Soho House Paris

Soho House has a knack for finding buildings with character, but they’ve outdone themselves with Soho House Paris. This 19th-century apartment building in Pigalle, the former red-light district turned nightlife playground, is distinctive enough on its own terms — but it turns out it was once inhabited by the family of the writer, artist, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. Today it’s been given the Soho House treatment, which means its style resembles an English country house with an urban Parisian edge, plus a wealth of inspiration from Santo Sospir, Cocteau’s Cap Ferrat villa — and from the Art Deco style that’s more or less synonymous with Parisian luxury.

Rooms range from the Tiny Attic to the Big Boudoir, and while they place a strong emphasis on visual impact, they don’t neglect comfort — you won’t mistake Soho House Paris for one of the city’s grand palace hotels, but it’s full of thoughtful little luxuries and unobtrusive modern conveniences.

As lovely as the rooms are, it’s the common spaces that make up the bulk of Soho House’s appeal. Club members — of which you are one during your stay — have access to an impressively equipped (and staffed) fitness program, as well as a steam room and sauna. A substantial art collection adorns spaces like the Winter Garden, the Petit Salon, and the Pool Terrace, where members and guests dine and drink. And the basement Cabaret Room, a performance and events space, is pure Moulin Rouge fantasy.