiful 1920's building it's housed in. There's a very popular restaurant that serves French-Asian fusion cuisine, and a menu that changes monthly. A petite library area can be reserved for parties of up to 10 people, for cocktails, business gatherings or afternoon tea. In warmer weather there's a lovely terrace, dotted with bay trees, where breakfast and lunch can be taken.
The 56 bedrooms and suites come in two distinct styles. Some have Louis Philippe style furniture, and a more traditional feel, whilst others carry more modern, sleek lines. The facilities do not vary however; all have at least a queen sized bed, flat-screen television and DVD player and complimentary WIFI. The bathrooms are great, with deep bathtubs (except rooms 5 and 6) and Molton Brown toiletries. The suites boast Bang and Olufsen music systems, Nespresso coffee machines and in some cases, romantic views over the Eiffel Tower.
Facilities
Who stays here?
R.E.M (it's one of Michael Stipe's favourites).
Come for...
- Showing off your sense of style
- An apartment-sized suite
- The courtyard garden
Not Suitable for...
- Those who like it quaint and cosy
Children
The hotel welcomes children, and staff will leave a teddy bear in the room for young guests.
Eating in
The restaurant is a bit conceptual, serving dishes in four categories (Ter, Mer, Vegetal or Soleil) and in either bite-size or meal-size.
The Press Say
"The Montalembert rightly prides itself on its service, which is both relaxed and efficient." Buisness Traveller 07
Reviews
Review of Montalembert, by Joanna Monkhouse
The Montalembert was the first of the 'boutique' hotels in Paris and after its recent refurbishment is running once more alongside its imitators that had begun to overtake the original. The spirit remains the same but the décor is a seamless blend of modern design with the period art deco features of the 1926 building.
The polished marble floor of the boutique hotel's lobby reflects the attitude of the attentive Prada-clad staff. A salon area with low backed white leather chairs and an angular velvet sofa leads into the stylish café and bar, hung with large black and white photographs and furnished with dark wood. The fire burning in the intimate library draws guests. In summer months, the café also serves on the terrace at the front of the boutique hotel.
Two tiny Parisian lifts (each just big enough for three, without bags, if you breathe in) pass the pretty ironwork balustrade and the Deco windows of the staircase. Solid dark wood cupboards and high bed heads dominate the modern rooms at this boutique hotel, softened by the taupe, purple and blue fabrics. The traditional rooms have retained the pre-refurbishment Louis Phillipe antique furniture, and have a cream, cinnamon and olive colour scheme. Both types feature imaginative, contemporary lighting.
The Montalembert's 50 rooms and 6 suites have luxurious bathrooms with deep baths, marble floors, acres of mirror on the walls and tall pivoting ones. The combination of mirrors, down lighters and chrome can have you reaching for your shades early in the morning. Satellite TV, VCR, mini bar and safe are discreetly housed inside the large cupboards and internet, phone and fax lines are standard. The boutique hotel's turn down service also turns on the music system in the evenings, a thoughtful touch.
Popular with the fashion crowd throughout the year, reservations during the shows must be made far in advance. Impeccably placed just off the Rue du Bac and the Boulevard St Germain, the boutique hotel is a ten minute walk west of the galleries and boutiques of St Germain, south of the Musee du Louvre and south-east of the Musee d'Orsay.
Review of Hotel Montalembert, by Jamie Dunford Wood
The Montalembert was the first of the 'boutique' hotels in Paris and after its recent refurbishment is running once more alongside its imitators that had begun to overtake the original. The spirit remains the same but the décor is a seamless blend of modern design with the period art deco features of the 1926 building.
Popular with the fashion crowd throughout the year, reservations during the shows must be made far in advance. Impeccably placed just off the Rue du Bac and the Boulevard St Germain, the Montalembert is a 10 minute walk west of the galleries and boutiques of St. Germain, south of the Musee du Louvre and south-east of the Musee d'Orsay. The facilities
The polished marble floor of the lobby reflects the attitude of the attentive Prada-clad staff. A salon area with low backed white leather chairs and an angular velvet sofa leads into the stylish café and bar, hung with large black and white photographs and furnished with dark wood. The fire burning in the intimate library draws guests. In summer months, the café also serves on the terrace at the front of the boutique hotel.
Two tiny Parisian lifts (each just big enough for three, without bags, if you breathe in) pass the pretty ironwork balustrade and the Deco windows of the staircase. Solid dark wood cupboards and high bed heads dominate the modern rooms at this boutique hotel, softened by the taupe, purple and blue fabrics. The traditional rooms have retained the pre-refurbishment Louis Phillipe antique furniture, and have a cream, cinnamon and olive color scheme. Both types feature imaginative, contemporary lighting.
The Montalembert's 50 rooms and 6 suites have luxurious bathrooms with deep baths, marble floors, acres of mirror on the walls and tall pivoting ones. The combination of mirrors, downlighters and chrome can have you reaching for your shades early in the morning. Satellite TV, VCR, minibar and safe are discreetly housed inside the large cupboards and internet, phone and fax lines are standard. The boutique hotel's turn down service also turns on the music system in the evenings, a thoughtful touch.