Merci à notre rédactrice de voyage Kathy Chin Leong d’avoir visité la ville que j’appelais ma maison. Paris
It is an understatement to say that King Edward VII of England loved Paris. Records reveal that while waiting to ascend the throne, the Prince of Wales stayed in this hotel in 1877. For a season, it was his residence as he patronized the opera, restaurants, and all things associated with the radical modernization of the city. Word on the street was that he was a horrible politician but the most Parisian of all the British nobles.
Today, Hotel Édouard 7 is aptly named after the man who adored luxury. Located in the popular opera district, this four-star, eight-story property takes the concept of a “boutique hotel” to new levels. Each of the 69 hotel rooms is uniquely clothed with interiors that intersect 19th-century design with 21st-century practicalities. Nespresso machines, tech outlets, and electric towel warmers are at home with portraits of aristocrats and bronze animals.
King Eddie would have bequeathed many Instagram “likes” to the hotel’s design and art-forward agenda. Step into the chandeliered lobby and notice how the dark and white walls, a marble black and white floor, and green velvet chairs and couches partner seamlessly. A contemporary photo of a woman in a vivid orange dress hangs opposite a bust of a dignified noble. You don’t come to the Édouard just to sleep, you come to experience the cool, yet historic vibe.
Paris delivers hundreds of lodging options for the urban globetrotter. With limited space to expand, independent hotels often cannot help but offer squishy rooms where you practically fall on the bed once you open the door. Here, rooms are of substantial and varying sizes from 270 to over 500 square feet.
By the time we arrive at the hotel, Room 406 isn’t ready, but one of the senior managers assures me the wait is worth it. “It’s my favorite,” he whispers. After we check in, I understand why.
At 538 square feet, Room 406 is one of only ten hotel suites. All are gorgeous, but this one is a corner unit where everyone’s favorite feature is the wrought-iron, flower-box balcony. It wraps around the entire suite forming a giant L where I can practically take a stroll. The striking view of the Garnier Opera House is just as quintessential a postcard as the Eiffel Tower after dark. We have not just a sighting of the opera house but 19th-century architectural views of apartments and shops.
When you come in to the suite, you step through a sleek entryway with a living room adjacent to a king-sized bedroom on your right. The white marble bathroom consists of a deep soaking tub and double sink with plenty of counter space to spread your makeup as you get ready for the opera.
Lavish draperies, a book cabinet with novels in English and French, and a small bronze horse statue with an accent light give off the impression you are in someone’s apartment. There is a writing table with a folder and stationery. Wish I had time to write a letter, but the nearby Alain Ducasse chocolate shop and Fragonard perfume museum are beckoning.
In the bedroom, the snowy duvet, pillow-top mattress, decorative pillows, and flexible reading lights make me want to sleep in and order breakfast in bed.
I bask in the living room in house slippers and robe, imagining the type of parties Edward may have held here. I prop up my feet on the leather couch beneath artwork of French noblemen in a forest. This is the kind of ambiance that makes a person feel as though she should light up a cigar and sip some cognac. A pair of lemon yellow chairs with a matching lemon table is ideal for sipping a morning espresso.
Anne and Agathe Jousse, a mother-daughter duo, are owners of the property under B Signature Hotels and Resorts. They have spared no expense in furnishing rooms they would love to stay in themselves. And I love the fact that many of their general managers in this male-dominated industry are women.
While the hotel is opulent, concern for the environment is a priority. There’s housekeeping upon guest request and refillable soap and shampoo containers. Energy efficiency means that lights and heating come on only when you slide your hotel key into a key card outlet. All B Signature properties have earned the coveted Green Key certificate for sustainability, not an easy feat.
Like many hotels in dense Paris, there’s no swimming pool to speak of, but a gym is available to burn off pesky chocolate calories. Chances are you will be using the suite’s soaking tub to steep your feet after 20,000 steps, the average number of steps taken by a tourist daily.
Here on a rainy day? The lounge offers cushy seating and tables for cocktailing or hanging out. You can read, journal, or people watch through the window in the library, tucked off the lobby. In the morning, 28 Euro pays for a streamlined buffet breakfast with part American, part European fare.
Paris? It is a good idea, anytime. And likewise, Hotel Édouard 7 is a good idea, anytime.
- To learn more and book your stay visit Hotel Édouard 7
