Hotel de Montesquieu

The Hôtel de Montesquieu, an elegant boutique hotel just off the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, is a particularly fine expression of the Haussmannian vision. Its design adheres to the Baron’s rules — a symmetrical cut-stone facade, a height of no more than six stories, decorative balconies, and attic apartments on the uppermost level. While the collective objective is uniformity, the hotel’s interiors are one-of-a-kind, balancing traditional charm with a pared-down, almost minimalist sensibility.

Suites have their fair share of antique furnishings, sumptuous brocade drapery, and original French artwork, but they’re modern, too, with pale parquet flooring and bold accent walls in shades of burnt ochre, mustard yellow, and charcoal gray. Some have balconies and sleek four-poster beds, while others have seating areas with mint-green paneling and jewel-toned sofas. The attic-level rooms are cozy, quaint, and sunshine-filled. On the ground floor, a space reserved for a shopping gallery in classic Haussmannian style, the Hôtel de Montesquieu features a series of opulent lounges for breakfast, tea, and cocktails.