Hôtel du Petit Moulin | cheriecity.co.uk

A Wonderful Stay at Hotel du Petit Moulin Paris

April 6, 2015 by cheriecity

A stay in Paris doesn’t get much more romantic or magical than at Hotel du Petit Moulin in the stylish Haut-Marais.

Housed in what was once one of the oldest boulangeries in Paris, Hotel du Petit Moulin is the very definition of a hidden gem. Only a few clues give away its hotel status, so it has the intimate feel of a private residence.

Design

The hotel’s charming, 17th-century Parisian architecture is brought to life with creative, otherworldly interiors by renowned couturier Christian Lacroix. It has a petite, maze-like appearance with just 16 rooms and one junior suite all designed uniquely with bold digital prints, catwalk sketches and sumptuous fabrics.

Hotel du Petit Moulin may seem like an independent hotel, however it has two stunning sister hotels that I’ve also had the pleasure of staying at – Pavillon de la Reine on the nearby Place des Vosges and Pavillon des Lettres. A perk of this union is that guests are welcome to use the fantastic Spa de la Reine facilities – it’s definitely worth stopping by for a spot of pampering.

Hotel du Petit Moulin has a beautifully-designed lounge with a cosy reading nook as well as an Honesty Bar where breakfast is served in the morning. Even the corridors have cool design features such as a dress illustration next to our door and monochrome polka-dot carpet that made me think of Yayoi Kusama.

The Room

Our Deluxe Room on the third floor was truly atmospheric with an exquisite moon and stars digital print above the bed and soft gold walls. The popular Moon and Stars Room is often requested by returning guests and I can see why they’ve fallen in love with it.

Room features include a comfy queen-size bed covered in sumptuous linen, large Samsung LCD TV, writing desk, Lacroix illustrated notepad, minibar, air-conditioning, a complimentary bottle of mineral water and free wifi.

The room is unexpectedly spacious with a living area covered entirely with black and white toile de Jouy fabric, offset with pop-style orange felt swivel chairs. The open wardrobe with plenty of hanging and storage space can also be sectioned off with a curtain and even the light switches have the toile de Jouy pattern for that total immersion effect.

I also loved that some wall edges are covered in mirrors (I never imagined how handy they would be) and that the bedside lights have a sensor, so you simply give them a regal wave to dim or switch off the light, rather than scrambling for the switch.

Most Paris hotel rooms that I’ve stayed in usually feel very contemporary, so it was a real pleasure to look up at the ornate cornice above the bed and fling open the traditional windows to the sounds of the street below in the morning.

The Bathroom

The large bathroom has an urban-country feel with cream painted wood-panelled walls, black slate tiles, a deep claw-foot bathtub with shower, extra-wide towels and face cloths, thick bathrobes, slippers and a set of Hermès Eau d’Orange Verte bathroom products.

Breakfast

After a blissful night’s sleep (and a glorious lie-in), we headed down the bar for a typically Parisian breakfast. The colourful bar has a vintage French feel with a trompe l’oeil statement wall and a traditional zinc bar.

We were served a generous morning feast of fruit salad, French set yoghurt, artisan baguette with President butter and cheese and a basket full of exquisite pastries, with Mariage Frères Earl Grey tea and freshly-squeezed orange juice.

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a table with cereal, nuts and fresh fruits that you can help yourself to. Breakfast is 16 Euros per person and is definitely worth ordering to start the day feeling happy and well-fed – it can also be taken in the comfort of your room.

As Hotel du Petit Moulin is a small hotel, there’s no restaurant, however you can indulge in room service with a menu of French classics such as onion soup and confit duck from a good neighbourhood bistro.

The Marais

The Marais is a haven for foodies, so you don’t need to stray too far for a memorable meal. Nearby, you can find American neo-diner Rachel’s, Grazie by merci, Le Mary-Celeste cocktail bar, historic foodie spot Le Marché des Enfants Rouge and my two new favourites Profiterole Chérie and Riviera-inspired tapas bar Les Nicois.

