Le Pavillon des Lettres

From the same family that brought you the Pavillon de la Reine, here’s another pavillon entirely, the Pavillon des Lettres. This one, in the 8th arrondissement, is styled as a literary hotel, each of its twenty-six rooms named for a well-known author, from Baudelaire to Zola, Ibsen to Kafka. But though its luxuries may be subtle, it’s by no means only a hotel for bookish types.

For one thing, its location, just off the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, places it in close proximity to some of Paris’s most decadent luxury shopping, as well as Sotheby’s and Christies. And its quietly elegant contemporary interiors are inviting enough for curling up with a good book, they’re probably better experienced with a little bit of close company.

The sight of a contemporary-styled Parisian boutique hotel is becoming more and more common, but there’s still some pleasure to be had in seeing it done well. This one steers well clear of any tendency towards stark minimalism, opting instead for rich colors and textures that pay homage to the classics without imitating them.

And while those top-floor junior suites may look slightly awkward, hemmed in under 45-degree mansard roofs, it’s a price worth paying for a view over the Parisian rooftops. Stop by the library in the morning on your way out for a bit of breakfast, and again on your way in for a drink from the honor bar.