Location: 12 Boulevard Haussmann, which is in the ninth arrondissement. It takes about 20mins to walk to the stunning Palais Royal and the Louvre and a further 10mins to enter into the Latin Quarter. The hotel is situated close to Opera and Richelieu Drouot metro stations. The journey from the Eurostar terminal takes just minutes in a taxi.
Accommodation: 163 luxury air-conditioned rooms including Club and Executive rooms and junior and Haussmann suites.
Room rate for 2000: from £190 for a regular double or single room. From £460 for a senior suite.
History: the property opened late in 1998 after a huge refurbishment. It dates back to 1927 but only the shell was retained after the renovations.
Decor: decidedly Art Deco with a glorious Belle Epoque era lift that sweeps past the hotel’s elegant staircase.
Staff: attentive but not intrusive. Front of house staff were polite and efficient. The maitre d’ was entertaining as well as helpful. Everyone was immaculately dressed.
Facilities: features in the rooms include en suite bathroom, remote control satellite TV, telephone and voicemail, radio, minibar, tea and coffee-making facilities, trouser press, hair dryer, safe and modem point.
Food: continental breakfast is £13 and buffet breakfast £15. Great choice of bakery. Evening meal menu caters for every taste and is eaten in the hotel’s street-facing restaurant with tables outside for people watchers.
Overall: This is a five-star establishment and consequently very expensive so it is ideal for special weekend breaks. The atmosphere was very relaxed despite the formality of the decor. The hotel manager said the acres of traditional looking furniture in the hotel were either exact copies of items that had originally been in the property or were original pieces that had been reconditioned. The overall effect made me feel like I was staying somewhere with authenticity and real style.