This hip part of the Marais is also home to some of the city’s best art galleries, independent boutiques and discount stores for French designer brands such as Alaïa, Zadig & Voltaire and Sandro. It’s quickly become my favourite part of Paris to stay in for a romantic, relaxing break.

Hotel du Petit Moulin is the perfect urban bolthole that makes you feel immersed in Parisian life. If you love the Marais, fashion and plenty of privacy, this is the place you should call home when in Paris.

Stays at Hotel du Petit Moulin from €195 per room per night, based on two sharing on a B&B basis. www.hotelpetitmoulinparis.com: +33 1 42 74 10 10.

Chérie City was a guest of Hotel du Petit Moulin

All photos by Chérie City

Paris

Guest Post: A Guide to Le Marais, Paris

March 2, 2011 by cheriecity

Coralie Aude Grassin discovers the delights of Paris’ chic, historical quartier, Le Marais…

A few things to do in the neighbourhood – a splendid place to stroll around with buildings made of golden stone, sculptures above the doors, shops, cafés and restaurants aplenty:

– Walk through the historical Jewish quarters – the main street is the rue des Rosiers. Stop at the traditional pâtisseries for a cake, bagel, or beautiful bread…

– Alternatively, enjoy a brunch or afternoon tea at Mariage Frères. I love their colonial decoration, beautiful wooden cases sheltering hundreds of different creations…

Pictures are not permitted but look closely at the reflection in the teapot to have a glimpse of the tea room with its glass roof!

We chose the classical brunch (32€). There is enough to be shared by two: a pot of tea of your choice, a freshly squeezed fruit juice, toasted brioche with their refined tea jellies, scrambled eggs with matcha tea, pink prawns brochette, spring rolls of smoked salmon, and a home made pastry (we chose the chocolate mousse cake with a filling of wild strawberries – unforgettable).

– Are you a museum fan? Try the Musée Carnavalet for a glimpse of the history of Paris – fascinating.

– Go street art hunting! You will find lots of surprises on the walls. If you do not know where to start, try with these Space Invader mosaics very popular in that neighbourhood.

– Let yourself be seduced by the perfumes of the Artisan Parfumeur on rue des Francs Bourgeois. Each of them are like a poem. Try those based on tea and blackberry!

– You will feel like knocking at all the doors – many have those gorgeous knobs…

– Look out for the 1900s pastry shops and bakeries. Though most have been transformed into shops, their handpainted illustrations are grade II listed – worth stopping!

Stay at Hotel du Petit Moulin, a luxurious city hideaway in the heart of Le Marais, designed by Christian Lacroix.

Where are your favourite places in Le Marais? Have you stayed at Hotel du Petit Moulin? Share your experiences below…

Coralie Aude Grassin writes the blog, Tea Time in Wonderland.

Edinburgh, Hotels - Design, Hotels - Luxury, Milan, News, Paris

The Best Fashion Hotels in Europe

March 19, 2010 by cheriecity

Fashion hotels are spreading like wild fire and any designer worth their salt has translated their style DNA into interiors and furnishings.

It seems like a no brainer that fashion designers should try their hand at designing hotels. They have commercially proved their innate sense of style and obsessive eye for detail and are already tuned in to their customers’ dreams and aspirations. Plus having a fashion designer on board makes hotels just that little bit more desirable for style conscious travellers.

Claridges, London

Diane Von Fürstenberg is the latest designer to get the interiors bug, as she has redesigned twenty rooms and suites for London hotel Claridges, due to be unveiled in June 2010.

While Diane is the embodiment of all things New York and glam, she has revealed that some of her past collections have been inspired by the hotel’s Art Deco grandeur. There’s no word yet on how the rooms will appear, but my bet is on bold prints and vibrant colours, a copy of her new Proud to be Woman compilation CD and perhaps a remodelled ‘wrap dress’ bathrobe.

Maison Moschino, Milan

Over in Milan, after two years of development, Maison Moschino has finally opened on the Viale Monte Grappa. The surreal, romantic hotel is an ode to Moschino’s design philosophy and is just as flirty, vibrant and striking as their collections.

