Rooms

Jean-Louis Deniot is a young designer with a growing reputation for breathing spectacular new life into hallowed premises - including the Coco Chanel suite at the Ritz. Hotel Récamier was lucky to get him. His bold geometric lines and subtle shades of cream, grey and gold combine with clever lighting and sun mirrors to produce soothing spaces.

The 24 ensuite bedrooms are spread over 6 levels, each with a different theme. The 6th floor is ‘Black and White’, the 5th ‘Red/Coral’, the 4th ‘Chic ethnic’, the 3rd ‘Grey/Blue' (think Gustavian), the 2nd ‘Golden’ and the 1st ‘Soft Green'. All rooms are adorned with original artwork by photographer Claire de Virieu or by artists from the nearby Galerie Lumas.

There are 4 different categories of rooms, one of each type on every floor. The smallest - and none is very large - is the Classic, which faces to the rear, so views are not the most romantic. Next is the Tradition, which looks onto the courtyard terrace and is the only one to have a separate toilet. We stayed in this on the 3rd floor and loved it - it felt much more spacious than its 15 sqm. The Deluxe has the coveted view over Place Saint-Sulpice. Finally, the much larger Club has windows onto both the square and courtyard.

Rooms at the front of the hotel have Juliet balconies - opt for one of these if you can. For friends or families, the Deluxe and Club can be booked together to create a lavish suite with a private connecting corridor.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast (extra charge) is served from 7am, and is copious. It can be served in the salon or delivered to your room, and is beautifully presented with the finest ingredients. If the weather is fine we recommend breakfast on the terrace; otherwise enjoy a decadently long meal in your room, with silver pots of steaming drinks, airy viennoiseries and baguettes, fresh fruit and juice, yoghurt and cheese, and eggs cooked to your liking.

Complimentary tea, coffee, fruit juice and cake are served daily in the salon at tea-time (4pm), and a limited room service menu is available until 10:45pm, but for all other meals you will have to venture out. The area is not exactly short on eateries, and staff are delighted to provide suggestions and reserve tables. On their recommendation we tried the Café Tournon (18 rue de Tournon) and enjoyed an archetypal French meal of foie gras, followed by confit de canard, and the most divine piece of Camembert.

Alternatively, head 5 minutes' north to rue des Cannettes, which is stuffed full of cafés, crêperies and bistros – if you’re a big beef eater try Boucherie Roulière for excellent steak. Wander along Boulevard Saint-Germain and stop in at Brasserie Lipp or Café de Flore for drinks with literary links. Pick up a picnic at the covered Marché Saint-Germain, or at La Grande Epicerie (part of the delicious department store Bon Marché on rue de Sévres), then seek out the secluded Square Récamier and settle in for the afternoon.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Pass a pleasant hour indulging in the most Parisian of past-times - people-watching - in Place St Sulpice
  
• Stop in at the 17th-century Eglise Saint-Sulpice, one of the largest churches in Paris and home of the Delacroix frescoes. It was also the site of the christening of the Marquis de Sade and the wedding of Victor Hugo
  
• Discover how the Parisians look so effortlessly elegant - some of the best shopping streets in the world are a short walk from the hotel's front door
  
• We loved the free fashion show (Fridays, 3pm) at Galeries Lafayette (boulevard Haussman)
  
• Get a local's perspective by pedalling your way round Paris using the ‘Velib’ bike network (Velib)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Historical sites
• Language courses
• Museums / galleries
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Children are very welcome at the hotel but there is only 1 baby cot and 1 rollaway bed (by request in the Club room only).

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

On each of the 6 floors, the 2 front rooms (Deluxe and Club) can be interconnected and shut off from the rest of the floor, offering an ideal private suite for families.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Hotel Récamier is in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, in between St Germain des Prés and Jardin du Luxembourg, on the Left Bank. The closest metro stations are Saint-Sulpice (line 4) and Mabillon (line 10), both about a 5-minute walk from the hotel.

By Air
Charles de Gaulle (north Paris) and Orly (south) airports are the closest.

From the Airport
Both airports are about an hour from the hotel, via RER B and line 4 or line 10 (change at St Michel Notre Dame).

By Train
If you prefer to travel overland, the Eurostar connects from London St Pancras to Gare du Nord in an astonishing 2 hours 15 mins. From Gare du Nord it’s about 10 stops on metro line 4 to Saint-Sulpice.

By Car
We wouldn't recommend driving here; parking in Paris is a pain, and public transport is pretty near perfect, so leave the car at home.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.