On every trip to Paris, I always seem to gravitate to colette on the rue Saint-Honoré, the gourmet food emporiums of the Madeleine and the Palais de Tokyo, so where better to stay than the ultra chic 8th arrondissement.
The Pavillon des Lettres has been open for just over a month, so I was excited to be one of the first bloggers to ruffle up the pillows and make myself at home.
The Hotel
A stylish boutique hotel, the Pavillon des Lettres pays homage to literary greats and its historic location on a quiet street just steps away from the Élysée Palace makes it perfect for getting caught up in the romantic, epic tales of the past.
The Pavillon des Lettres is the sister hotel of the established and highly regarded Pavillon de la Reine in the Place des Vosges.
Designed in sumptuous colours and textures by Didier Benderli, the 26 guest rooms are dedicated to a different iconic writer, from A-Z. We stayed in La Fontaine, dedicated to the great poet of the 17th century – an edition of his collection of work, The Fables, was left on the desk for bedtime reading.
The Room
Our superior room was decorated in earthy, clay shades with luxurious touches – a croc effect silk throw and metallic headboard, fine patterned carpet and a soft velvet chair. The room is personalised with quotes from The Fables stencilled onto the painted canvas wall – a lovely touch.
The bed was heavenly and plush with luxurious linen, plump pillows and a hi-tech alarm clock, just in case you sleep a bit too soundly.
The hotel also offers a guests an iPad to use as a directory or for checking up on emails and Paris happenings (there is also complimentary wifi). It really improves the city experience when you can search for an exhibition or restaurant online and ask the Pavillon Concierge to help arrange a reservation.
The superior rooms are petite, like most in Paris, but the designer makes good use of the space and it feels cosy rather than restrictive. The only tiny improvement would be an electric socket close to a mirror, as styling my hair proved difficult (the bathroom only has a shaver plug).
The Bathroom
The bathroom door at the Pavillon des Lettres adheres to the new design trend of a glass door, making it almost part of the bedroom. Although this may not be to everyone’s taste, it adds a seductive edge to the bookish theme of the hotel.
Of course, there is a light curtain to draw across the door when occupied and the engraved inscription on the door continues the literary design. The toiletries were plentiful, generously sized and by Plantation London.
Breakfast
After a perfect, sound sleep we tore ourselves away from the cloud-like bed and got ready for a long, lazy and indulgent breakfast in the salon.
The buffet breakfast is small but perfectly formed and of exceptional quality. There is a selection of everything you might like for breakfast – scrambled eggs and streaky bacon, mini patisserie and baguette, cold meats, a cheese board, cereal, dried fruit, yoghurt and juices.
The breakfast staff were friendly and attentive and brought us a large silver jug of perfectly roasted coffee served with hot milk. Another treat to wake us up was the delicious, naturally sweet freshly squeezed orange juice – what better way to start the day!
The Pavillon des Lettres makes the most wonderful buttery and rich scrambled eggs with crispy bacon – the best I’ve ever had in Paris!
They have also paid close attention to detail with pleasing touches such as a cute little pot of Beurre d’Isigny and an exquisite box of Alain Milliat jam, marmalade and honey.
I also couldn’t help marvelling over the designer coffee pot and milk jug and the most lovely matte striped china – very chic.
The Salon
The salon is the heart of the hotel’s literary spirit and is perfect for relaxing after a long day exploring the city or for a pre-dinner apéritif.
Adding to the homely atmosphere is the honesty bar, where you can pour a drink and record it on a tab – an honourable, welcoming touch.
The open fire is so inviting that we almost considered ‘accidentally’ missing our Eurostar train home to sit curled up on the enveloping velvet seats with a book for just another day.
There is no shortage of reading material in the salon, as the Pavillon keep the tables stocked up with French and international newspapers, Madame Figaro and T- the New York Times Style Magazine.
There is no restaurant at the Pavillon des Lettres as such, but you can order room service if you’re intent on not leaving the warmth of the hotel.
The Pavillon des Lettres is an ideal city bolt-hole for couples looking for a privacy in a luxurious setting or solo business travellers who value a relaxed and homely hotel with character.
For a hotel in its early stage of opening, the Pavillon des Lettres already feels like an long-established residence and a part of the neighbourhood.
Its understated, warm atmosphere and refined central location make it a perfect choice for a very special, memorable stay in Paris.
Pavillon des Lettres, 12 rue des Saussaies, 75008 Paris.
Photos by Cherie City
* Cherie City was a guest of the Pavillon des Lettres.