Designed by Rosella Jardini and the Moschino creative team, the four-storey hotel is located in an old neoclassical railway station dating back to 1840, and offers 54 individually designed rooms and 15 suites. Most of the rooms have whimsical names like Clouds, Rose, Little Red Riding Hood, Sweet and Dress.

The hotel has a theatrical, Alice in Wonderland vibe, with oversized teacup tables, suspended flying bees, handbag lamps, a red dress bed and a surreal four-poster bed overgrown with trees. The room on my wishlist would be the one with a bed of roses and petal-covered chandelier.

The super cool Clandestino restaurant is typically on-trend and innovative with chef Moreno Cedroni’s unusual creation of ‘colourful sushi’. Breakfast is presented as a ‘Mos kit’ – a combination of 4,6 or 8 seasonal combinations inside a ceremonial lacquered box. The restaurant goes through to a garden terrace and the hotel also provides a bar, spa and gym.

Maison Moschino is like the ultimate fashion fantasy world and would be best suited to travellers who like their hotels with modern, ironic touches and an artistic concept rather than traditional luxury.

Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh

Many fashion hotels are as reassuringly as expensive and exclusive as their catwalk looks. As much as I long to, I think I’ll have to befriend a mysterious benefactor before booking into the Armani Hotels in Milan and Dubai, Donatella’s Palazzo Versace, Ralph Lauren’s Round Hill House in Jamaica, Oscar de la Renta’s Tortuga Bay in the Dominican Republic or the chic Bulgari Resort in Bali.

However, don’t be disappointed, as there are equally cool fashion hotels almost on city break route. Hotel Missoni in Edinburgh’s Old Town has been on my hotel wish list since it opened last summer and I’m determined to pay a visit this year.

The seven-storey hotel on George IV Bridge is a vibrant combination of Italian style and Scottish heritage, with Charles Rennie Macintosh chairs and staff wearing custom-made Missoni kilts.

The 136 colour bursting rooms and suites were designed by Rosita Missoni and feature the label’s signature bold patterns and textiles. The rooms include everything you could want for a comfortable stay and they seem to considered how annoying and inhospitable it is to experience a minefield of hidden extras.

All rooms include two items of laundry, local calls, movies, high speed internet, the entire contents of the mini bar and the use of an iPod dock, Nespresso machine and Missoni bathrobe and slippers.

The top floor suite, Rosa, has the best views of the city, overlooking the castle and Rosita Missoni stays there whenever she’s in town.

Hotel Missoni’s first floor restaurant Cucina, a collaboration with Giorgio Locatelli, has become popular with locals and serves up seasonal, contemporary Italian dishes, created by head chef Mattia Camerani.

The bar serves Vestri hot chocolate (exclusively from the renowned Florence chocolate shop) and claims to have the most authentic Italian coffee menu in Edinburgh.

Hotel du Petit Moulin & Hotel Bellechasse, Paris

Over in Paris, Christian Lacroix rules with two bijou residences – Hôtel du Petit Moulin, a former bakery in the Marais and Hôtel Bellechasse on the Left Bank.

Christian Lacroix’s elaborate, theatrical style is stamped all over the two hotels and the individually designed rooms feature painterly scenes, astrological motifs and vibrant illustration. The hotels are odes to diverse academic and cultural influences that have inspired his many collections over the years.

The hotel has a homely, intimate atmosphere and guests can mingle in the exclusive, private bar. At the Hôtel du Petit Moulin, Lacroix’s personal favorite is room 301 – the gold-and-black suite painted with a trompe l’oeil night sky.

At the Hôtel Bellechasse, jewel shades reign alongside sumptuous velvet drapes and beautifully illustrated ancient monuments, insects and playing cards. The dining room is one of the most ornate in Paris and the hotel is just a short walk from the museums and galleries along the Seine.

Lacroix’s decadent hotels would be perfect locations for romantic trips to Paris and a totally unique fantasy experience. With the departure of Christian Lacroix from the fashion world, it really would be like living in a time gone by.